Booking a Surf Camp in Morocco: Tips and What to Expect

Last Updated on 16th January 2026 by Jessie

The rundown on what exactly a surf camp in Morocco entails, and key considerations for choosing the best one. 

In recent years, Morocco has well and truly joined the ranks of Indonesia and Sri Lanka as a top surf destination for beginners. Warm weather, relatively cheap cost of living, and consistent waves – it ticks all the boxes. And when all it takes is a short flight over the ditch for a landlocked European to get their sun and surf fix, you can’t blame them. 

Whether you’re keen to kickstart your newfound hobby or you just want to give surfing a go, I highly recommend signing up for a surf camp. There are a plethora of epic companies kicking around on Morocco’s surf coast – most of which are super affordable. And whilst I haven’t had the pleasure of joining one myself, I’ve combined my experience at a Lombok surf retreat with the hefty amount of hours clocked up in Morocco to give you the lowdown. 

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Is it Worth Booking a Surf Camp in Morocco?

Absolutely. For starters, the package deals are super good value. You get accommodation, food, surf lessons and gear rental, plus a bunch of extra activities thrown in – usually for around €90-100 per day. That’s unheard of in Australia or Western Europe. 

On the surf side of things, I can tell you from personal experience that you’re ten times more likely to get in the surf every day if you’ve got someone else taking care of all the logistics for you. I love surfing, but it’s a bit of a ballache. Particularly if you’re not travelling with a car. 

First, you’ve got to check the swell conditions and figure out the best surf spot for that day, depending on your level of competency. And you’ve also got to check the tides to determine the ideal window to go. Then you’ve got to get yourself to the beach. Like I said, with no car, this often limits you to the closest surf spots, even if they’re overcrowded and the conditions aren’t ideal. 

Unless you’re bringing your own board (unlikely as a beginner), you’ve got to find somwhere to rent a foamie and a wetsuit. Ideally, this is at the beach you’ve decided on. Otherwise, you’ve got to lug it down from the village. Which also means you usually end up paying more for lesser quality gear. 

Say you’ve managed to navigate all of that and you’re at the beach, kitted up and ready to go. Then what? How do you paddle; pop-up on the board; not get caned in the whitewash? All the questions you need not worry about if you’ve got a surf instructor guiding you through each step. 

It’s entirely possible to teach yourself how to surf. But it’s going to take infinitely longer than having someone teach you the fundamentals to begin with. If you’re only in Morocco for a week or two, ideally, you want a bit of a head start. 

See my tips on Learning to Surf in Morocco.

As a beginner surfer, the motivation to get back in the water each morning can wane. Particularly if you’ve spent the previous day getting rolled for 3 hours and only managing to catch 4 waves. You’ll use any excuse: it’s a bit cold, you’re a bit tired, the waves are a bit big/small/messy/crowded. Sometimes a little kick up the bum is exactly what you need. 

Now imagine you had all of that taken care of for you. You awoke in a beautiful house to an absolute feast of a breakfast awaiting you. You were chauffeured to the perfect spot for the day, with wetsuit packed and surfboard already waxed. You were gently but enthusiastically educated on how to actually do the thing. And then some kind chap even went ahead and pushed you onto a wave to save your precious unpaddle-fit arms the effort. 

I’m sure I’ve already sold you. But if you need a little more convincing, there’s also the social factor. You’re surrounded by like-minded others, sharing the beginner stoke with you. You can egg each other on, and laugh together when you stack it, minimising the dreaded internally perceived kookness. 

On top of that, you get a fully immersive Moroccan coastal holiday experience. Insights into the local culture, language tips, recommendations on shopping, restaurants, and the best destinations to visit next. All of that for only €100? Tell him he’s dreaming. 

What to Expect at a Surf Camp in Morocco

The different surf camps will vary slightly in their offerings. Some may be a bit more yoga-heavy, incorporating twice-daily sessions. Or others may include post-surf video analysis. But the general itinerary tends to be much the same. Here’s an example of what to expect:

• 8.30am: Breakfast. Usually family-style with a buffet of msemen, pastries, spreads, eggs and fruit salad. 
• 10.00am: Arrive at the beach for a surf. It will commence with warm-ups and demonstrations on the sand before getting in the water. 
• 12.30pm: Lunch. Often, packed sandwiches and snacks to be eaten on the beach. 
• 1.30pm: Second surf – without instruction, if you’re keen. Or free time to chill on the beach, drink tea, play soccer, and pat the stray dogs. 
• 3.30pm: Back to the surf house to shower, chill or explore the village. 
• 6.00pm: Sunset yoga class on the rooftop. Often, a slow, restorative style like yin. 
• 8pm: Communal dinner. Another feast. 

If you book a weeklong surf package, often one of the days will be a rest day. The camp might offer a day trip to go sandboarding, visit Paradise Valley or Souk El Had. 

See my Essential Travel Tips for Morocco.

How to Choose a Surf Camp in Morocco

The easiest way to decide on a surf camp is undoubtedly via word of mouth. You’ve got a friend who spent a week there and had an absolute ball and couldn’t recommend it higher. Job done. 

But if you’re being big, brave and adventurous and embarking on a surf holiday in a town that none of your mates have ventured to, here are the top things you should consider. These are the things you want to take note of when reading through past guest reviews. 

• Quality of Surf Instructors: This is my biggest concern. There is no shortage of surf instructors in Morocco, but the skill varies significantly. Everyone will tell you they can surf, no matter if they’ve just learnt to stand up on a board for the first time, or they’re competent at catching barrels. It makes it hard to gauge anyone’s actual ability. 
  
  Ideally, you want surf instructors with proper surf coaching qualifications. Bar that, I’d want them to have been surfing for at least 5 years. It’s not just about them having the knowledge to be able to impart on you, but having a subpar instructor can be a safety hazard.
  
  When there are 50+ people at one surf break, they need to be well versed in proper surf etiquette and not be pushing you onto a wave so that you drop in on some unsuspecting shortboarder. It absolutely happens. The better they are at reading waves also allows them to position you better so you can catch as many as possible. 
  
• Accommodation: This may not be that important for everyone, but if I’m booking a week at a surf camp, I want the lodgings to be as cool and comfy as possible. We all love Moroccan decor, right? So why not bank on the opportunity to live in an epic little dream home for a spell? 
  
  Aesthetics aside, you want a clean and spacious bedroom. Not necessarily a private room, you can find loads of light-filled, beautiful dorms. You want a good communal area for post-surf hangs. And you want an epic rooftop to watch the sunsets from. 

• Food: Most surf camp packages will include all your meals. If you choose the right camp, these can be some of the best feasts you’ll have in Morocco. Usually, they will employ a local woman, who is well-equipped at feeding a hungry hoard with her family recipes. 
  
  Some camps will host a weekly rooftop barbecue or dinner at the beach one night. Which is a nice added touch. 
  
• Activities: If you’re just dead set on surfing and not concerned about anything else, that’s sweet. But if you’re hoping for an all-encompassing Moroccan surf holiday experience, you might want to consider what other activities the package includes. For starters, not all surf camps teach yoga. And of the ones who do, some prioritise it, making sure they have the most experienced instructors, whilst others add it as an afterthought.
  You can also check to see if they’re offering hammams, or sandboarding, tours to the local souk, or day trips to other towns or sights. 
  
• Popularity: This matters in that you want to know how likely it is that the surf camp will be filled with other guests. Some of you may prefer a small group, largely having the place to yourself. But for those who crave a bit of atmosphere and need to fill their social quota, you’d probably prefer the kind of place that books out often. 
  
• Locally Owned: I bang on about this a lot, but I think it’s incredibly important when spending money at any business in Morocco. First of all, the locals are going to have the best knowledge of the surf breaks, the town and the general culture of Morocco. If you book with them, you’re guaranteed the most authentic Moroccan experience.
  
  But also, solely foreign-owned companies are detrimental to the local community. They increase the price of real estate, erode local culture and customs, and limit employment opportunities for locals. Moroccans cannot simply fly to Australia, Lithuania or Spain and decide to start a business there. Is it fair that foreigners do the same here?

Best Surf Camps in Morocco

With all the above tips, you should be able to confidently step out into the world and filter through the hundreds of listings to choose your ideal surf camp. But if you can’t be assed with that, I’ve provided a few of my top recommendations below. 

Anza Surf camps

• Anza Lighthouse
• Blue Waves

See Anza Travel Guide. 

Imsouane Surf Camps

• Little Kasbah
• Dreamsea
• The O

See Imsouane Travel Guide. 

Mirleft Surf Camps

• Spot M
• Hey Ola
• Mirleft Surf Camp

See Mirleft Travel Guide. 

Taghazout Surf Camps

• Dfrost Almugar
• Surf Coast Morocco
• Chernaki

See Taghazout Travel Guide. 

Tamraght Surf Camps

• Blue Mind
• Original Surf Morocco
• Solid Surf

See Tamraght Travel Guide. 

Sidi Kaouki Surf Camps

• Smaylo
• Ibi Surf

See Sidi Kaouki Travel Guide. 

When to Surf in Morocco

In short, Morocco receives the biggest swells in winter. Thus, from November to March, experienced surfers flock to Northern Africa. Whilst there is almost always whitewash to play around in, I recommend the shoulder seasons for beginners. From April to June and September to November, the conditions tend to be a little bit friendlier. The weather’s warmer too.

See my full Breakdown of Morocco’s Surf Seasons.

For more Maroc info and a little less of my own opinions, I’ve created a travel wisdom-sharing hub over on Reddit. Join the group here.