Wintering in Morocco by motorhome: where to spend the winter, from Agadir to Dakhla

Every winter, thousands of European motorhomes head down to Morocco to escape the cold, from November to March. The country suits it well: near-guaranteed sun on the southern coast, cheap campsites, and a network of sites used to long stays. This guide covers the main wintering areas, from the Souss to the deep south, with the best-documented campsites in the directory. For each area, a detailed guide takes over.

Which area to choose?

• The Souss coast (Agadir, Taghazout): the busiest, with every service close by, surf and big towns. Lively, sometimes full in January.
• Tiznit, Aglou, Mirleft, Sidi Ifni: the historic heart of wintering, quieter, with campsites full of regulars year after year.
• The deep south (Tan-Tan, Dakhla): the warmest and the furthest. Dakhla is a destination in itself, with its lagoon and kitesurfing.
• Inland (Tafraout, the Drâa, Merzouga): mild, dry days and spectacular landscapes, but cold nights, sometimes close to freezing.

Agadir and Taghazout

North of Agadir, the Aourir and Taghazout area has most of the campsites. Camping Aourir (about 80 MAD, water, electricity, showers, wifi) and Camp Atlantica d'Imourane (about 145 MAD, on the beach) are the best equipped. Further north towards Tamri, Atlantica Park (about 110 MAD) is a large site popular for long stays. In town, the municipal campsite (about 100 MAD) is handy for shopping and paperwork. All the details, including parking rules around Taghazout, are in the Agadir and Taghazout by motorhome guide.

Tiznit, Aglou, Mirleft and Sidi Ifni

An hour south of Agadir, this stretch of coast is the favourite of winter visitors. Near Tiznit, the Aglou municipal campsite (about 80 MAD) faces the ocean. In Mirleft, Camp Erkounte Park (about 80 MAD, showers, electricity, wifi) overlooks the coves. Sidi Ifni, a former Spanish town of blue and white façades, has several seaside campsites, including Camping Sidi Ifni (about 80 MAD) and Camping Gran Canaria (about 100 MAD), both on a paved road and fully serviced. Between Mirleft and Sidi Ifni, Legzira beach is worth the detour.

Tan-Tan Plage and the road south

Past Guelmim, the road heads into the Atlantic Sahara. Stops become rare, and you often drive several hundred kilometres between two campsites. In El Ouatia, Tan-Tan's beach resort, Camp Sables d'Or (about 70 MAD, fully serviced, wifi) is the best-documented stop. The full coastal route is in the Atlantic coast by van guide.

Dakhla

More than 1,000 km from Agadir, Dakhla has the warmest winter in the country. The PK 25 area, at the start of the peninsula, is the long-standing meeting point for winter visitors, around a free stop. In town, the motorhome area (about 80 MAD, water, electricity) and Camping Moussafir (about 30 MAD) are the easiest to reach. Everything is in the Dakhla by van guide.

Tafraout and the Anti-Atlas

If you want to leave the coast for a few weeks, Tafraout is the main inland base: pink granite, the Ameln valley and almond blossom in February. Camp Tazka (about 75 MAD, fully serviced, wifi) is its best-documented address. See the Tafraout and the Anti-Atlas guide.

The desert: the Drâa and Merzouga

Winter is the best season for the south-east. From Ouarzazate and its municipal campsite (about 80 MAD), the Drâa valley leads to Zagora, where Oasis Palmier has a dump station, then to M'Hamid: Hamada du Draa (about 60 MAD, with a dump station) and the El Khaima auberge (about 55 MAD) sit at the gateway to the dunes. In Merzouga, at the foot of the Erg Chebbi, La Gazelle Bleue (about 70 MAD) and Les Roches (about 50 MAD) are fully serviced. The Drâa-Tafilalet, Dadès and Todra and Merzouga guides cover the route in detail.

Practical tips for a long stay

• Length of stay: most European travellers can stay 90 days without a visa, and a foreign vehicle is temporarily admitted for 6 months a year. Check the rules for your nationality before leaving.
• Insurance: check that Morocco (MA) is not crossed out on your green card, or buy border insurance on arrival.
• Monthly rates: many campsites offer a discount for long stays. Ask on site, and book early for January and February on the Souss coast.
• Gas: Moroccan butane bottles are sold everywhere, but you need an adapter to connect them to a European system.
• Dump stations: they are still rare. Filter the map on the "dump station" amenity to plan your stops.

To sleep outside campsites, first read the wild camping in Morocco guide. Prices and amenities change from one season to the next: if you stay at one of these campsites, the "Were you there?" button on each listing helps the next travellers a lot.