Kayaking in Morocco

Bin El Ouidane is a large reservoir in the Middle Atlas foothills, with turquoise water running for kilometers between dry, rust-colored hills. The water is calm and the lake is rarely crowded. Go early: mornings often bring mist on the water. Several guesthouses along the shore rent kayaks and canoes, and guided half-day tours leave from the town of Bin El Ouidane. In summer the water is warm enough to swim from your kayak.

• Turquoise lake surrounded by Atlas foothills
• Calm flat water ideal for beginners
• Excellent swimming and fishing spots
• Quiet and uncrowded compared to tourist areas
• Half-day guided tours available

The Dakhla peninsula creates a massive, shallow lagoon that stretches roughly 40 kilometers along the Saharan coast. The water is clear enough to see the sand and seagrass below, with flamingos in the shallows and rays under the hull. The peninsula shelters the lagoon from the Atlantic swell, so conditions stay calm. Guided tours follow the channels, stop on isolated sandbanks for a swim, and head to the outer edges where dolphins sometimes appear. Sunset sessions are popular.

• Crystal-clear shallow waters with marine life
• Flamingo and dolphin sightings
• Saharan sunset backdrop
• Sheltered from Atlantic waves
• Combine with kitesurfing or fishing

The Oued El Abid, the river that feeds Ouzoud Falls, is the easiest place in Morocco to try whitewater. It has sections ranging from gentle Class I-II rapids for beginners to more challenging Class III stretches for experienced paddlers. Expect red canyon walls, olive groves on the banks and Barbary macaques in the trees. Most kayaking here is organized as part of multi-activity day trips from Marrakech that combine kayaking with a visit to the falls. The river is at its best in spring when snowmelt swells the flow, though summer levels remain kayakable in most sections. Local outfitters provide all equipment including helmets and life jackets.

• Class I-III rapids depending on season
• Red canyon and olive grove scenery
• Barbary macaque monkey sightings
• Combine with Ouzoud Falls visit
• Spring snowmelt creates exciting rapids

In Essaouira you launch from the beach near the medina and paddle past the fortified ramparts of the old city, around the Ile de Mogador (a protected island sanctuary for Eleonora's falcons), and along the dramatic coastline of rocky headlands and hidden coves. The Atlantic here is rougher than the Dakhla lagoon, so a basic level of fitness and comfort in open water is recommended. Book a morning session: the trade winds usually build in the afternoon.

• Paddle past Essaouira medina ramparts
• Ile de Mogador bird sanctuary views
• Atlantic coastline and coves
• Morning calm before trade winds