Golden Desert Sand
The morning after, Paradise Beach is bathed in sunshine. And who doesn’t need sunshine when the calendar says late January? It doesn’t get scorching hot here, but rather 20-25 degrees Celsius with blue skies most of the time. When the holiday is all about surfing and yoga, the temperature is just right.
Behind the name Paradise Plage lies a beautiful hotel resort facing a paradise-like beach with golden desert sand stretching for several kilometers in both directions. The beach invites you to go for runs and play ball games—or how about a horseback ride in full gallop? There’s an opportunity for all of that here. At the end of January, the place feels a bit out of season, so there aren’t many guests on the beach. On the other hand, you can choose from the loungers, and a few camels and a small group of horses are available for a beach ride.
And even though the water is cool in January, a refreshing dip in the roaring Atlantic Ocean is just what you need!
Wake Up with Yoga
It’s hard to imagine a better way to start the day than by gently waking up the body with soft stretches to the sound of crashing waves. We do sun salutations while the sun rises. The yoga shala, the name for the small glass house, is beautifully located right by the beach. The glass walls allow you to enjoy the view, hear the sea, and stay sheltered from the wind on cool mornings. When the days get warmer, the sliding doors can be opened, and yoga can move outdoors.
Karsten Kroll is the resident yoga instructor at Paradise Plage. He is an experienced and dedicated yogi with many years of experience. His approach to living in the present moment and finding inner peace in a hectic life shines through in his yoga classes. The instruction is tailored to the participants’ levels, and this week there are both experienced yogis and beginners.
A Danish guy in his 30s had his yoga debut here in Morocco, and when he surprisingly almost lifted off the floor in the pose “Crow,” he was hooked: “This won’t be the last time I do yoga,” he exclaimed enthusiastically after the session.
Watch the Sun Set
If you want to do yoga three times a day, it’s possible. I chose “only” the morning class and the sunset yoga at 5:30 PM. The dynamic yoga at sunrise was my favorite—but the gentle yin yoga at sunset was definitely not a disappointment either. In yin yoga, we hold long stretches that make the body supple and massage the connective tissue. It should hurt— in a good way, we are told. Meanwhile, we stretch those stiff office bodies until they ache in the joints and creak in the bones. At the same time, it’s almost meditative—and believe me; it leaves you with newfound flexibility after a week under Karsten’s expert guidance.
Surfing and Relaxation
If yoga is the Yin of life, surfing must be the Yang. If you’re not into yoga but prefer surfing and the lifestyle that comes with it, Agadir is also the right place to go. The roaring sea and fresh wind are ideal for surfing—both windsurfing and stand-up paddle (SUP). Add to that the resort’s relaxing environment with fatboys to lounge on after a sea session, and pleasant lounge music in the bar: you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more easy-going surf destination in the world. The place is indeed popular. Whether you are a beginner or advanced, there are daily group sessions as well as private lessons on the blue waves. For surfers, there’s no such thing as “off-season”—and especially in January-February, the waves are high and the wind is fresh, providing ample opportunity for a great surf session.
I haven’t even touched on the lavish breakfast buffet, the beach bar’s grilled giant shrimp, the live music, and the bonfire in the evenings. Not to mention the heavenly treatments in the spa department—also at great prices—and the smiles and warmth of the staff.
It truly is a little piece of paradise you get here, just about 30 km outside Agadir.
