This once-sleepy fishing village is now Morocco’s trendiest beach town
Taghazout has long attracted free spirits, surfers, and backpackers thanks to its bohemian vibe. It has quietly transformed into an eco-conscious capital of cool.
"What are you so afraid of?" Akrou Ayoub, my surf instructor who goes by “Ay," asks as I battle my way through another set of small waves off the coast of Tamraght Beach in Taghazout, Morocco. I'm not a surfer, but I grew up in a small surf town in Southern California, so I somehow feel right at home in Taghazout.
"Surfing at 40 is much harder than it was when I was 14," I tell Ay.
A three-hour drive from Marrakesh, this once sleepy Berber fishing village has long been a boon for backpackers, surfers, and sun-seekers thanks to its laid back, bohemian spirit. In the 1960s, Taghazout attracted the attention of musicians from Jimi Hendrix to the Rolling Stones, who fled the cold winter and found inspiration along Taghazout’s caramel-colored sand and sun-drenched shores.
“Taghazout has always been a cherished destination,” says Francis Desjardins, general manager of Fairmont Taghazout Bay.
Today, this sunny stretch of Morocco's western Atlantic coastline has seen significant development thanks to an ambitious national tourism project at Taghazout Bay that aims to be the country’s preeminent sustainable seaside resort destination. Fairmont Taghazout Bay opened in 2021 and was soon followed by the all-inclusive Hotel Riu Palace Tikida Taghazout and Hilton Taghazout Bay Beach Resort & Spa in 2022.
"When we first opened, Taghazout was still under the radar—a beloved surf town mostly known to backpackers and free spirits,” says Desjardins. “Since then, we’ve seen a remarkable but mindful transformation with boutique shops, yoga studios, art galleries, and upscale dining ... yet the soul of the village remains intact.”
Today, Taghazout is no longer the sleepy surf spot it once was. Now, visitors will find a bustling vegan cafe culture and charming beachfront tea and tagine spots, to a bevy of new eco-friendly hotels and locally beloved surf shacks and guesthouses.
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Where to surf
Taghazout has long been considered the capital of surfing and yoga culture in Morocco thanks to the epic surf breaks that line Taghazout’s glittering coastline. Surfing is an absolute requisite here, and it is suitable for surfers of all skill sets, from Anchor Point Bay to Devils Rock and Banana Beach.
While many hotels offer surf lessons and rentals for a fee, the small waves and gentle-yet-consistent sets on Banana’s Beach and Panoramas Beach is a great place to start for beginners.
More advanced surfers should check out the epic right-hand point break at Anchor Point and Boilers. There are also a number of dedicated surf schools, like Surf Berbere.
Where to eat
Carve out some time for a leisurely stroll through the maze-like alleyways of Taghazout, where surf shops, guesthouses, and boutiques abound. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head to World of Waves Restaurant (WoW) for smoothies, Moroccan-style tapas, and seafood tagine. After lunch, or if you’re just looking for a relaxing place to post up and watch the surf, cruise over to The Wedge to enjoy a mint tea in one of the most scenic spots in town.
Local hot spot Red Clay Cafe offers plant-based vegan pastries, as well as breakfast and lunch bowls. Teapot Cafe, another local favorite, can’t be beat when it comes to breakfast tacos and brunch.
Where to shop
From handcrafted ceramics to Berber rugs and baskets, there’s no shortage of wares to be found in and around the village of Taghazout. Set on a hilltop overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, The Targant Museum (Musée de l'Arganier) is the world's first museum dedicated to the mystical argan tree. The museum is not only the best spot to shop for argan oil and prickly pear oil, which Moroccans consider ‘botox in a bottle’ at a fraction of the cost, but it’s a great way to support a cooperative of women in the region. The museum also offers a wonderful Argan Museum Restaurant and Moroccan Cooking Class.
Nearby, Bab Taghazout is an artisan market that sells an array of handicrafts, pottery, and carpets.
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Bliss out at a hammam
Visiting the hammam is a way of life in Morocco, from traditional massages and rituals at Tamraght Spa House to spending an afternoon indulging in the steam room, sauna, and magnesium pool at Fairmont Spa. For a truly out of the world experience, book the "Traditional Berber Ceremonial Hammam" experience; it is a purifying bathing ritual using the purest indigenous products and plants from across the region.
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Discover a hidden oasis
Heading inland toward the Atlas Mountains, the drive to Paradise Valley is a windy, 40-minute adventure from Taghazout that’s not for the faint of heart. When you get there, limestone cliffs, palm tree-filled gorges, and emerald colored rock pools make this natural off-the-beaten path oasis worth the trek it takes to get there.
The area is great for hiking, swimming, horseback riding, and soaking in the natural beauty of the desert. You’ll want to pack plenty of water and sturdy walking shoes. Your hotel concierge can book you a tour, which often includes a traditional Berber lunch with a local family at a local farm.
Where to stay
Nestled along 45 acres of sun-dappled coastline, Fairmont Taghazout Bay is the first luxury resort to open in Taghazout and offers everything from five-star Italian and Japanese fine dining at Paper Moon and Morimoto to an 18-hole golf course and golf club. Don’t skip a surf lesson followed by a visit to the hotel’s sumptuous 15,000 square-foot wellness spa.
Taghazout is brimming with surf hostels and surf school hotels, and in the heart of the village, Munga Guesthouse offers 15 Berber-inspired mini suites, regular suites, and “magnums.” This locally beloved hotel also offers daily sunrise and sunset yoga lessons, as well as Favela, a rooftop restaurant that serves Moroccan-meets-Mediterranean inspired cuisine.
For the surfers out there, Taghazout Villa is one part stylish beachfront boutique hotel and another part yoga and surf camp. It is great for groups and solo travelers looking to sharpen their skills in one of the trendiest spots in town.
