This is a complete guide to Paradise Valley in Morocco also known as Paradise Valley Agadir.
If you’re wondering how to get to Paradise Valley and what are the things you can do in this gorgeous Moroccan destination, read on. In this guide, you’ll find out why you should absolutely include Paradise Valley on your trip to Morocco.
If you spend enough time in Morocco, it won’t take long before you start hearing stories of a gorgeous mountain valley filled with palm trees, rivers, pools and stunning waterfalls in the south of the country.
This hidden valley is often called Paradise Valley Agadir or simply Paradise Valley. It’s a section of the Tamraght River valley in the Moroccan High Atlas mountains.
It’s a small oasis in the middle of breathtaking mountains. It’s the perfect place for relaxing, working on your tan and cliff jumping.
This stunning destination is located 3 hours south of Essaouira and because it’s easily accessible, it’s often considered one of the best day trips from the coastal town.
If your journey starts in Agadir, Paradise Valley is just 58 km away from the beach city.
It’s also the perfect destination to visit as part of a surfing trip to Morocco since it’s located just 20 minutes away from Taghazout, the surfing mecca of the country.
Paradise Valley Agadir is easily accessible to anyone without the need for a guide or a guided tour. In this article, I’ll tell you how to get there using a rental car or by public transport.
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Morocco Travel essentials and resources
- Morocco Travel Guide: 19 things you should know before you go
- Where to go: The 17 most beautiful places to visit in Morocco
- Plan your trip: 3 itineraries to discover the best of Morocco
- Is Morocco safe: 18 useful tips to stay safe while traveling in Morocco
- Tours and experiences: Book a customized tour
- Where to stay: Find a room in a hotel, hostel, guesthouse or desert camp
- Travel Insurance: Find the best travel insurance for Morocco
- Getting around: Rent a car in Morocco or travel by bus or train
1. Why should you visit Paradise Valley Agadir?
This stunning location offers the perfect blend of hiking, swimming, and relaxation in nature.
After a visit to busy Moroccan cities such as Casablanca or Marrakech, nothing beats a long day of gentle swimming in the crystal-blue pools of this oasis.
There are a few stands where Moroccans cook delicious tagines at the entrance of the valley so you don’t even have to worry about bringing food!
Just grab some good hiking shoes, a swimsuit and head to the valley for a super relaxing day!
2. What can you do in Paradise Valley Agadir?
Go Swimming in the pools
First and foremost – swimming! Even when the valley is drier and there isn’t much water in the river, you can still swim in the crystal clear pools that are scattered all along the river.
A lot of people love to go there for some cliff jumping. We wouldn’t recommend this in the drier months however as there have been a few accidents in the past.
What we recommend instead is trying the natural water slides.
In Paradise Valley Agadir, you’ll find natural water slides carved out of the rocks through millions of years of erosion.
Hiking in Agadir Paradise Valley
Agadir Paradise Valley is a great place to hike. There are mountains trails there that will take you up and above the cliffs that surround Tamraght River.
The mountains that surround the valley are very high and I remember feeling incredibly small as Cynthia and I were walking up the mountain path next to the river.
Make sure you’re wearing some good shoes that provide heel support and bring plenty of water.
Eating great Moroccan food and meeting travelers
There are a few stands at the beginning of the valley where you can find vegetable tagines and delicious Berber omelets.
This is a great place to meet other travelers who are taking a break from surfing in Morocco. You’ll get to chat and exchange great stories with them.
3. When is the best time to visit Paradise Valley?
The best time of the year to visit Paradise Valley Agadir is in late Winter and early Spring. During that time of the year, rain season is generally over or ending.
The river tends to be filled with water and the valley is lush green. combine that with ideal temperatures and very little rain and you have the perfect conditions.
The Moroccan coast tends to be very dry in summer so that wouldn’t be the best time to visit the valley.
Regardless of the time of the year that you visit the area, always ask locals if it has rained recently and if the pools are full of water.
4. Where is Paradise Valley in Morocco?
Paradise Valley is 58 km from Agadir and 36 km from Taghazout. It’s in the mountains of the Atlas in the South-Western part of the country.
Here is where you’ll find Paradise Valley in Morocco:
5. How can you get to Paradise Valley from Agadir?
Paradise Valley is very easy to reach from Agadir and it can make a gorgeous day trip from the coastal city.
How to get to Paradise Valley Agadir by car
If you have your own car or if you renting one, getting to Paradise Valley will be simple.
You’ll be following the coastal road for a good part of the way there and if the weather is sunny, you’ll get a gorgeous view of the beaches and the coastline along the way.
To get there from Agadir, simply follow highway N1 towards the North until you reach the town of Aourir before arriving in Tamraght.
There you’ll need to follow the road P1001 that goes towards the North-East until you reach Paradise Valley.
You will see a sign on your right that will say ”La route d’Alma-Vallée du Paradis” if you follow the direction indicated by this sign, you should be in Paradise Valley in no time!
How to get to Paradise Valley from Agadir by public transport
From Agadir, there are a few different ways to get to Paradise Valley by public transport.
The first way (easier but more expensive) is to take a shared taxi from Agadir’s bus and taxi terminal in the Abattoir district.
Any taxi in town can bring you there for around 20 MAD. Once you’re there, you’ll need to find the taxi going to Paradise Valley.
It could take a little while before it fills up but a shared taxi ride from Agadir to Paradise Valley doesn’t cost more than 50 MAD.
The second option (a bit more complex but definitely cheaper) is to take a taxi or a city bus to Aourir and then take a shared taxi from there to the valley.
To get to Aourir from Agadir, you’ll need to hop on city bus N°31, 32 or 33. They cost 5 MAD and they run from 6:30 am to 8:30 pm on the Agadir-Taghazout line.
From Aourir, a shared taxi to the valley only costs 25 MAD.
6. How can you get to Paradise Valley from Taghazout?
Taghazout is one of the best surfing destinations in Morocco and it’s very close to Paradise Valley Agadir so you should definitely visit both locations.
How to get to Paradise Valley Agadir from Taghazout by car
From Taghazout, take the road N1 towards the South until you reach Aourir.
From there you’ll have to turn left at the roundabout and continue inside the village until the road splits in two directions. On the right, you will see a sign that says ”La route d’Alma-Vallée du Paradis”
Follow this road (P1001) and you’ll eventually reach Paradise Valley Agadir.
How to get from Taghazout to Paradise Valley Agadir by public transport
From Taghazout, you can either take a shared taxi (5 MAD) to Aourir or city bus 32 (5 MAD as well).
Once you’re in Aourir, you can take a shared taxi to Paradise Valley Agadir for 25 MAD.
7. How can you get to Paradise Valley from Essaouira?
If you have your own car or if you are renting one, you’ll get to Paradise Valley Agadir from Essaouira in a breeze!
The distance between Essaouira and Paradise Valley Agadir is 180 km and it takes about 3 hours to get there.
Make sure you bring your camera because you’ll get stunning photo opportunities along the way!
How to get from Essaouira to Paradise Valley Agadir by public transport
From Essaouira, it’s just a 3-4 hour bus ride to get to Taghazout. Go to the public bus station in Essaouira for your own convenience at least one day in advance and explain at the ticket office, that you want to go to Taghazout.
Here is where you’ll find the CTM bus station in Essaouira:
From Taghazout, you can either take a shared taxi (5 MAD) to Aourir or city bus 32 (5 MAD as well).
Once you’re in Aourir, you can take a shared taxi to Paradise Valley Agadir for 25 MAD.
8. Where to stay near Paradise Valley?
If you’re wondering where to stay near Paradise Valley Agadir, I would recommend staying either in Taghazout or Agadir.
If you don’t mind the distance, another good place where it would be worthwhile staying is Essaouira.
Best hostels in Taghazout
There are a lot of great hostels in Taghazout. These are the ones we recommend:
This hostel has a gorgeous terrace that overlooks the sea. It’s right in the center of Taghazout in the perfect location to access the beach and spend the day surfing if you want to. The beds in the hostel are super big and cozy.
The host Mohammed makes sure the guests receive a delicious breakfast every morning.
Click to check out rates and availability for “Golven Surf Taghazout”
This hostel is a 1-minute walk from the beach. Teddy Pirate offers various facilities, such as a bar, a shared lounge and barbecue facilities.
All guest rooms at the hostel are fitted with a seating area and it also has a rooftop terrace with a stunning view on the sea, beach and surrounding mountains.
Click to check out rates and availability for “Teddy Pirate”
Best hostels near Agadir
In and near Agadir, you’ll find a good selection of hostels, guesthouses, and riads.
Here are two hostels near the beach you should check out:
This is a vibrant yet peaceful hostel located within walking distance of the beach. The rooms are full of light and spacious. Tamraghazout Surf Hostel is a great place to meet other travelers and get some surfing lessons.
A delicious breakfast is served every morning on the hostel’s terrace.
Click to check out rates and availability for “Tamraghazout Surf Hostel”
Moroccan Surf Journey is located near Banana point, one of the best surfing beaches in Agadir. You’ll get a great view of the ocean from the hostel and the nearest beach is just 10 minutes away.
The owner Ismail can arrange an airport transfer for you and advise on surfing conditions, yoga retreats, and anything you would need to know about Agadir.
Click to check out rates and availability for “Moroccan Surf Journey”
Best hostels in Essaouira
Essaouira attracts a crowd of young backpackers and surfers all year round. Because of this, the city has plenty of budget-friendly hostels in the old medina.
There are so many hostels in Essaouira that it’s hard to know which one is the best.
Accommodation in this coastal town is very cheap and it’s a great place to visit if you’re traveling around Morocco on a budget.
If you’re wondering what are the cheapest and best hotels in Essaouira, read Where to stay in Essaouira – Best Budget Hotels and Hostels to find out which ones we compiled.
9. What are the best guided tours to Paradise Valley?
If you are based in Agadir, we recommend the following tours from Agadir to Paradise Valley:
I hope you have a great and unforgettable day in Paradise Valley Agadir!
More MOROCCO TRAVEL Resources:
- What you need to know before you go: 23 Travel Tips for Morocco
- Is Morocco Safe? Safety Guide to Morocco
- How to avoid the 12 most common scams in Morocco
- See the best of Morocco by following these 3 great travel itineraries
- Visit these beautiful 17 places in Morocco
- Tips for traveling to Morocco during Ramadan
- Morocco City Guides: Fez, Tangier, Essaouira, Chefchaouen, Rabat, Meknes, Marrakech, Casablanca, Agadir
- The best daytrips from Marrakech
- Fun things to do in the Sahara: how to plan a desert trip to Merzouga
- The Complete Guide to Imlil and Hiking Mount Toubkal
- Everything you need to know about visiting the Ouzoud Waterfalls
- Rock climbing and other fun things to do in the Todra Gorges and Tinerhir
- How to get to the Akchour Waterfalls from Chefchaouen
- A guide to visiting the Ouzoud Waterfalls
- Surfing in Morocco – The best surfing spots in Morocco
- How to visit Paradise Valley in Agadir
- What to wear in Morocco: Complete packing list for Morocco
- Morocco photography tips: How to take portraits of people in Morocco
- Extend your stay in Morocco using one of these 3 ways to renew your Morocco visa
- Useful tips on how to take the ferry from Tangier to Spain
- Books about Morocco: 10 Great Novels set in Morocco
Have you been to Paradise valley before? Are you planning to go there soon? Let me know in the comments below.