Hundreds of kilometers of the Moroccan coast are still totally wild. No tourist infrastructure, nothing. Just vast expanses of unspoiled beaches that can still be appropriated before they are transformed into seaside resorts. I love discovering the wild beaches of Morocco knowing that they are increasingly rare given the tourist development that the country is experiencing. Some are famous, others don’t even have a name. Here is my selection of the 10 most wild beaches in Morocco on the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
It stands like a mirage in the middle of the lagoon of Dakhla where the Sahara Desert meets the Atlantic Ocean in the great south of Morocco. Dragon Island, which takes its name from its shape reminiscent of a prone dragon, is bordered by white sand beaches and turquoise water. It almost feels like parachuting onto a tropical island in the Caribbean. From the top of the rocky promontory, one can admire the beauty of the 360 panorama over the bay of Rio de Oro on one side and the waves of the Atlantic Ocean on the other. The white sandbanks of the lagoon form a kind of oil painting in different shades of blue. It’s spectacular! For me, it is certainly on the top of the most wild beaches in Morocco.
By driving on the only path that runs along the coast south of Dakhla towards Mauritania, traces of civilization are gradually disappearing. It feels a bit like a “no man’s land”, with villages that seem abandoned. And then around a bend, you find yourself on a superb stretch of white sand, a wild beach called Puerto Rico. There is no one there that day, yet it was the middle of August. This wild beach is a meeting place for migrating birds and its isolated location makes it an excellent place for Saharan bivouac camping.
Legzira beach in Sidi Ifni does not seem so wild at first glance. It is accessed by descending 200 steps from the tourist complex which (unfortunately) has taken over the place. But you only need to step away from the resort to find yourself alone in the world in front of majestic cliffs that drop into the ocean. The tides have dug into the rock several arches whose ocher color is sublime at sunset. The wild Legzira beach is particularly popular with surfers who come to confront its regular rollers. Hikers, on the other hand, are happy to explore the crevices and caves revealed in the low marsh.
In the list of the most beautiful wild beaches in Morocco, I must mention the white beach of Guelmim, on the coastal road that connects Agadir to Tantan, the longest and wildest beach in Morocco. Nicknamed the Playa Blanca, it is a gigantic expanse of white sand dunes located in the heart of an ecological park of 250 km² facing the Canary Islands. The region offers exceptional landscapes, desert and sea, mountains, oases, Kasbahs and small fishing villages. During our visit to Guelmim, we only saw the white beach from a distance. Our little car didn’t allow us to tackle the bumpy tracks to get there. Moreover, the sand dunes of the white beach are a real playground for lovers of 4×4 excursions.
The road to the Cap des Trois Fourches in Nador winds through dramatic landscapes of cliffs and wild beaches. It really reminded me of the Great Ocean Road in Australia. At the end of the road, gigantic arms of volcanic and limestone rocks sink into the Mediterranean Sea like an African hand reaching out towards Europe. The panorama from the top of the Cap des Trois Fourches lighthouse is breathtaking. In this area cut off from the world, the only sign of civilization is the village of Tibouda, a fishing village located on the wild beach of Tibouda. The wild Charrana beach not far away is a small cove with sparkling turquoise waters that invite you to swim. The wild Carra Blanca beach is a very popular scuba diving spot in Morocco.
In Saidia, the most popular Moroccan seaside resort in the Mediterranean, much of the coastline has been disfigured by concrete. But some wild beaches have escaped major real estate projects. This is the case of Sid el Bashir beach accessible through an unspecified trail. The vertiginous cliffs that surround the beach give it that mysterious air of unknown territory. You can find Other unknown wild beaches all along the coast of the Eastern region. You just have to roll down the window and kindly ask the locals for advice.
The coast between the small villages of Mirleft and Sidi Ifni is one of those little hidden corners that surfers jealously keep secret. Beach break can be found practically all year round on the beaches of Sidi El Ouafi, Tabograichte, Imi N’Targa, Tamahroucht, or the most popular Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah. Some wild beaches are almost impossible to find without the help of locals and can only be accessed through tracks.
In Essaouira region it is windy all year round, making it the perfect place to indulge in water sports such as kitesurfing and also windsurfing. In the region of Agadir, it’s summer all year round, the opportunity to stock up on vitamin D. Between the two cities, wild beaches abound, and as I can’t choose my favorite, I cheat a little and include several around Essaouira, I have a weakness for Tafedna beach, a small heaven of peace, and for Imessouane beach, a real El Dorado for Hippie surfers. Also The beaches of Diabat and Sidi Kaouki offer great opportunities for horseback riding (or why not on camel back). In the Agadir region, I prefer Taghazout and Aourir rather than piling up like a sardine with the thousands of tourists who invade Agadir beach.
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The national road which connects Tangier to Assilah is full of wild beaches. It is quite simple to find your little quiet spot to plant your parasol on the long stretches of golden sand of the Atlantic coast, starting with the beaches of Achkar and Bel Kassem near Tangier to Las Cuevas, Briyech or Sidi Mghayt near of Assilah. Do not miss the superb panorama from the top of Cap Spartel and the magnificent Vistas of Perdicaris Park in Tangier!
Appreciated by Tangier families, Dalia beach seduces with its wide banks of fine sand and its turquoise waters on the Mediterranean coast. Above all, avoid going there in summer holidays, when it tuns into a real playground for holidaymakers. Jet skis, trampolines or inflatable slides and also DJs disturb the charm of the place.
