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Your independent local guide to Essaouira

Essaouira Trips
Two surfers carrying their boards to the waves past rows of surfboards on the sand

Water & wind

Surf lessons in Essaouira, all levels

Two hours of coaching with board and wetsuit included, in small groups from €25, on whichever spot is working that morning.

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From €25
per person
2 hours
Duration
Windy Essaouira
Booked with ·

Who runs this

Run by Windy Essaouira. Their own page: surf school in Essaouira.

We earn a small commission on some bookings. It never changes your price.

Duration
2 hours
Best for
First-timers of any age (children from 5), families and improvers
Best season
All year — most regular waves October to March
Where it starts
Essaouira; the spot is chosen each morning for the tide and wind

Essaouira gets Atlantic swell all year. The most regular waves come from October to March, typically one to two metres; in summer they are smaller and softer, which is exactly what a first lesson needs. The town beach is a gentle beach break with a steady supply of whitewater, and the school picks the spot each morning according to the tide and the wind.

A lesson runs a full two hours. It starts on the sand with a warm-up and a briefing on how the waves and currents work and where the safe zones are; after that, most of the time is spent in the water. Groups are small, four students per instructor, and everyone gets a soft-top board sized for them and a wetsuit. Children can start from five, in shallow water.

Lessons are run by Windy Essaouira and led by Mohamed Achhibat, who has taught surf and kite here for more than eight years, in French, English or Arabic. Once you can stand up, the school takes improvers further afield: Sidi Kaouki for a more powerful beach break with lefts and rights, and Cap Sim, a rocky point with a long left when the swell comes from the north. Book the morning if you can: the wind usually picks up late in the morning.

Why it is worth it

  • Two full hours, most of them in the water
  • Small groups: four students per instructor
  • The spot is chosen each morning: the bay, Sidi Kaouki or Cap Sim
  • Children welcome from age five

What's included

  • Two hours of coaching
  • Soft-top board sized for you
  • Wetsuit
  • Warm-up and safety briefing

Good to know

Bring swimwear, sunscreen and a towel; the school provides everything else, and say so when booking if you cannot swim. Semi-private lessons (one instructor for two) start at €35 and private lessons at €45 for two hours; 4, 6 and 8-hour packages bring the hourly price down.

Common questions

Which is the best surf school in Essaouira?

Nobody can honestly rank them for you, so judge on what matters: a qualified instructor who is actually in the water with you, four students per instructor at most, boards and wetsuits sized properly, and a school that moves spot with the tide and wind instead of teaching the same stretch of beach every day. The school we work with is Windy Essaouira, where Mohamed Achhibat has taught surf and kite here for more than eight years. We earn a commission on bookings from this site, and it never changes your price.

How much is a surf lesson in Essaouira?

From €25 for a two-hour group lesson with the board and wetsuit included. Private lessons cost more. Prices are set by the school, not by us — check their page before booking.

Can beginners surf in Essaouira?

Yes, and it is one of the better places in Morocco to start. The town beach is a gentle beach break with a steady supply of whitewater and no rocks, and summer waves are smaller and softer than the winter swell. Children can start from about five years old in shallow water.

When is the best time to surf in Essaouira?

October to March for the most regular waves, typically one to two metres. Summer is smaller and calmer, which suits a first lesson better. Whatever the season, surf in the morning: the wind usually gets up late in the morning and makes the water messy.

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€25

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