Mohamed AchhibatNational Kitesurf Champion · IKO InstructorSandboarding is snowboarding on sand: same board, same stance, same feeling of sliding — without the cold. In Morocco, most people picture the Sahara. But there are far more accessible dunes 25 minutes from Essaouira, facing the Atlantic. Here is what a session actually looks like.
Where to sandboard in Morocco
Two options, very different.
The Sahara dunes — Erg Chebbi near Merzouga, Erg Chigaga near M'Hamid. These are the country's highest and most spectacular, the ones in the photographs. The catch is distance: from Marrakech or Fes you're looking at a two- or three-day trip, in which sandboarding is one stop among the bivouac, the camel and the sunrise.
The coastal dunes at Ouassane, 25 minutes south of Essaouira, right next to Sidi Kaouki. Lower than Erg Chebbi, but rideable year-round, facing the ocean, and above all doable in half a day.
If you're on the Atlantic coast, the second is the only one that fits into an afternoon.
What a session looks like
The format is simple, and there is nothing to prepare.
- Morning departure or late afternoon for the sunset session — the time is confirmed when you book.
- Meet at the dunes, or take the optional transport from Essaouira.
- Technique briefing from your guide: stance, where to look, how to slow down.
- Runs at your own pace — board and wax provided.
- Mint tea break looking out over the dunes.
Is it hard?
No, and that is what surprises people most.
You slide on your very first run: sitting down if you'd rather start cautiously, then standing like a snowboarder. No experience is needed. Sand is far more forgiving than snow — a fall is a slide and a lot of sand in your clothes, not a bruise.
That is also why children are welcome at any age, with their parents. You start on a gentle slope and move higher as confidence builds.
Sandboarding vs snowboarding: the real differences
If you've snowboarded before, four things will catch you out.
- Sand is slower than snow. Hence the wax, reapplied under the board between runs — without it you simply don't pick up speed.
- You ride barefoot. No boots, no rigid bindings; it's simpler and much more pleasant.
- Falling doesn't hurt. You will fall, and you will laugh.
- You walk back up. There's no chairlift — that's where the day's effort is, and it's what naturally spaces the runs out.
The perfect no-wind day
Essaouira lives by the wind. It's what made it a well-known kitesurf spot — and it's also what makes some days frustrating: when the trade wind drops or the sea goes flat, not much happens on the water.
The dunes depend on nothing. No wind, no swell, no tide. It's the only board sport in the region that works exactly the same way every day of the year, which is why plenty of our kite and surf clients keep it in reserve.
If you want other ideas for that kind of day, we listed the rest in things to do in Essaouira.
Morning or sunset?
The two sessions have quite different characters.
| Session | What you get |
|---|---|
| Morning | Cool sand, hard light, empty dunes |
| Sunset | The best light of the day, the Atlantic behind you |
For the sunset session, bring a warm layer: once the sun drops behind the horizon the temperature falls quickly on the dunes.
What to wear
Sports clothing that can take sand — because it will. Sunglasses, sunscreen, something to drink. Nothing else: board and wax are provided, and you ride barefoot.
Coming from Marrakech
Essaouira is roughly 2h45 by road from Marrakech, which makes it a very common day trip. A sandboard session in the morning or early afternoon fits that format well — you just need to book ahead so we can set the time around your drive.
Combining it with Sidi Kaouki
Ouassane sits on the edge of Sidi Kaouki: a big wild beach, a quiet village, a few cafés facing the ocean. The combination people ask for most is a surf lesson in the morning, lunch in the village, then the dunes at sunset. Our Sidi Kaouki surf trip leaves from the same place.
What it costs
€25 per person, minimum 2 people — we don't take solo bookings. Transport from Essaouira is optional: €20 return per group of 2 to 4 people, €30 above that. You're also welcome to make your own way there.
Board, wax, guide and the tea break are included. Full details and booking are on the sandboarding in Essaouira page.