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Most day trips from Agadir by car fall within a three-hour driving radius: Taghazout and the north coast in about half an hour, Paradise Valley in a little over an hour, the Souss-Massa national park to the south, Taroudant to the east and Essaouira further up the Atlantic coast. None of these outings requires a 4×4 or a guide: a city car, an early morning start and a full tank are enough. Here, for each destination, is the driving time to allow, what there really is to do, and where to park once you are there.

Why organise your day trips from Agadir by car

The difference comes down to three things. First, the timings: you set off at 7 a.m. to avoid the heat and come back whenever you like, without depending on a group return. Then the pace: you stop in a village, at a viewpoint or at an argan oil cooperative because you feel like it, not because it is on the itinerary. Finally the budget: from two or three people upwards, the car often works out cheaper than a seat per person on an organised tour.

At Carsalis, a car hire company based in Agadir since 2008, a city car such as the Dacia Sandero or Hyundai i10 costs 25 €/day, and 20 €/day from 7 rental days upwards. Mileage is unlimited, which matters when you string trips together. Fuel, on the other hand, is at your own expense, and the car must be returned at the same level as when you took it.

Taghazout and the north coast: around 30 minutes

This is the easiest trip, and the one people do again and again. You follow the coast road north, drive through Aourir, and arrive in Taghazout, a former fishing village that has become the region's surfing capital. On the programme: surf lessons for beginners, boards to hire on the beach, grilled fish facing the sea, and a coffee on a terrace while watching the spots. A little further up, Tamri beach and its stronger waves are worth the detour if you are looking for peace and quiet.

Parking: the main street in Taghazout is narrow and quickly gets congested by late morning. The sensible move is to park on the dirt car parks at the entrance to the village and walk the rest, it takes five minutes. Informal parking attendants keep an eye on vehicles in exchange for a small tip in dirhams, a normal practice in Morocco. Do not leave anything visible inside the car.

Paradise Valley: a little over an hour's drive

You leave the coast at Aourir to take the Imouzzer road, which climbs into the High Atlas. The journey takes about an hour to an hour and a quarter depending on your pace, and it is tarmacked right up to the edge of the site. The road winds: take a wide line through the bends, give a short beep of the horn on blind hairpins, and watch out for shared taxis coming down fast.

Once there, you walk for about twenty minutes between the palm trees and the rocks to reach the turquoise pools. Trainers or walking sandals are essential: the pebbles are slippery. The water level depends heavily on the season, with spring far more generous than late summer.

Important point: do not try to bring the car closer along the dirt tracks leading off the car park. Off-road driving is prohibited except with suitable vehicles, and damage caused to the vehicle is not covered: if the renter is responsible, they pay for the repair. A tyre split open on a rock ruins a lovely day. Park in the designated area below and walk the last few metres.

Souss-Massa National Park: an hour to the south

Head towards Tiznit on the coast road, then turn off towards Massa or Sidi R’bat. Allow about an hour's drive for a complete change of scene: the mouth of the wadi, dunes, an almost deserted beach and one of the last colonies of bald ibis in the world. Birdwatchers come here with binoculars, but the walk is reward enough in itself. Some hamlets offer camel rides along the estuary.

Parking: the last few kilometres down to the beach are sometimes on a sandy track. If the track becomes soft or rutted, stop and carry on on foot rather than getting the car stuck in the sand. It is the only real trap on this trip, and it is easy to avoid.

Taroudant: around 1 hr 15 to the east

Nicknamed little Marrakech, Taroudant is reached by the inland road via Oulad Teima. The road is straight and fast-flowing, with regular speed checks: fines remain the renter's responsibility, so ease off entering and leaving villages. People come for the rammed-earth ramparts, which you can follow by horse-drawn carriage, the Berber souk, the spices, the jewellery and an atmosphere far less touristy than on the coast.

Parking: do not try to drive into the medina. The car parks outside, near the gates and the main square, are supervised and save you from circling in narrow streets where turning round is impossible.

Essaouira: around 3 hours, the longest of the trips

This is the only one on the list that really needs planning. The coast road north crosses the argan forests then climbs towards the listed Portuguese town. Three hours there, the same coming back: set off early, or stay a night to make the most of it. Once there: the Skala ramparts, the harbour with its blue boats, the pedestrian medina, the huge beach for kitesurfing.

Parking: the medina is closed to cars. The large supervised car parks are along the ramparts, outside the main gates, and are paid for by the day. Arrive before midday in high season, otherwise you will be driving round in circles.

If you would rather end your stay in Essaouira instead of driving back, delivery or collection of the vehicle there is possible for 60 € per journey, bearing in mind that an outward trip and a return trip count as two journeys. Within Agadir itself (Al Massira airport, hotel, city centre, home address), delivery is free.

The practical tips not to skip

  • Filling up before you set off: petrol stations become scarce on the Imouzzer road and towards Souss-Massa. Fuel is at your own expense and the vehicle is returned at the same level as when you collected it.
  • Driving: watch out for carts, two-wheelers and animals at the roadside, especially at dusk. Damage to the vehicle is not covered, so caution is the best policy.
  • If something goes wrong: assistance is available 24/7, and third-party liability insurance is included.
  • Sand and dust: a trip through the car wash before you hand the car back avoids the 100 MAD cleaning charge applied if the vehicle is returned very dirty.
  • On the day you leave: plan to return the car 2 hours before your flight, not ten minutes after your last outing.

As for the conditions, the driver must be at least 21 years old and hold a licence valid for 2 years, a second driver can be added for an extra charge, and smoking in the vehicle is prohibited. Everything is set out in detail on the page hire conditions.

Which car to choose for your trips

For Taghazout, Taroudant or Essaouira, a city car at 25 €/day (20 €/day from 7 days) does the job perfectly. With four adults and luggage, a saloon such as the Dacia Logan or Skoda Rapid at 30 €/day (25 €/day from 7 days) will be more comfortable on the Essaouira road. For families, the Dacia Dokker, Lodgy and Renault Kangoo start at 40 €/day on request. The 4×4s (Dacia Duster, Mitsubishi Pajero, VW Touareg, Range Rover) start at 55 €/day on request, useful if your plans take you towards the Anti-Atlas. Details of the models available are on the page Carsalis vehicles.

No deposit, no advance payment and no security deposit are required. There is no online payment: secure bank transfer is preferred, European transfers accepted, and payment in cash or by card on arrival remains possible subject to conditions, with card payment incurring 5% bank charges. The details are on the page payment methods.

Send your request

Tell us your dates, the number of passengers and the trips you have in mind: we will tell you which vehicle suits you and where it will be delivered. Message us on WhatsApp on +212 648 291 116, by email at info@carsalis.com, or fill in the booking enquiry. The agency is rated 4.9/5 on Google with over 200 reviews.

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