Bicycle Touring Morocco – Part 3

Searching for Moroccan Surf

As I left the hotel on the battered dirt road, all I could do was hope the conditions would improve. The previous day of touring was rough. I had only managed to cover about 25 miles after biking the entire day.

Luck was still on my side. Within the first half an hour, the dusty washboard trail became a smooth paved road with striking ocean views. After about three hours of riding, I started my final push into Imsouane, a five-mile high-speed downhill run.

Surfing Imsouane Bay

Over the years, I have surfed some pretty epic pointbreaks, such as Chicama in Peru, Malibu in California, and Huatulco in Mexico. Trust me when I say the wave in Imsouane is world-class.

It breaks in a protected bay. Even with howling onshore winds, the long lines remained clean and glassy.

View of the wave at Imsouane Bay

When I was there, I would estimate the rides were more than a quarter-mile, with a typical wave lasting close to a minute. It is truly an amazing surfing wave.

The wave at Imsouane Bay is also very user friendly. The paddle out to the peak takes about 30 seconds. There’s a gentle takeoff into a right slow peeling wave. If you’re looking to practice your cutbacks, this is the place.

Other than surfing in Imsouane, there isn’t much else to do. The town consists of surfers and fishermen. That’s it. So if you like to surf and enjoy fresh, cheap seafood, put Imsouane Bay on your list of dream surfing destinations.

After spending three days in Imsouane, it was time to move on. My next stop would be Morocco‘s most famous wave, Anchor Point.

Bicycle Touring Imsouane Bay to Taghazout

Even with all the physical training I did before my trip, the climb out of the small surf town was brutal. It took well over an hour and was easily the steepest of my life. Towing a trailer and surfboard didn’t help.

Words cannot describe the view at the top of the ridge. Seeing the peeling lines from that altitude is easily a top-five highlight of my bicycle touring career. A full-on, this is why I do this moment.

Later on that afternoon, I had another encounter that reminded me of why I love bicycle touring. I was riding along the coastal highway towards Taghazout, home to the wave Anchor Point when an older man waved me to the side of the road.

The road was on a sandy cliff looking over dozens of surf breaks, so of course, I stopped. After brief introductions, he invited me into his home, which was strange since there weren’t any homes in sight.

He led me around a sandhill on the edge of the cliff. To my amazement, there was an heavy wooden door leading into the dune. I followed him in.

It was a small room carved into the side of the cliff. It reminded me of the underground forts I use to build as a kid. There was a bedroll, a small stove, and a couple of fishing poles. It turns out the old guy was a fisherman.

We sat on the dirt floor and ate bread with goat butter. It was magical. He had nothing, but still he showered me with the most gracious display of hospitality. A moment I will never forget.

After a bit of time, we said our goodbyes, shook hands, then I was back on my bicycle and on my way.

Surfing Anchor Point

The coastal road from Imsouane Bay to Taghazout was mile after mile of insane surf breaks. Beach breaks, pointbreaks, long slow peeling lines, giant wedges with massive barrels. There was something for every level of surfer.

The town of Taghazout is an absolute Surf Mecca. It’s extremely picturesque, and the amount of breaks

Me catching a bus stop barrel in Taghazout

within walking distance is incredible. Of course, the crown jewel of Moroccan waves is Anchor Point.

On my second day in town, I surfed Anchor Point. Something I had been dreaming of since I began planning my Moroccan surfing surfari. It lived up to its reputation.

It’s a fast peeling, machine-like right that can hold a significant amount of swell. If you’re looking for a high-performance wave in Morocco, Anchor Point is the answer.

I spent three days in Taghazout. The waves, the restaurants, the culture were everything you could want in a surfing destination.