The Morocco surf trip packing list nobody actually writes
Every packing list for Morocco reads like it was written by someone who's never been. "Don't forget sunscreen!" Cool, thanks. Meanwhile you're the one at Panorama at 7am in February wondering why your feet are numb and your travel adapter doesn't fit the socket.
Here's the honest version: what to actually put in your bag for a surf trip to Taghazout or Tamraght, what's a waste of space, and how the list shifts between a July trip and a January one. Because they're basically different countries.
First, the season thing (this is the whole point)
Morocco's surf season runs roughly September to April, with the biggest, most consistent swells landing between November and February. Summer (June–August) is small, mushy, and warm — great for learners, forgettable for anyone chasing Anchor Point. This changes everything about your bag.
Water temp swings from around 22°C in late summer to 16°C in January. Air temp is worse: coastal mornings in winter sit around 10–12°C, and if you're used to European winters that sounds tropical — until you're on a rooftop with wet hair and a damp 4/3 collar breathing down your neck.
So the Morocco surf trip packing list below is split by month. Find yours, skip the rest.
The stuff that goes in every bag, all year
Some things don't care what month it is. This is the non-negotiable core.
- Earplugs. Not optional. Surfer's ear is real, the Atlantic here is cold enough to trigger it, and every second surfer you meet in Tamraght over 30 has had the surgery. SurfEars or Docs Pro Plugs. Buy them before you fly — you won't find them locally.
- Reef-safe zinc-based sunscreen. Regular pharmacy stuff melts off in 20 minutes. Get a stick for your face. The Moroccan sun at Draculas at 11am doesn't negotiate.
- A universal travel adapter with Type C and Type E prongs. Morocco uses European two-pin. Your UK adapter, your US adapter, and half the "universal" ones on Amazon don't actually seat properly in Moroccan sockets. Test it before you fly.
- A microfiber towel. Your surf camp has towels, but you'll want your own for the beach — sand shakes off microfiber, not off the fluffy cotton one from your bathroom.
- A dry bag, 10L or so. For phone, keys, wallet when you walk down to Devil's Rock or take a grand taxi with a wet wetsuit.
- Cash. Euros to exchange, and once you're here, small dirham notes. More on this below because it matters.
- A basic first-aid kit. Reef cuts, ear infections, the Immodium moment after your first tagine from a place you shouldn't have eaten. Bring antibiotic cream and rehydration salts.
That's the base layer. Now the seasonal stuff.
June, July, August: the boardshort months
Summer in Taghazout is warm, small, and honestly kind of quiet on the surf side. The beach breaks work, Imsouane's Bay is a longboard playground, and the point breaks are dormant. Your bag is light.
Wetsuit situation: Boardshorts or a bikini most days. A 2mm shorty or springsuit for the early sessions before the wind warms up. Full 3/2s are overkill — you'll roast paddling out and peel it off after one session.
What to bring:
- Two pairs of boardshorts (one always drying)
- A rash vest with UPF 50 — the sun here in July is not the sun in Cornwall
- A wide-brimmed hat for the walk back from the beach
- Sandals or flip flops you don't mind losing
- Loose linen or cotton clothes for evenings — Tamraght gets a warm inland breeze that's genuinely pleasant
- One long-sleeve and long trousers for evenings in Agadir or Marrakech if you're bookending the trip
What to skip: Anything wool, anything fleece, your 4/3, and — please — reef booties. There are no meaningful reefs to worry about at the beginner and intermediate spots. Killer Point has urchins if you get pushed inside, but if you're at Killer in July, you have bigger problems.
September, October: the sweet spot bag
Best months, in my biased opinion. Warm water still, the first proper swells rolling in, less crowded than it gets from November on. Your bag is basically the summer bag with one addition.
Wetsuit situation: A 3/2 full suit is the play. Water's around 20°C, mornings and evenings cool off, and if you're doing three sessions a day you'll want the extra warmth by session three. Some people still get away with a springsuit through September — depends how cold you run.
Add to the summer list:
- A light hoodie or jumper for evenings — after sunset in October, rooftop dinners get a bit fresh
- Long trousers you'll actually wear, not just carry
- One long-sleeve rash vest for chilly dawn sessions
Skip anything heavier. October is not winter, even if your Instagram friends in Cornwall are already in 5mms.
November, December: the transition trap
This is where people get their packing wrong. They see "Morocco" and pack shorts. They see "winter surf" and pack a 5/4. Both are wrong.
Wetsuit situation: A 3/2 still works through most of November. By mid-December, upgrade to a 4/3. Water's dropped to around 17–18°C and the mornings bite. If you only own a 3/2, bring it plus a thermal rash vest to layer underneath — that gets you through comfortably.
What to add:
- A proper hoodie, not a "hoodie for going to the gym"
- Warm socks (yes, socks — the tiled floors in your surf camp are cold in December)
- A beanie for the walk to the beach at 6:45am
- A packable rain jacket — it doesn't rain often, but when it does it comes in sideways
What to skip: A puffer jacket. It's not cold enough. A thick hoodie plus a shell is plenty. Also skip the neoprene hood for now — you don't need it yet.
January, February: the actual winter bag
This is when Morocco earns its swell reputation. Anchor Point, Killer, Boilers, all firing. It's also when your Taghazout packing list starts to look like something you'd take to Portugal in April.
Wetsuit situation: 4/3 full suit, non-negotiable. Water's 16–17°C, air can be 11°C at dawn. If you get cold easily, throw a 2mm neoprene hood in the bag — you probably won't use it every session but you'll thank yourself on the two coldest mornings. Booties? Skip them unless you know you're surfing Killer or a reef spot regularly. For Anchor, Panorama, Banana, and Devil's Rock, bare feet are fine.
What to add on top of the November list:
- A second pair of trousers — jeans dry slowly and Moroccan winter humidity is real
- Warm layers you can stack: a merino base, a hoodie, a shell. Better than one thick coat
- Slippers for the riad. Trust me.
- A hot water bottle if you're a real coward about the cold (I say this with love)
What to skip: Gloves. The temperature never justifies them, and paddling with wet fingers is fine in a 4/3. A 5/4 suit — total overkill unless you're one of those people who wears a jacket in a heated pool.
March, April, May: the shoulder season bag
Water's warming, swell's still occasionally cranking, crowds are thinning. Basically the November/December bag in reverse: start in a 4/3, downgrade to a 3/2 by April.
The one addition worth mentioning: a windbreaker. Spring is when the coastal wind picks up in the afternoons and you'll want something light to throw on for the walk back from the beach.
Otherwise, follow the October list.
The stuff nobody warns you about (bring these too)
A few unglamorous items that make a disproportionate difference to your trip.
- Small denomination euros to exchange. Bring 20s and 50s, not 100s and 200s. The exchange bureaus in Agadir prefer smaller notes and you'll get better rates.
- Once you have dirhams: small notes. 20s, 50s, and 100s are gold. Nobody at the fruit stall, the tagine spot in Aourir, or the grand taxi driver has change for a 200 dirham note. This is the single most fixable frustration of a Morocco trip.
- Your own board bag if you're bringing boards. Rentals in Tamraght are fine for most people — see the surf camp cost breakdown — but if you're picky, bring your own and pack a spare set of fins and a leash. Fins get lost.
- A physical copy of your passport and travel insurance. The wifi here isn't reliable when you need it to be.
- A book. There's downtime in a surf trip that nobody talks about — the 2pm to 5pm gap between sessions when the wind's up. Your phone will bore you.
The stuff to leave at home
Because your bag has a weight limit and half the "essentials" lists online are padding.
- Reef booties. Covered above. Not needed for 90% of surfers here.
- A drone. Legal grey area, will get you stopped at customs. Not worth it.
- Massive amounts of protein powder. There are shops. The surf camps feed you well. You'll survive a week without your 5kg tub.
- Nice clothes for going out. Tamraght is a flip-flop-and-hoodie kind of place. Save the shirts for Marrakech, and even there, chill.
- Bikini tops that don't stay on. The Atlantic here is not gentle. Bring the sports-bra style ones, not the string ones.
- Your ego about your surf level. Also skip.
FAQ
What thickness wetsuit do I need for Morocco?
Depends on the month. June–October: 2mm shorty to 3/2 full suit. November–December: 3/2 with a thermal, upgrading to a 4/3 by mid-December. January–March: 4/3 full suit, add a 2mm hood if you get cold easily. April–May: 3/2. A 5/4 is overkill any time of year unless you're paddling out at dawn in January and staying in for three hours.
Do I need to bring my own surfboard?
Not really. Most surf camps in Taghazout and Tamraght rent boards, and the shops along the main road have decent shortboards, funboards, and longboards from around 100–150 dirham a day. Bring your own if you're specific about your equipment or surfing at a level where board choice really matters. Otherwise, save the airline fee.
Can I buy sunscreen and toiletries in Tamraght?
Yes, but the selection is limited and expensive for the quality. Basic toothpaste, shampoo, laundry detergent — no problem, buy it here. Good reef-safe zinc sunscreen, contact lens solution, specific medications — bring from home.
Is it worth packing formal clothes for restaurants?
No. Tamraght and Taghazout are surf towns. Even the nicer spots — the beachfront restaurants, the sunset cocktail places — are jeans-and-a-clean-shirt casual. If you're spending a day in Marrakech, one slightly nicer outfit is fine. That's it.
How much cash should I bring?
Depends on your trip length and whether your surf camp is all-inclusive. For a week of extras — dinners out, taxis, tips, souvenirs, coffee — plan on around 1500–2500 dirham (€140–€230) in cash. Bring euros to exchange rather than trying to withdraw everything from ATMs, which have fees and low daily limits. And remember: small notes.
