Holiday itinerary
Combine cooking and surfing on this unique 7 night/8 day holiday set in the traditional seaside town of Bouznika where you can enjoy the peace and tranquillity of this beautiful area of North Morocco where the waves are plentiful and the weather is warm with delicious local Moroccan food.
With 8 spots within easy reach there really is something for everyone at Bouznika. While beginners will benefit from the consistent and sheltered conditions of the beach break out in front of the surf house accommodation, more experienced surfers can head to the northern end of the bay and tackle the 3-8ft surf at a fantastic point break. The waves are so good in the area that the prestigious European Longboarding Tour holds an event in Bouznika.
Before the day’s surfing begins, you can travel to a local market to buy the ingredients for the evening meal that you’ll prepare during your cooking lessons with the help of Sanaa, a local Moroccan lady, who will show you the secrets of the dishes that are central to Moroccan cuisine: harira, tagines, couscous and b’stila, a myriad of salads, breads, and desserts; plus you’ll learn about the spices and key ingredients that provide that distinctive Moroccan flavour.
Cooking lessons take place in the afternoon in the surf house kitchen, where you’ll learn how to create traditional Moroccan dishes from two experienced local women. You will be cooking for the guests at the surf house that evening, which will be a maximum of 10 people, and then spend the evening socialising and enjoying your dishes with everyone at the surf house.
Bouznika is a safe and traditional town, far removed from the noise and hubbub of the more crowded cities in Morocco. When you’re not surfing or cooking at the surf house, you can head into town and grab some excellent street food from the numerous vendors. Bouznika is renowned for its great street food and traditional BBQs, and shouldn’t be missed out on.
Although a lot of surfers head to the more well-known waves around Agadir in the south, traditional Bouznika’s northerly aspect means it often enjoys better and less crowded conditions – making it the perfect place for a chilled out surf and cookery holiday.
Suitability
- Suitable for all surf levels from complete beginners to those that have surfed before and are looking to perfect their technique
- Must be able to swim
- Suitable for all levels of cooking ability
- Minimum age 18 (16 if accompanied with an over 18)
- Surfing is great fun for everyone but it’s best to bear in mind that it can sometimes be physically demanding
- Surf and cookery lessons are given in English
- The school also has accommodaiton options suitable for families, as well as babysitting services, please email us for more details
Travelling Solo?
- Bouznika is a great destination for people on singles holidays as it is an extremely safe town where you will not be hassled as a solo traveller
- You can walk alone along the sandy beaches in peace, or socialise with other surfers in the fantastic surf house
- Shared accommodation means you will have the perfect chance to get to know the other guests as you chill out on the large sun terrace in the evenings, enjoying a social dinner with a great view of the beach
Surfing and Cookery Holiday Start Days
- The surf school opens for 9 months of the year and closes between June and August each year
- Surfing and cookery holidays are for 7 nights/8 days
- Arrivals can be accommodated on any day of the week giving you plenty of flexibility with arrival dates
- If dates appear ‘on request’ please email us and we’ll check availability for your preferred day of arrival as quickly as possible
Surfing And Cookery Holiday Itinerary
The itinerary is for guidance only and is subject to change depending on the group’s needs and wishes but is typically as follows:
Day 1 Arrival date
- Check in any time after 2pm onwards
- You will have the afternoon to settle into your surf house accommodation and get to know the other guests
- You can make your own arrangements for dinner or if you prefer, you can pay for dinner at the surf house (cost around £10 for 2 courses)
Days 2-7 – 6 days of Surfing and 3 cooking classes
- Each day, enjoy a leisurely breakfast
- On the 3 days when your cookery lessons take place, you can either choose to head out to the market with the cookery teachers to the vibrant local markets to help choose the fresh ingredients you’ll be cooking with later that day, or you can skip the market visit and head straight to the beach for your surf lesson
- If you do go to the market, you’ll head to the beach after the market visit to start surfing
- On days when you are not cooking, after breakfast, you will head to the beach right in front of the surf house where you will have 1.5 hours of surfing lessons each day
- Your instructor will take you to find the best waves - surf spots are right on the beach in front of the surf house but if necessary, transport will be provided if you are going to head further afield looking for different surf spots
- You are free to take breaks when you want, if you feel tired you can sit on the beach and soak up some sun
- Please note that the exact time of your surf lessons may vary subject to the tides but will be confirmed on arrival
- After your surf lessons, break for a vegetarian lunch (sandwiches or a light lunch is included)
- On 3 afternoons during the week, you’ll start your cooking lessons late afternoon and will learn to cook a multitude of traditional Moroccan dishes ready for dinner for you, your fellow cooks and any other guests staying for dinner at the surf house that evening
- You will be cooking in the kitchen of the surf house, and cooking enough food for the guests staying at the surf house that day (maximum 10 people) so you’ll learn how to cook for a large dinner party – great skills for group cooking once you are back home!
- The exact days of the cooking classes will be confirmed on arrival
- On the afternoons when you are not cooking, you are free for you to relax and kick back on the beach or perhaps head to Casablanca or Rabat by train to explore
- On the evenings when you are not cooking, you can either head to town for dinner or most people prefer to pay for dinner at the surf house (around £10 for 2 courses)
- Your hosts will provide transport into town on 2 nights during the week if you want to head out for dinner or a night out
Day 8 – Departure day
- After breakfast you will check out of the surf house by 11am for your return trip home, taking with you new cooking skills, an insight into Moroccan culture and some fantastic memories of some great surfing
About The Surf School And Surfing Instructor
- All surf instructors are fully qualified to BSA (British Surf Association) standards and are multi-lingual
- The surf course is run by an Englishman with years of surfing experience, who is naturally fluent in English and passionate about the sport
- Your experience is at the heart of what they do and surf instructor wants to ensure you have a great time and get the most out of surfing in this fantastic location and culture
- They can tailor and create the experience to your needs and level
About The Surf Equipment
- Beginners are able to use 9ft foam boards with rubber fins that have good stability to help the learning process
- Surf boards are included for the duration of the lessons
- Outside of your lessons, you can hire a surf board to practice and prices are confirmed on arrival but are very reasonable
- Wetsuit hire is £30 for the 6 days of your surf lessons if you need it and you can either pre-book a wetsuit or arrange for a suit on arrival depending on the weather
About The Cookery Lessons
- The cookery course is run by Sanaa and her sister Tourya who are local Moroccan women, who have a wealth of knowledge and experience in cooking traditional Moroccan dishes and are keen to pass on these skills to visitors
- Sanna and her sister also look after the surf house during the week so you’ll have plenty of time to get to know them and to ask them for their cookery tips throughout your stay
- It’s a fun, sociable experience and you’ll learn in a relaxed atmosphere, learning to cook in the surf house kitchen
- All cookery ingredients and equipment are included in the course price
What Will I Learn?
Surfing
- Whatever your surfing level, you will be given great tips during your lessons
- As a beginner you will learn the following:
- Elementary water safety
- How to understand your surf board
- Theory lessons on types of breaks, surf board design, equipment and history
- How to control the board in the water
- Where and how to position yourself to catch a wave
- How to clear the breaking zone and deal with white water
- How to paddle to catch the waves
- How to balance standing and lying on the board
- How to stand on your board beginning with a knees to standing action (slower) to mastering a ‘pop up’
- More advanced surfers will be shown the best breaks and will be taken to more challenging spots to surf during the week
Cooking
- The idea of the cookery course is that you'll learn the techniques and skills to recreate the dishes back home to impress even your most foodie friends
- Sanna and Tourya will teach you how to make the traditional dishes that are central to Moroccan cuisine
- You’ll also discover the cultural importance of Moroccan food and will learn about the spices and key ingredients necessary to make authentic Moroccan cuisine
- How to select fresh and seasonal produce from the local market and how to create delicious traditional Moroccan dishes
Typical Dishes You’ll Learn To Cook
Dishes vary according to the time of year and what ingredients are available fresh at the market that day but may include:
- Harira
- Tagines
- Couscous and b’stila
- A myriad of salads
- Moroccan flat bread
- Typical Moroccan desserts
The Surf House Accommodation
- Accommodation is in a basic but beautiful surf house situated directly on the idyllic Bouznika beach, close to the town of Bouznika in north Morocco
- The surf house is built around a stunning open courtyard, decorated with traditional Moroccan tiling
- The southwest facing surf house has a large living room with an open fire, a kitchen on the beach and sea views from the dining room
- Downstairs there is a bedroom with two single beds and ensuite bathroom. Upstairs there are 4 rooms each with their own bathroom: one triple room, one twin room, one double room and one single room
- In total, there will be a maximum of 10 guests at the surf house sharing five bathrooms
- Relax on the large sun terrace with picturesque views of the beach, perfect for lazy evenings relaxing with fellow surfers
- There is also a daily maid service included
-- Wi-fi is available in the lounge
- Your hosts have a dog who is allowed on the terrace and in the lounge. However she is never allowed in the kitchen or bedroom
Meals
- Breakfast is served daily and after your surf lessons, there’s a vegetarian lunch (sandwiches or light lunch)
- You also have unlimited tea, coffee and water throughout the week
- You’ll also enjoy the 3 meals you learn to cook during your 3 cookery sessions which are included in the cookery course price and will be served as your evening meals on these days
- If you want to stay at the surf house for dinner on the other days (and most people do), you can pay £10 for a delicious home cooked 2 course evening meal which is cooked by a local Moroccan lady giving you the chance to taste some amazing local dishes
- Vegetarians can be catered for, please add a special request at the time of booking
- All other dietary requests must be checked in advance of booking
Want To Add More Cookery Classes?
- If you wish to add more cooking, you can add on 2 extra cookery classes for a small additional cost making your holiday a total of 5 cookery lessons
- You can add these during the booking process and to check the price, click on the ‘costings and extras’ tab
Transfers
- A free pick up and drop off is included from either Casablanca airport or Mohammedia train station (25-30 minute drive away from the surf house)
- If you fly into Marrakech, you can catch the train to Mohammedia train station which takes around 3.5 hours, and then receive your free transfer to the surf house
- To book your pick-up, you’ll need to call/email the school directly at least 7 days in advance of arrival to arrange this (details will be given on your confirmation voucher)
Free Time In Morocco
As you are right on one of the best surf beaches in the area, you may not want to move from there but if you do, there’s a few different things to do during the day which include:
- Visiting Rabat or Casablanca to experience the buzz of a Moroccan city to shop at the Souks and sip Moroccan tea watching local life
- Casablanca is only a 30 minute train ride away, and the team at the surf house will be happy to help you organise a day trip once you have arrived in Morocco
- Rabat is the capital of Morocco and a friendly city which can also be reached by train
- For those aching surf muscles, relax after a hard day’s surfing with a massage at the surf house for around £15 for a back massage or £25 for a full body message (payable at the surf house and arranged locally)
- You can also head into the small town of Bouznika to explore the local market stalls and experience the famous street food which is famous for its barbecued meat
- You can also surf for free after lessons and your instructor will tell you where and when to go, but this is at your own risk
Go learn to surf in the home of the European long board championships on Bouznika beach, and get a taste of traditional Moroccan cooking in a fun, relaxed way as you learn to cook fabulous Moroccan dishes using local produce on this surf and cookery holiday with a difference.