Agadir
Area: Morocco

Location:
On coast, facing W onto Atlantic Ocean, on
roughly same latitude as Canary Islands.
167 miles SW of Marrakech (by road).
14 miles N of airport.

Telephone code from UK:
212 48

Website:
http://www.tourism-in-morocco.com

Position:
In coastal position, surrounded by Atlas Mountains with River Souss to S. Sloping
streets and paths towards N end of resort, gradually levelling out towards sand dunes in S.

Description:
Agadir was known to the Dutch fleet as a supply stop centuries ago, when the local inhabitants built the Kasbah for them _ one of the few monuments surviving from the earthquake of 1960, which razed the town to the ground and killed 20,000 people. Agadir was rebuilt by the famous French architect Le Corbusier, who constructed earthquake-resistant buildings, and Agadir today is a bustling commercial resort city, economically important for its agriculture, sardine fishing and tourist industry. Stretching along the coast for some two miles, Agadir's popularity as a holiday resort rest mainly on its climate (year-round sunshine with just the occasional unpredictable rainy day), its wide sandy bay and a backdrop of snow-capped Atlas Mountains. The tourist area of the town comprises a variety of international hotels discreetly blending into the environment of dunes and eucalyptus forests. The centrally situated Festival Square is home to a variety of medium-standard hotels, basic international restaurants and bars. The hospitable Berber people make hard salespeople but are less insistent than their counterparts in other North African destinations. Agadir offers an out-of-Europe environment with luxury, tranquillity and mysticism.

Suitability:
Attracts a wide variety: sun-seekers, business people, special activity groups like bird-watchers. Middle to upmarket.

Accommodation:
Wide selection of hotels, "residences" (apartments) and aparthotels ranging from very modern and grand to modest with more atmospheric surroundings. Couple of all-inclusive club-style village complexes with good sporting facilities _ surfing, water-skiing and, at some, golf. Most hotels offer quality pool and garden areas which provide protection from the occasional Atlantic wind. There are often more refined dining alternatives to the regular buffets provided by the mass-catering venues.

Shopping:
Good variety of shopping from boutiques to bazaars, but less traditional than older cities. Supermarkets sell everything from cornflakes, vegetables and wine to Moroccan handicrafts at fixed prices. A large souk (local market) offers the opportunity to haggle.

Beach:
Expansive seven miles of fine sandy beach, smoothed by ocean waves and with a number of beach facilities and sports. Too wide to be crowded and rarely littered. Year-round swimming, although it can be cold and rough during winter.

Entertainments:
Daytime: enjoying the beach and sunshine. Shopping for bargains. Limited beach sports provided by the locals. Many hotels organise activity programmes. For children, Valley of the Birds comprises zoo, aviary and playground. Theatre and folk art museum. Donkey and camel rides. Nightlife: limited to hotels and their nightclubs, some of which have evening cabarets. Most bars have live music and occasional visiting folk dancers and singers. International dining and show based at Beach Club Hotel.

Eating:
Large selection of eateries to suit all pockets.
 A variety of influences from French, oriental, Scandinavian, Italian and Spanish as well as authentic Moroccan restaurants and locals' cafes. As a fishing port, Agadir can offer an impressive variety of seafood at affordable prices.

Public-transport:
A mini-train meanders around the tourist area during the day. Local buses to neighbouring villages; choice of public coach companies to other cities. Small orange taxis to get around town (agree the price before entering); for further a field, blue six-seater Mercedes are found at the main taxi station.

Local-excursions:
Half day: local souk (market); desert and camel treks; shark fishing; city sightseeing; ancient oasis town of Taroudannt. Full day: fishing port of Essaouira with its colourful old town; exploring local highland villages; Marrakech (long day).