Looking for an affordable winter escape that combines adventure and culture? The Atlas Mountains in Morocco is your ideal destination! Morocco is known to be North Africa’s free flying paradise, offering exceptional flying conditions from October to April. The warm, lifty air is a welcome relief from the colder weather back home.

Fly into Marrakesh, the cultural heart of Morocco, which serves as your starting point for exploration. Explore the enchanting souks, indulge in delicious Moroccan cuisine, and soak in the vibrant Islamic culture. Haggling for local crafts and treasures is a must. From there, you can access top flying sites like Aguergour, which is located about 35 km southwest of Marrakesh (about an hour away).

Forget bars and discos; Aguergour is about raw adventure. Just dusty roads, and sometimes the simplest of accommodation, this is adventure paragliding at its best. The take-off is relatively large, located at 1258m hight, with space to smoothly top-land for a rewarding cup of traditional Moroccan mint tea. The site has little stones, faces north-west and looks out over the plains, with a high plateau behind launch.

The flying is perfect for beginners who come here to soar the rocky escarpments of the lower Atlas mountains in warm blue thermals, wearing shorts and a T-shirt. There are often stronger thermo dynamic winds at take-off that require more than basic ground handling skills, but the thermals here are known to be warm and smooth, and the air is mostly calm. Besides that, the rugged beauty of the High Atlas mountains offer a breathtaking backdrop for paragliding. You can expect some stunning views of the extensive valleys, dotted with charming villages, and almond, fig and date trees.

Experienced pilots usually come to fly the more adventurous cross-country routes, which extend in all directions. Going over the back is pretty remote and there are not many roads, so just make sure you plan your retrieve beforehand. The good thing is, there are always pilots around that can give you some advice and tips on what to do and what not.

The take-off is relatively large, located at 1258m hight, with space to smoothly top-land for a rewarding cup of traditional Moroccan mint tea. The site has little stones, faces north-west and looks out over the plains, with a high plateau behind launch.

There is a designated landing zone, in the flatland at about 400m hight, right next to your accommodation. As evening falls, you can basically land your evening soaring flight, and immediately savor a delicious home-cooked Moroccan meal. At night, the sky fills with stars, creating a breathtaking view to unwind after a day of flying.

It is the raw adventure that is so attractive. The rugged terrain, with the backdrop of the Atlas is stunning. Just being in the smooth air, hovering over Berber villages, is enough for most. But, this location also offers some incredible hiking, quad or camel rides, and you have a traditional meal and a hammam (steam bath) waiting for you at the landing.

The flying is perfect for beginners who come here to soar the rocky escarpments of the lower Atlas mountains in warm blue thermals, wearing shorts and a T-shirt. You can even practice your top-landing skills here. It must be noted that during the day there are often stronger thermo dynamic winds at take-off that require more than basic ground handling skills, but the thermals here are known to be warm and smooth, and the air is mostly calm.