Morocco – February 2026
A little over two years after our successful paragliding expedition in Morocco, we returned. This time, the team consisted of Maček, Nac, Jože, Žiga, and me. We decided on a relaxed itinerary – five flying days at Eagles Nest, the paragliding resort we fell in love with on our first visit to Morocco, and three days for cultural and culinary exploration of Essaouira and Marrakech. Eagles Nest offers half-board accommodation with rooms right next to the take-off area, a restaurant, a pool, and other spaces for active leisure with ocean views – perfect for a very relaxed holiday with a paragliding twist. In the end, however, the holiday turned out to be quite active by our own choice. Thanks to good weather, we spent the first five days flying all day, and in the last days we explored the cities without a break. I was actually the only one who took a morning rest, while the others visited nearby towns and markets. Maček commented, “This isn’t a holiday, this is military training!”
On Monday morning, we left Bovec and boarded a plane in Treviso, landing in Marrakech. From the rented car, we admired the surprisingly green landscape and arrived at the nest around eleven at night.
On Tuesday, everyone was already eager, and as soon as the wind flag calmed, we took off. We spent the whole day soaring and alternating with driving the car. There wasn’t much thermaling – Jože got the most out of it with my 32 m² wing. Nevertheless, by the end of the day, we all had smiles on our sunburned faces.
On Wednesday, after breakfast, we drove to Aglou, about 15 minutes away. First, we observed the landing on the sandy beach, then headed to the take-off site. The wind was perfect, so all of us, except Jože, who volunteered as driver, took to the air. The wind gradually increased and blew strongly from the side, so we initially thought about heading back to the nest, but Jože (with a bloody finger on his foot*) persuaded us to continue to the cliff take-off. We didn’t know the location well and got a little lost on the sandy roads. At times, we weren’t sure if the car could handle the soft sand, but we managed to reach the take-off at the cliff edge. There were three pilots in the air, and the wind was still strong. Jože launched with his parakite. I also decided to deploy my wing and, at least on the ground, check if the wind was manageable. I found I could take off without difficulty and enjoyed the sweetest flight of the holiday. Conditions were ideal, perfectly laminar, allowing me to do some acrobatics and multiple landings either at the take-off or on the cliff top. The location and views were stunning, from high cliffs to smaller dunes overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. To avoid keeping the three grounded team members waiting too long, I headed south to be picked up by car. Flying low over the terrain, under 50 meters, the wind lifted me again, allowing me to cross a small gap and continue flying. I sent a message to the group about the perfect conditions and recommended the flight. When I landed at the car, Nac, Žiga, and Maček were still a bit hesitant due to the morning flight, but with some persuasion, they took off. We soared along the coast for about an hour, landed happily, and drove back to the nest. Seeing that there was lift at the nest, we laid out the wings again and took another flight. I flew in a straight line toward Oceni, landed on the sandy beach where a cold beer awaited. Incredible day!
On Thursday morning, Žiga woke me at seven: “Hey, the wind is up, people are flying!” I didn’t believe him – no day had seen the wind turn before 10 a.m. Yet he insisted. I got up and looked from the balcony – people were flying! Half-asleep, I grabbed my gear and headed to the take-off. I was immediately airborne while the others finished their morning soar and joined me at the landing. (The take-off wasn’t perfect – next time, I need a few minutes to wake up and concentrate before flying.) The day was saved early. I returned on foot to the top and had breakfast to replace all the calories burned during the hike. After breakfast, we drove to Legzira, took off around 11, and had another excellent flying session around the take-off. Landing was a bit rough for some, but all of us managed. We even explored south toward Ifni, where Maček guided us to a great seaside lunch. Later, we returned to the nest. The wind remained favorable, so we flew again, enjoyed the conditions, and landed on the beach. Amazing!
Thursday night was very windy. The forecast predicted strong winds all day, so the others decided to visit Tiznit while I took a morning rest. Around 1 p.m., they returned, and we headed to the dunes, where it was too windy for paragliding. Later, the wind eased enough for some ground-handling practice with Jože’s Iota. After a couscous dinner, we went to bed tired. Truly “military exercises,” going to bed 15–30 minutes earlier each night.
On Saturday, we planned to leave immediately after breakfast. I started packing right away. Walking out the door, I noticed the wing bag sticking out again. Twice I winked, quickly gathered the gear, and in ten minutes, the team was airborne. Incredible! We landed a little in shock and walked back. Upon arrival, we saw the wind had shifted downwards, letting us catch a short window of ideal conditions. The air was so humid that all wings were wet, but it was definitely worth it. After breakfast, we left the nest for a five-hour drive to Essaouira – a stunning coastal city, full of color and life within the walls. Another excellent dinner followed, and the next day, a perfect seaside lunch.
After lunch, while in the car, I got hit in the hand by a seagull “gift.” Its fragments ricocheted toward Nac. With a new dose of luck, we continued to Marrakech. On the way, we stopped at a large market, almost devoid of tourists, giving an authentic experience. Jože navigated the urban jungle expertly, bringing us almost to our accommodation. Žiga stepped out to find parking and immediately experienced the “Robbery of the Century.” Luckily, it ended well, and we were only short 15 €, all alive and well. The evening concluded with excellent food.
On Monday, we had an early breakfast, visited a Muslim school, and returned the car. We spent the rest of the day in the Medina, drinking tea, bartering, and buying various delicacies and goods. Packing and the final dinner followed.
On Tuesday, we woke up at 3 a.m. and took a taxi to the airport. Full of spices, olives, sweets, and other souvenirs, we weighed and distributed all our luggage and flew back to Treviso. Planned flying at Lijak and gear cleaning were prevented by a storm, but we stopped briefly in Kobarid and arrived home early, thus concluding the expedition.
Thanks to everyone for the great company. You even adjusted the timing of the trip a few months for me. Thanks to Žiga for practically organizing all logistics, Jože for paragliding motivation, Žiga and Jože for driving, Maček for Essaouira and the seaside-culinary planning, and Nac for his calming presence, helping me embrace the local culture openly. We had an incredible time! Great weather and good company – it doesn’t get any better. Shukran, Tanmmirt!