How to experience Paradise Valley

Natural pool at Paradise Valley, Morocco

Staying in Agadir or the Taghazout area and looking for a fun nature day trip to the Atlas Mountains?

Paradise Valley could be just the ticket!

A new stone footpath, a visitor centre with toilets (coming soon), and fresh water in the oasis pools make swimming in nature even more accessible.

What is Paradise Valley?

This verdant valley has date palm trees, rocky cliffs, hiking trails, and natural pools. To accommodate the many visitors, locals have set up cafés along the first section of the hike. Sit with your feet in the cooling pools or under bamboo and palm leaf shade to enjoy freshly squeezed seasonal juice or tagine.

How to get to Paradise Valley?

Take the P1001 scenic route towards the mountain village of Imouzzer Ida Ou Tanane. Around 25 km inland, look for the Vallée du Paradis sign, a new parking lot with guardians, and a visitor centre with toilets (coming very soon). Taxis from Agadir and Taghazout will drop you here.

Is there water in the pools?

Yes! Having dried up for a few years, the pools filled up again soon after the September 2023 earthquake! Remarkably, something shifted within the earth. The first pools that you reach when walking from the car park both have filled up with freshwater again, although if you prefer a quieter swim, keep walking to the pools further along the path.

What to do in Paradise Valley Morocco?

If you’ve been spending a lot of time on the beach or in a city, Paradise Valley can be that much-needed fix of earth. Rocky boulders, steep cliffs, dry riverbeds, and a heavy scent of earth make it a grounding experience. A round-up of some of our favourite experiences are listed here;

Hike to the pools or further, wiggling your way through shady date palm and bamboo paths. The first pool is around a twenty-minute walk from the car park. Keep going if you want to visit the others.
Belly flop, jump, dive, or slide into the freshwater pools. If you are more into watching, people-watching is a lovely pastime here.
Take time to relax and enjoy breakfast or lunch at one of the simple food stalls, and open-air cafés.
Look for cafés with tables in the water. Here, you can sit and cool down, and maybe the small fish will nibble at your feet. It is known locally as a ‘Fish Spa’.
Prefer to be on the ground? Grab one of the low tables shaded by bamboo structures. Order your tagine or couscous, and take a siesta on piles of comfy cushions and rug chill-out areas. Listen to the running water, a sign of life and nourishment.
Enjoy the journey. My travel buddy exclaimed on the winding road towards Paradise Valley, ‘It’s worth it for the drive!’
Local shopping. It’s also a great route for vendors of local products including honey, argan oil, amlou and fossils - yep, lots of fossils are found in this area. In Alma, you can visit local coopératives to see the process of making argan oil, and buy natural beauty products made on-site.

Book a guided tour for a deeper cultural interaction

If you prefer to go on a guided tour, away from the crowds, I can highly recommend Youssef and the team at Amazigh Hiking. Born in the local village, they will take you off the beaten track and offer unique cultural insights into the region.

What to pack for your day trip to Paradise Valley

Wear trainers or comfy walking shoes; the gradient and gravel paths can make flip-flops uncomfortable. Take a small rucksack, swimming costume, lightweight towel or sarong, water, sun cream, sunhat, and cash.

That’s it—a round-up of some of our favourite experiences in Paradise Valley. I hope you enjoyed it. Final note: It is hotter inland, so be prepared! And if you go, have fun and respect nature.