After an action-packed adventure holiday? Morocco wins hands down if you’re after some seriously cool extreme sports in a totally different location. From skiing and snowboarding in the Atlas Mountains to surfing the barrel waves of the North Atlantic Ocean, Morocco is full of unexpected treats for adventurous holiday-makers.
Skiing and snowboarding aren’t the first things that spring to mind when you think of Morocco, butthe reality is that there are some awesome opportunities to do both these sports in Morocco, and it’s a whole load cheaper here than in the more standard ski and snowboarding destinations of France and Canada.
Oukaimeden is a small ski resort with bags of character that sits just outside of Marrakesh and offers ski passes for just £7 and donkeys rather than shuttle buses to take you to and from the ski lifts. It’s a totally unique and very cool experience! TraditionalMoroccan sights like these are what make skiing here so uniquecompared with anywhere else in the world.
A wicked spot for snowboarding is the village of Hassi Labied, where the Ziz Valley leads from the Atlas Mountains into the Western Sahara. You can hurtle down huge sand dunes taking in the surroundings of golden yellow and brown sand. It’s pretty special and totally different from the kind of snowboarding most people get to experience in typical snowboarding destinations.
The best way to get the most out of anadventureholidayin Morocco is to try out a load of different activities, and it’s something that you’re definitely able to do here. One day you can be skiing and snowboarding in the mountains, the next you can be driving across the Sahara sand dunes in a 4×4.
There are plenty of companies specialising in 4×4 tours, and it’s the coolest way to really see as many of the beautifulbits of Morocco’sdeserts as possible. A typical five day trip you could do could take you from the High Atlas Mountains, across the Draa Valley, along the sand dunes of Cheggaga, along the desert and finally ending up in the surfing and water sports haven of Essaouira
You can’t really come to Essaouria without getting involved in some watersports, and the surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing conditions here are perfect. It’s a total contrast to skiing and snowboarding and that’s what makes it all the more awesome. Explora Morocco has two shops and a centre based in Essaouira right on the beach. Here you can rent all the equipment you need for kitesurfing, windsurfing and surfing or if you’re new to the sports or want to learn a particular manoeuvre they also offer lessons with qualified instructors. They can also help to put together adventure holiday packages to suit your requirements
When it comes to picking accommodation, there are plenty of places to crash at in comfort in Essaouira, so it pretty much just depends on your budget and what level of luxury you’re after. A recommended hotel is the Dar L’ Oussia. This boutique hotel is ideally located at the gates to the medina meaning you have amazing views of the harbour and beach.