The months of January and February in Paris always feel the same: cold, dark, cloudy, and rainy. In December, at least we have Christmas to look forward to, but once the new year begins, all that’s left is hot cheese and hot chocolate (and you can only consume so much of that).
Simply put, this isn’t my favorite time of year, and I know that about myself. So, while boarding my flight from the U.S. to Paris in early January, I began browsing Skyscanner and eventually found a budget-friendly round-trip flight from Paris to Agadir, Morocco.
What is there in Agadir? At the time, I had no idea. But according to Hostelworld, there were dozens of cute surf hostels in Tamraght, just a short drive away from the city.
Is it safe for a solo female traveler to arrive at midnight? Everyone from the different hostels I contacted assured me it would be fine and even offered to organize an airport transfer for me.
What would I even do once I got there? The owner of Freebird Hostel went above and beyond, proposing a full weekend schedule that included all my meals, a surf lesson, a yoga class, and transport to the nearby skate park in Taghazout.
Easy enough! I booked my flights and suddenly had some sunshine and an adventure to look forward to — something get me through some of the coldest, darkest weeks.
Accommodation
When I arrived at the Agadir airport, I withdrew some cash from an ATM and quickly found the driver the hostel had arranged for me. The ride to Tamraght took about 40 minutes. When I checked the map, I realized that there were tons of other surf hostels and surf camps in the area… dozens of them. And this was practically the only thing showing up on the map. Guess I had found the place to be!
I stayed at Freebird Hostel and had an amazing experience with the owner, the staff, the location, and the activities offered. Two nearby options I had also considered were Dinosaur Anza Surf House and Waves Hunter Surf House. Most of them seemed to offer similar services: accommodation, surf lessons, meals, and transport, all for very reasonable prices.
By the time I arrived at Freebird, it was just after midnight. The owner welcomed me in, showed me around the hostel’s different rooms, bathrooms, and rooftop spaces, and he even gave me a private dorm room for the night.
Activities
I filled my weekend with plenty of outings and activities to make the most of my two days here!
Exploring Tamraght: Obviously, I had to begin my Saturday morning by checking out the rest of the town. I walked up to a viewpoint, browsed a few shops, and stopped at Hey Yallah, a coffee shop and international community center founded by a Canadian woman who moved here, for an excellent flat white.
Surf lesson: I had surfed once before while traveling around Portugal a few years ago, and I knew that I wasn’t particularly good at it. Still, I couldn’t resist taking a lesson just for fun! Since the hostel was so quiet, it turned into a private lesson, which was more intense than expected but incredibly helpful. I genuinely had a great time riding the waves, even if I was sore for days afterward.
Sunset at the skate park in Taghazout: The neighboring town of Taghazout is larger, busier, and more developed than Tamraght. My hostel suggested a visit to the local skate park in my itinerary, but I didn’t quite know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised: live music, locals and tourists alike doing tricks, ocean views, and, of course, mint tea to sip as the sun set.
Sunrise yoga session: Once again, I ended up with a private class set up just for me! On Sunday morning at 8AM, I enjoyed a calm and meditative yoga session on the rooftop. About ten minutes in, the sun began to rise, and I welcomed the day alongside it. It was the perfect way to clear my head and feel grateful for my time in Morocco before heading into Agadir for the afternoon and then returning to my life in Paris.
Food
I’d only had Moroccan food a few times before, so I was excited to experience more. The hostel’s weekend package included two breakfasts and one dinner at the onsite restaurant, as well as packed sandwiches during my surf excursion. I also had one lunch out while exploring Agadir. I’m already looking forward to returning to Morocco and trying even more!
Exploring Agadir
Rather than spending all my time in the surf towns, I decided to explore downtown Agadir before heading to the airport on Sunday. I went with another person from my hostel to browse the souks (one of the largest markets in Africa), walk along the marina by the beach, and grab lunch.
The city itself doesn’t seem to offer a huge number of activities, and many of the main tourist attractions are farther out. But I still had a great time exploring a new place and using my French to communicate with taxi drivers, waiters, and shop owners!
Many people had warned me against going to Morocco as a solo female traveler. I know that every city, as well as everyone’s unique experience, is bound to be different, so I can only speak for my own two days in this country.
And I had an incredible time! I honestly felt so safe, welcomed, and comfortable throughout my entire stay.
Was it the specific location? The fact that I speak French? My previous travel experiences and general comfort level while visiting unfamiliar places? Probably all of the above.
If anything, this trip made me even more excited to return and explore more of the country… Marrakesh, Fez, Rabat, Casablanca, and who knows where else.
But, of course, I would also happily return to Tamraght, Tagazout, and Agadir for a longer stay — one filled with even more sunshine and adventures!
Robin Round the World 
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