Agadir, a new destination available from Birmingham Airport, is a beautiful city resort on the southern coast of Morocco, with temperatures averaging around 24 degrees. This destination not only offers warm sunny days but also boasts a busy port and stunning beach resorts sprawling beneath its Kasbah. Having been rebuilt after a major earthquake in the 1960s, Agadir is a modern resort with contemporary architecture and colourful and vibrant Moroccan street life. Offering boutique shops, an array of restaurants offering both authentic and modern cuisines, and scenic golf courses, it is perfect for those seeking a mix of sun and culture.
AGADIR BEACH… SURFS UP!
Agadir is well known for its six-mile crescent shaped beach where you can hit the waves at Devil’s Rock, Imsouane Bay or Anchor Point. Why not book a lesson at
one of the many schools and camps to get you started? Devil’s Rock is best suited to intermediate-level surfers whilst Anchor Point is more of a challenge and should only be frequented by experienced surfers. If you’re not into water sports then take advantage of the warm climate, soak up the sun and relax on one of Agadir’s beautiful beach resorts.
HISTORY KASBAH
Immerse yourself in true Agadir culture and visit the Kasbah, built in 1540. Referred to by locals as Agadir Oufella, it was once home to over 300 people. All that remains now of the old Kasbah are the fortified walls. However, the trip up the hill to this historic site is worth it for the view alone. Take in views of the city, its mosques, the crescent bay and the mountains. Engraved into the hill in Arabic are the words God, King and Country. If you are interested in history, you can easily find a professional guide here to take you on a tour and explain the significance of these three words to the Moroccan people.
SHOPPING SOUK AL-HAD
If you’re ready to barter, visit Agadir’s walled souk to pick up some traditional Moroccan souvenirs including spices, soaps, jewellery and textiles. You’ll be sure to find locals stocking up on fresh produce from the souk including the ripest tomatoes and freshest of herbs. If you take a taxi to the Souk al-Had you should ask for it by name, since some taxi drivers take you to their own personal souk.
CULTURE & ARCHITECTURE
Start your day at the Mohammed V mosque. Although closed to non-Muslims, the exterior of the building alone is worth a look with its striking appearance. From here, make your way to La Médina d’Agadir, an interesting reconstruction of a typical Moroccan Berber village. Constructed using traditional building techniques and local materials, stroll the alleys and browse the small boutiques, amongst the bustling and colourful market. Grab lunch on the move from one of the fish stalls beside the port. It is a great place to stop for some freshly caught sea food, cooked in front of you as you wait and served with warm, freshly baked bread. In the afternoon, pop by the Valley of the Birds, a small park home to aviaries housing a variety of exotic birds and then head down to the beautiful marina, located south of the main port. Built in 2008, it is made up of fresh produce markets and is perfect for a stroll in the afternoon sun.
The city is compact so is easy to get around on foot. That said, there are ‘petit taxis’ in abundance at very cheap rates if you do fancy giving your feet a rest after a day of walking around the sites.
GOLF
Agadir boasts three different golf clubs, so for those keen golfers it is definitely worth paying a visit to at least one of the popular clubs. The Agadir Royal Golf Club, with 9 holes is the oldest one, founded in 1951, while the other two, Les Duned Golf Club and Le Soleil Golf Club, opened in the 1990’s. The climate in Agadir is perfect for golfing year-round.
Agadir
GETTING THERE Get there with Air Arabia… flying twice a week to Agadir, in Southern Morocco. Just 4 hours away from shopping in the Souk, teeing off on scenic golf courses, relaxing on the crescent beach or embarking on a desert adventure with a caravan of camels, you will not be short of things to do and places to see! Fly from
Birmingham Airport from just £37 one way including taxes.
Book now at www.airarabia.com.
