Souira swimming

I and my friends visited Souira, Morocco last June 23-24, 2018 for an overnight stay to relax and go swimming at the beach. Souira Guedima as it is officially named, was formerly known as Aguz. It is a town in Morocco that is 36 km south of Safi and is located on the Atlantic seacoast. 

We rented a house for 400 dirhams for an overnight stay. We arrived at the place around 5:30 in the afternoon. The owner of the house was very accommodating and friendly, that he even fetches me with his car at my workplace, which is just 10 minutes away from Souira.

The sunset view was amazing.The promenade is filled with bystanders in the evening for pastime, mostly teenagers hanging around.

We had our dinner at the Ranch Bleu restaurant, one of the best in the area. They serve different foods from burger, pasta, panini and other sweets and delicacies.

On early morning of Sunday, we walked along the seafront promenade and directly went to the market for breakfast.

Near the market area, there is a small castle and port which according to the locals dates back to the 16th century.

The green boats amazed me, since all the boats on the seawater are colored in green. 

The place is also known of king crabs, and in the market, you can find seafood such as crabs and octopus and fresh fishes in a very cheap price.

Then, we go swimming . . . a very nice and relaxing day for us. All along the beach there were life guards and posts scattered for the safety and protection of the beach-goers, so no need to worry.

While waiting for the taxi going home, we drink first Moroccan tea at Cafe Snack Azouz.

Surely, will come back again.

Agadir. . . an adrenaline-charging experience

Agadir. . . an adrenaline-charging experience

Just after the Eid Il Fitr here in Morocco, I and my colleagues decided to visit Agadir last June 16-17, 2018 for some adventure and travel escapades.

I decided to go to Agadir because it is one of the top tourist destinations in Morocco. Agadir has many national parks and secluded beaches. The weather in Agadir is subtropical and the main attraction of the place is the beach. In the evening, locals and foreigners are strolling along the corniche or the beach promenade enjoying the sounds of live music and street entertainers.  If you need a total relaxation and adventure, Agadir is the most recommended place.

We stayed in Hotel Sud Bahia, which is an old four-storey and is very near to the seafront promenade, around 400 meters, with an outdoor pool. The hotel is cheaper that costs only 310 dirhams for 1 room with free breakfast.

What we do in Agadir?

Seafront promenade and the beach

There are many restaurants along the corniche or seafront promenade such as international fast food like KFC, McDonald's & Pizza Hut and other variety of international cuisine. Most of the restaurants serve alcohol.

The promenade is a palm-lined boulevard with bars, that presents a western-resort ambiance, crowded by the large number of Europeans and other nationalities who flock the area.

Marina

Early in the morning, we walk along the seafront premade from our hotel to Marina, the city’s billion-dirham pleasure port. The area is surrounded by designer label fashion shops and international boutiques such as Zara, Mango, Lacoste, and City Sport.

We rent a speedboat for only 400 dirhams for 30 minutes ride. It was an amazing experience and we all enjoyed the moment. There are also yacht and jet ski for rental, but due to limited time of our stay in Agadir, we did not try it. Maybe on our next visit, because I still have plan to go back. . . Just to remind to the tourists, that you need to ask for discount in the rental, because they always give a high price for tourists. At the start, they will ask for 1000 dirhams for 30 minutes ride, until we agreed on 400.

We have fun taking pics and videos while on the speedboat and all are excited of the trip.

Souk El Had d'Agadir

Our next stop was in Souk El Had (Sunday Market), a very large souk that houses plenty of stalls. If you need souvenirs, clothes, leather goods, household items, fruit and vegetables, you will find it there. This is the best place to find bargains. 

Always take note that some stores advertise fixed prices. What you have to do is to look first from other stalls so that you can have an idea of the price before trying at bargaining. Once they saw you as a foreigner, prices get high, but you have to try to bargain in a friendly style and you’ll get almost half of the price, and that’s it. Our group had bought several souvenir items and most especially the pure and unprocessed argan oil which cost 250 dirhams per 1 liter, but of course, it took us time to bargain the price.

The place is known primarily for its crafts, wooden ornaments, along with a selection of locally made jewelry, watches, clothing and tourist souvenir items.

The argan tree plantation

On our way to Agadir from Essaouira, you can see vast of argan trees along the road and it is known as the Moroccan tree of life. Some locals are selling the pure argan oil along the road, on a much cheaper price. I bought it for only100 dirhams for half a liter, it is for cosmetique purposes, for hair and as skin moisturizer.

Argan tree is a rare little tree found in the southwestern part of Morocco in the Souss Plain. Argan became famous because of its multifarious benefits from its precious oil.

 

 So, what are you waiting for? grab your bag and have a safe journey to Agadir.