Sidi Kaouki Beach

The quiet Berber village of Sidi Kaouki is about 30 minutes south of Essaouira. This is a wonderfully unspoilt place that seems to have found the perfect balance of catering for visiting travellers and staying true to its North African roots. Camels saunter on the golden sands, and old men sell handmade items such as locally made rugs. Tourists are on the beach in bathing suits, while locals sit in the sand in traditional Islamic clothing.

This beach is on the Atlantic coast and is well known for its great waves. It tends to get quite windy along this stretch of coast so kite surfing and windsurfing are popular as well as surfing. There are a number of other surf spots close by including some reefs and point breaks. You will have no trouble renting equipment from the hotel or a shop in town but be warned the waves here can be big and powerful and the currents strong.

If you prefer land-based activities, you can rent a horse or a camel for an hour to ride on the beach. In the winter, you might be lucky enough to see the flamingos which frequent the local estuary.

When people visit Sidi Kaouki, they come to either surf or relax (or both), and you might spend a lot of time in your hammock enjoying the scenery around you.

With sand dunes, natural landscape, and dirt roads, you might want to rent a quad and have a tour. You will have a range of accommodations to choose from, including beach hostels and nice hotels. This is a great spot to get away and chill out.