Moulay / Coast Atlantic / Morocco

Located on the south west Atlantic coast of Morocco lies the spot at Moulay. It has some of the most amazing surf conditions outside of Europe but is best suited to experienced surfers. It is possible to surf all year round here although the best months are from May to September.

The beach is sandy and absolutely huge with no one around for miles. There are some rocks around but they are quite far apart and it is easy to spot them. The beach can get busy with locals during the summer months of July and August but there is still plenty of space both in and out of the water. You can get here by driving past Moulay from Essaouira and picking a spot anywhere from 8.4 kms to 15 kms north of the Moulay sign. You can park on the road and walk down, which takes about 20 minutes, or if you have a 4 x 4 you can carefully drive down to the beach.

The winds are a mixture of thermals and trade winds and blow predominantly from a variety of northern directions. The summer trade winds are accelerated by strong thermal action, especially during the spring and summer, when inland temperatures can be quite high. The wind increases during the day and can reach 6-7 B.ft by mid afternoon. Between the months of October to April, Atlantic storms produce large swells which generate great wave conditions all the way along the coast from Oualidia to Agadir. The winds are, however, less consistent than in the summer and not so strong although it should still be possible to kite or wind surf on most winter days within a 25 km radius of Essaouira. The water is slightly cloudy and there are waves with an imposing shore break. There are flat sections of water between the sets of waves and the waves can get really large (4-5 meters). The tide influences the waves which are quite small and quick at low tide and much bigger at high tide. The incoming tides have the largest waves. You need to pick your spot with care since there can be a flat reef bed near shore which can be potentially dangerous. This spot is tricky and definitely not for beginners.

There is not a lot here apart from a couple of places selling food. The walk down and back up from the beach can be quite exhausting after a day spent in the surf. For accommodation, bars, cafes and shops, drive into Essaouria. Nightlife is pretty non existent.

This is a very quiet spot with tricky conditions so never be tempted to go it alone.