WHY MOROCCO
The country that makes your soul grow
For those of you who do not know Morocco, a picture of the vast, arid and extremely hot Saharan desert stretching on forever is likely to be conjured up in your mind. But Morocco is so much more than that, with huge areas of lush agricultural lands, vast forests, productive vineyards and green grazing meadows to the north, magnificent snow-capped mountains of the High Atlas, ancient and exciting walled cities and stunning stretches of quiet uninhabited coastline with a climate similar to the Mediterranean resorts in the summer.
Morocco is a beautiful, proud, rich and secure country and has such diversity in location that it is considered one of the best tourist locations. Where do you find such a mixture of attractiveness that is untouched and unharmed?
Thanks to the microclimate and more than 360 sunny days per year, Morocco’s west coast is an ideal holiday destination through out the whole year. Even during the summer the coast stays very pleasant with a constant breeze from the Atlantic cooling the air remarkably.
The people of Morocco are kind, warm, and well known around the world for their hospitality. A Moroccan, after having just met you, will invite you to his home for a feast of all they have to give, even if they are of meager means.
“You’ll never be more welcome!”
“You’ll view artisans working the same as hundreds of years ago”
“You’ll be in one of the most diverse locales in the world”
“You’ll witness hundreds of years of history unfold in front of your eyes”
The surf season, offering constant swell and amazing waves all along Morocco’s west coast, is from September/October to March/April. The windy season around Tafedna, close to Essaouira, is from April/May to approx. August.
Morocco, being a Muslim country, is often put in connection with terrorist attacks. However Morocco is a very peaceful, stable and secure country in which most inhabitants happily devote their life to the Islam with its prayers and can’t accept the violence and brutalism carried out by the terrorist.
Some demonstrations take place occasionally across the country however most of these are peaceful. Morocco proves to have one of the best police systems working closely with Interpol and according to the US travel advisory is ranked as one of the safest countries to travel to.
Forget what you have heard about Morocco being dangerous; it is not! Smile, be open, respect the culture, use your common sense and you’ll be just fine!
To enter Morocco you need no SARS vaccination and no PCR Test. You only need to fill in the health document and hand it in upon arrival in Morocco. (updated on 24.12.2022).
Essaouira is the closest airport to Tafedna, with just 45 min drive away. Only a few airlines from Belgium, France and the UK fly there. Alternatively you can fly to Marrakech (231 km) or Agadir (137 km) and we will organise a taxi for you. Marrakech has the most connections and the drive to Tafedna is flat and mainly motorway whereas the drive from Agadir to Tafedna is a beautiful slightly curvy coastal road.
Let us know your exact arrival time and flight number and we will be happy to organise your airport transfer. The last 3-4 km are gravel road with a little river to drive through (hardly any water in it). Not all transport companies are willing to drive that section, we therefore recommend you let us organise the transfer for you to be sure you're brought right to the door step of your Villa.
The transfer costs for individuals (for groups +10%) are as follows:
Essaouira City/Airport to Tafedna, approx 1 hour drive (63 Km): 35 € / 385 Dh per taxi/way
Marrakech City/Airport to Tafedna, approx 4 h drive (231 Km): 100 € / 1100 Dh per way
Agadir City/Airport to Tafedna approx 3 h drive (137 Km): 85 € / 935 Dh per way
You prefer to travel with the locals and use public transport? The two bus companies SUPRATOURS www.oncf.ma and CTM www.ctm.ma commute daily from Agadir and Marrakech to Essaouira for approx 8-10 €. The last bus leaving from Marrakech is at 7 PM and the one leaving from Agadir at 1.30 PM. The buses are air conditioned, in good condition and mostly punctual.
• Transavia flies from Paris directly to Essaouira
• Easyjet offers direct flights from Bordeaux and Lyon (France)
• Ryanair flies from Bruxelles-Zavantem, London-Stansted and Marseille Provence directly to Essaouira
• There are occasional connections with Royal Air Maroc from several European cities to Essaouira with changeover in Casablanca
• Easyjet offers direct flights from Basel and Geneva to Agadir
• Edelweiss/Swiss fly from Zurich via Marrakech to Agadir and then back to Zurich
• Royal Air Maroc flies from Zurich to Agadir with changeover in Casablanca
• Ryanair flies from Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Italy and UK to Agadir
• Condor flies from different cities in Germany and Brussels to Agadir
• Transavia offers flights from Amsterdam, Lyon & Paris to Agadir
• Vueling flies from Spain to Agadir
The main roads are in a good condition and driving in Morocco is safe. It can sometimes be a little chaotic and rules ignored, which requires your full attention and having to look out for everybody/everything. We recommend you drive during daylight and avoid remote roads after sunset due to pedestrians walking on the road at night and motorcyclists driving without light, which can be dangerous. There are speed controls during the day, especially on the motorway.
The area between Agadir and Essaouira offers ideal temperatures throughout the whole year. During winter the days are pleasantly warm however the mornings and evenings can be chilly. During summer there is a constant soft breeze from the sea cooling the air and making the heat enjoyable.
The African sun is strong; a sun hat and sun cream are a must! The Atlantic Ocean is generally fresh and we recommend wearing a wetsuit to surf, 3/4 during winter and 2/3 during summer. You are provided a wetsuit for surfing/kitesurfing.
What kind of clothes shall I bring with me?
For the winter months you will need a fleece, wool jumper or jacket to keep you warm in the evenings on the terrace. A beanie and wool socks can be beneficial after a late surf. Should you have sensitive skin we recommend you wear airy long sleeve clothes during summer.
Morocco is a Muslim country. In the villages and cities it’s recommended to not dress too revealing, on the beach its fine to wear a bikini.
You don’t need any vaccinations for Morocco. There are wild dogs in the area but the ratio of rabies is very low and the dogs are in general calm and gentle.
The local currency is called „Dirham“. It can be difficult to get hold of Dirham in your country. So we recommend you bring Euros in cash and change them at the airport or on the way to Tafedna. Its best to have enough cash with you as paying by credit card is only possible at the Boutique Hotel and there is no bank in Tafedna. In Smimo and Tamanar, the villages before turning off to Tafedna, you can find bank machines from which you can withdraw 2 x 2’000 Dirham (200 €) per day. Make sure your bank is aware of your stay in Morocco so your bankcard is active.