Sandboarding in Essaouira — the Dunes Behind Diabat
The same dune belt our quads cross, ridden standing up on a board. Two hours, no experience needed, and you will be getting down the face properly long before the session ends.
The dunes sit behind the beach at Diabat, a few minutes from our base. They are firm underfoot at the bottom and soft on the faces, which is exactly the combination you want — soft enough that falling costs you nothing but a shirt full of sand, firm enough that the board actually runs.
There is no lift and no shortcut. You walk up, you ride down, you walk up again. That is the honest shape of the day and it is most of why two hours is enough for a first session — the riding is easy, the climbing is the workout. Your guide picks the faces, waxes the board and rides the first one so you can see the line before you take it.
Nobody needs experience. If you have snowboarded you will be riding inside a run or two; if you have never stood on a board in your life you will spend the first few goes sitting down, which is a perfectly good way to come down a dune and considerably faster than it looks. Most people are standing by the third or fourth run.
The two-hour session runs on the dunes right behind Diabat. The half day includes transport out to the bigger dune field, and the full day adds the beach — a longer, slower version with time to stop. Reservation is required for all three, and we can collect you from your riad, hotel or apartment in Essaouira or Diabat on request.
We film and photograph every outing. You get the footage on WhatsApp the same evening, free — no watermark, nothing to buy. Sandboarding photographs better than almost anything else we run, because the moment you lose it on a dune face is a much better picture than the moment you don't.
What's included
- Board, provided and waxed
- Guide who rides the face first
- Transport to the dunes on the half day and full day
- Pickup from your riad, hotel or apartment on request
- Photos and video on WhatsApp the same evening
What to bring
- Closed shoes — required, no sandals
- Sunglasses, and sunscreen
- Water
- Clothes you do not mind filling with sand
Meeting point
We pick you up from your riad, hotel or apartment anywhere in Essaouira or Diabat — just send us the address on WhatsApp when you book.
Questions about this activity
Do I need any experience to go sandboarding?
None. Your guide rides the first line so you can see it, and you follow. People who have snowboarded pick it up in a run or two; complete beginners usually spend the first few goes sitting down, which is a legitimate way to ride a dune and faster than it looks. Most are standing by the third or fourth run.
What do I need to wear on my feet?
Closed shoes — trainers are ideal. Sandals will not work: sand gets in, and you need something on your feet for the climb back up. This is the one thing we will turn people away over, so please do not arrive in flip-flops.
What is the difference between the 2 hours and the half day?
The two-hour session runs on the dunes directly behind Diabat, a few minutes from our base. The half day includes transport out to the bigger dune field, so you get longer faces and more of them. The full day adds the beach and a slower pace with time to stop.
What happens if it is windy?
Essaouira is a windy town — that is its whole reputation. Wind is usually fine for sandboarding and often improves the faces. If it is genuinely unworkable we will message you and move the time or the day rather than let you turn up to it.
Can I combine sandboarding with a quad tour?
Yes, and it is the pairing we are asked for most — the dunes are the same dunes. Message us on WhatsApp with your dates and how long you have, and we will put the two together and quote you.
