Morocco's Atlantic coastline stretches for some 2000km, from Cap Spartel (to the west of Tangiers) in the north, to the Mauritanian border in the south. The Atlantic is characterised by wild shores and unbroken swaths of virgin beaches and sand dunes; a paradise for surfers. From north to south there are a number of interesting places to stop off, starting with Asilah, an attractive town that hosts an Arts Festival every July and August. The town has an artistic feel and a compact and interesting medina. Along similar lines (although busier) is the town of Larache close to the Roman ruins of Lixus, to the south of Asilah. Continuing southward the coast gets wilder, and although much of the coast is undeveloped, it is also home to two of Morocco's largest cities - Casablanca and Rabat - both of which lie directly on the shores of the Atlantic. The wealth of the Casablanca - Rabat corridor has spurned a number of villa developments between the two cities and has a somewhat different character to the coast further south. Moving on from Casablanca you'll find the fishing village of Oualidia, a picturesque whitewashed settlement set around a salt-water lagoon. The village is famed for its oysters, which end up on restaurant menus all over the country, and some superb beaches, sheltered from the full force of the Atlantic. Oualidia now boasts a first class hotel in the shape of "La Sultana Oualidia", sister hotel of "La Sultana Marrakech". The hotel is excellently-located on the lagoon and offers unparalleled sunset views. The next "resort" down the coast is Essaouira, a striking 18th-century fort town which offers excellent "riad" accommodation, some good restaurants and a wide sweeping bay. The bay is an excellent place to learn to windsurf and kitesurf. It could be argued that no trip to Morocco should be complete without a visit to this beautiful seaside town. Further down the coast lies Agadir, a town that was all but wiped out in the 1960s by a ferocious earthquake and subsequently rebuilt as a tourist resort. The resulting development is a "resort" in the true sense of the word, with large international hotels the order of the day. Here you can find international restaurants, English pubs and 5-star accommodation. If that's not your thing, then tiny Mirleft, 30km south of Tiznit, might be more to your taste. This fishing village has a uniquely- Bohemian feel, an atmosphere hard to find anywhere else in Morocco. Here there's a clutch of characterful hotels and guest houses, including the excellent "Les 3 Chameaux". From Mirleft the coast gets wilder still as Morocco gives way to the Western Sahara, a disputed territory awaiting a referendum of self-determination. Further south still is the up and coming resort of Dakhla, a place with a big future if the number of development plans on the drawing board is anything to go by. The town has a priveleged location around a spectacular lagoon.
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