Tamraght

Fifteen minutes south of Taghazout, Tamraght is the calmer half of the same coastline — a village on a river mouth with a wide, forgiving beach that is the default classroom for camps up and down this coast.

Banana Point and Banana Beach take their name from the plantations in the valley behind. The beach break is sandy, shallow and slow to close out, which is exactly what a first week needs, and the point at the northern end gives a mellow right once you can paddle for a shoulder.

The banks move after winter rains, so where the good peak sits changes through the season. Instructors here check it every morning rather than assuming.

The village is cheaper than Taghazout and much quieter in the evening. Argan groves and a river valley sit immediately inland, which makes it a better base if you want to see something other than surf shops between sessions.