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To cut straight to it, yes I do think Morocco’s Paradise Valley is worth visiting, but it’s essential to be clued up on what to expect as it may or may not be the type of paradise you’re expecting!
Whether you’ve made it to Agadir or one of the nearby surf towns like Taghazout or Tamraght, you’ll no doubt start to hear talk of Paradise Valley – an oasis of natural pools surrounded by towering palm trees in a rocky valley in the Atlas Mountains.
That’s if you haven’t already come across it in your trip research!
And with a name like that, you’ll no doubt be as interested as we were to check it out for yourself.
But is it really a paradise, a word that’s often thrown around rather unjustly, or is it another over-sensationalised attraction that is just a waiting disappointment?
Well, after visiting for ourselves and deciding that it’s worth it with managed expectations, I’ve put together this complete guide to Paradise Valley which includes our experience in the month of September as well as all the details you need to plan your own trip!
What Is Paradise Valley?
Waltzing along to a so-called paradise is all well and good, but what actually is Paradise Valley and what makes it so special?
Essentially, it’s a large canyon carved within a valley in the lower hills of the High Atlas Mountains, where a river flows (or dribbles depending on rainfall) through and creates natural pools in an oasis-like setting. Add in the surrounding palm trees that loom overhead and the high mountain ridges on either side, and you have a recipe for a truly epic scene!
A paradise valley, so they say.
Is It Worth Visiting?
So, let’s get straight to the point – is Paradise Valley actually worth visiting?
As you need to dedicate at least half a day to visit, this is probably one of your main questions and it’s definitely something we were trying to figure out before we went.
And after our trip, my opinion is yes, it is definitely worth visiting, as long as you know what you’re getting into and manage your expectations accordingly.
The first important consideration is that the beautiful pools that you see online or in marketing photos are heavily dependent on recent rainfall and the time of year plays a big part in what you’ll experience.
We visited in September, after an incredibly hot and dry summer, which is basically the worst-case scenario for Paradise Valley. The idyllic pools that filter down the valley were almost completely dried up apart from a few, what are better described as, murky puddles. Only the two larger pools at the bottom of the valley were fresh, full, and open for us to enjoy.
However, this is to be expected at this time of year and even in a time like this, we still actually really enjoyed our visit. While it may not have been as special as normal, we were still able to soak up the laidback vibe and tremendous scenery which is what I believe Paradise Valley is all about!
Having said that, if your visit coincides with the Moroccan school summer holidays in August or the weekend, you may not have the same relaxing experience!
Another thing that is important to be aware of is that the valley is more of a rustic paradise with basic facilities. It’s all about the nature, simplicity, and chilled vibe and less so about the quality service and modern comforts that are better found in Agadir and Taghazout hotels.
As long as you factor all of these into your expectations, then Paradise Valley is absolutely worth your time!
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Where Is Paradise Valley?
Located in southwestern Morocco, Paradise Valley is around 30km from Agadir, Taghazout, and Tamraght, with the drive taking about an hour from each by following the road inland from the small town of Aourir.
From Imsouane and Essaouira, the distances are over 80km and 180km respectively.
I’ve pinned Paradise Valley on the map below which gives a visual sense of where it sits in relation to the coastal towns.
How To Get There From Agadir, Taghazout, And Other Coastal Towns
Paradise Valley is most commonly visited as a day trip from nearby coastal towns like Agadir and Taghazout, and the best way to get there is by joining one of the group tours that run daily, which is what we did.
We booked our tour from Agadir through Get Your Guide and I highly recommend it – I’ll link it here. It has pickup options for Agadir, Anza, Tamraght, and Taghazout.
It’s also possible to visit independently if you have a rental car and although I read that shared grand taxis travel to Paradise Valley from Aourir, we’re not able to confirm this.
However, no matter which mode of transport you take, there’s no avoiding the short 15 minute hike down to the valley from the car park.
Organised Group Tour
Typically, we don’t opt for group tours if it’s possible to visit ourselves, but we found that they are definitely the way to go in Agadir. And we ended up booking all of our Agadir tours through Get Your Guide as we found it so easy and affordable as well as showing ratings and reviews left by other travellers.
So, this is what we did for Paradise Valley, which was as simple as choosing our preferred date and time and selecting our hotel pickup point. We were then contacted by the tour company directly on WhatsApp on the day of our tour to confirm everything before being picked up on time in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan.
We then started our journey to Paradise Valley which, after all the pickups in Agadir, Anza, Tamraght, and Taghazout, included a couple of short stops at a scenic lookout and an Argan Oil shop on the way – the latter being a common feature on just about every tour in Morocco!
Once at Paradise Valley, our tour guide Omar, whom we can’t speak more highly of, led us down to the main pool area before we were given an hour of free time to enjoy the place.
We definitely think the tour was the right choice and the only negative thing we have to say is that we’d have liked to have had more time in the valley to explore more and relax for longer. We’d also already been to other Argan Oil stores on other tours so, for us personally, we’d rather not have used up time there.
But overall, going on the tour was definitely the best choice for us!
Join The Exact Tour We Did: Reserve Your Spot Now!
Driving
The main benefit of having a rental car and driving to Paradise Valley is the freedom and flexibility it gives you to visit on your own schedule and at your own pace.
And a car can also come in handy if you’re a surfer and want to reach different out-of-town surf breaks along the coastline or if you’re on a bigger road trip around Morocco.
However, apart from these reasons, a car isn’t necessary to fully enjoy a trip to Agadir or Taghazout as public transport, taxis, and organised tours are plentiful.
If you do decide to drive, it’s a well-paved road for most of the journey, but it does start to wind the further you go. There’s a small car park at the start of the trail to the valley, although it can fill up with cars and tour minibuses. We also saw an attendant collecting money from drivers, so make sure to have some change with you.
> Compare Car Rental Prices Here
Entrance Fee
There is no admission fee to enter Paradise Valley.
Related Post: Best Things To Do In Agadir
What To Expect – Our Experience In Paradise Valley
The Drive
Before even arriving at Paradise Valley, we experienced the first highlight of the trip which we hadn’t actually given any thought to – the epic views on the drive there! With impressive mountain ridges all around, we gazed out of the window at the deep landscape and dry, arid slopes as we cruised along the winding roads.
This, along with our stop at a scenic lookout over a pretty valley of palm trees, really got us in the groove for the incredible scenery of the day!
Hiking Down To The Valley
Once parked up at the entrance, we started our hike down the paved trail to the main attraction, and this isn’t too difficult at all. Technically, you could wear flip flops or sandals, but I’d recommend trainers as I could see it being slippery in the wet. Passing a few of the nicer-looking cafes, snack shops, and souvenir stalls, it took us about 15 minutes to get down and thankfully the second half was shaded!
The Valley
Arriving at the bottom, we were welcomed by the two large pools that were actually full, along with the poolside restaurants and their plastic chairs and tables that surrounded them. And most of these chairs were sitting in the water which might seem peculiar at first, but it’s because it’s popular to sit with your feet in the water and let the fish have a nibble! This explained the sign for ‘fish spa’ that we saw.
As well as the parasol-shaded tables in the water, there were also booths to relax in but one thing was clear – it’s a really rustic setting and nothing fancy at all. We also realised that these two pools are completely privatised and so we needed to make a purchase to sit around them. We chose the second of the two to relax by as it just seemed a bit clearer and quieter.
Before sitting down though, we wanted to explore further into the valley. We walked passed the two pools and kept going along the dirt path for a few minutes, admiring the huge and picturesque palm trees as we went, and found the canyon that leads up into the mountains. Even though our guide had already told us that the pools in the canyon had dried up, we still wanted to check it out for ourselves.
We found that he wasn’t lying and although the landscape and the rock formations of the canyon were still amazing to see, the canyon was sadly completely dried up, and all the restaurants along this way were closed.
We didn’t have the time to venture too far so we headed back to the two main pools and enjoyed a coffee and a dip in the refreshing water. We were still able to appreciate it for what it is and really enjoyed a relaxing hour soaking in the incredible nature!
The Facilities
There are several restaurants around the pools and also along the path between the car park and the valley. Our tour was a 2pm pickup, so we decided to have a decent lunch before we left and took snacks with us, as even though we knew there were a few restaurants, we weren’t sure what the quality would be like out there.
You can also get coffee, fresh juices, other soft drinks, and water, and there are a few snack shops selling refreshments too.
The main thing that seemed to be lacking though were toilets, which our guide said are only up at the entrance – so I’d recommend going before you head down to the valley!
This just emphasises how ‘back to basics’ the facilities are here.
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Things To Do In Paradise Valley
As I mentioned, it’s mainly about the chill vibes and admiring the nature, but there are a couple of things to do while you’re there.
Relax In The Poolside Restaurants
No matter what time of year you visit, there is always the opportunity to order a juice or some food and chill out by one of the pools. Even if it’s only the restaurants next to the main two pools that are open, like on our visit.
It’s as simple as just choosing a spot that you like, but we were drawn to the quiet atmosphere at the second pool after the entrance.
Swim In The Pools
If you’re lucky enough to visit after they’ve been filled with fresh water, then definitely check out the pools further into the canyon. From what we could imagine, and from looking at photos, this would be a fantastic spot to enjoy a swim!
And if it’s deep enough and you’re feeling brave enough, there are even places to jump in from a height!
We didn’t see any changing facilities though, so it’s a towel wrap and change type of job.
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Hiking
It’s also possible to hike further into the valley and there are a few trails that you can follow. These range from just 30 minutes to a couple of hours and you can see them outlined on AllTrails and Komoot.
Unfortunately, one of the drawbacks of most of the group tours is the limited time to spend in the valley. So, if you only have an hour or so like us, you essentially have to choose between hiking and relaxing.
After exploring just a small section of the canyon, we decided to head back and make the most of the two pools that were actually full.
However, I’d definitely recommend hiking further into the canyon if there’s plenty of water and you have the time! The scenery looks magical.
Get Your Feet Nibbled On In The ‘Fish Spa’
As we were walking down to the valley we passed a sign that read ‘fish spa’. Confused at first, we soon realised that this refers to the tables and chairs in the two main pools where you can sit and the fish will come and have a nibble on your feet!
The water was really clear so we could see them start to circle around our ankles and then lunge in for a taste. We’ve experienced this a few times before and while it’s an unnatural feeling to just let them nibble, it’s a fun experience. So don’t be scared!
Best Time To Visit
Unfortunately, we are able to confirm that most of the pools in the canyon dry up after a period of drought, which has been happening more and more in recent times.
But on the flip side, too much heavy rain and the pools might be full, but it’s with murkier water that’s closer to brown in colour. This is another thing that, if you’re not expecting it, can immediately taint any feeling of paradise.
So the sweet spot is when there’s been just enough recent rainfall to fill the pools with a nice blue colour, but of course, this is hard to do if you don’t have an incredible amount of flexibility.
Generally though, this sweet spot is found in the springtime in March and April, which is the best time of year to visit Paradise Valley. In the spring, you’re more likely to have the best conditions with warm temperatures and fresh rainfall, which make for beautiful pools to enjoy!
On the day, I’d recommend going early and choosing the morning option if on a tour, as it’s not only a more comfortable temperature, but it’s also when there are fewer people.
How Long To Spend There
Honestly, we would have spent at least a few hours at Paradise Valley if we’d been able to. This would give ample time to explore the canyon and also have a swim and spend time relaxing. Factoring in travel time, this would be almost a full-day trip.
However, even just having an hour was enough for us to get a feel for the place, take in the majestic scenery, and also soak up the chilled atmosphere with a poolside coffee.
So, if you can, I’d recommend spending a few hours there but it’s still worth it with limited time.
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What To Take With You
Here’s a quick checklist of things to pack for a day trip to Paradise Valley:
- Trainers for the hike
- Flip flops for around the pools
- Swimwear
- Beach towel
- Water
- Snacks
- Suncream
- Cash (all payments are all cash only)
- A camera to capture the beautiful scenery
To Finish
Paradise Valley is definitely a ‘kind of paradise’ but it’s not what many people would associate with the word paradise these days, as it lacks modern comforts and luxury. However, from a nature standpoint, it can definitely be described as a paradise-like oasis setting.
If you’re visiting Agadir, Taghazout or any of the other nearby coastal towns, then I’d recommend taking the time to visit.
Hopefully this guide makes it clear what to expect, and you can go in with the right expectations!
Pin It For Later!
More Morocco Travel Guides
Heading elsewhere in Morocco? Find more detailed travel guides filled with helpful information and inspiration for your trip below.
- Best Beaches in Taghazout
- Ultimate Taghazout Travel Guide
- How To Get From Agadir To Taghazout
- Teddy Pirate Review: Coliving In Taghazout
- Complete Travel Guide To Tamraght
- Ultimate Guide To Taroudant: Morocco’s ‘Little Marrakech’
- How To Visit Taroudant From Agadir
- How To Get From Marrakech To Agadir
- Essential Guide To Imsouane
- Best Beaches in Essaouira
