Exotic mountain flying, with sweet thermals and dramatic backdrops. It’s an extravagant cultural experience and the perfect way to start the season.
An affordable winter retreat for weatherbeaten European free fliers.
Warm, lifty air in the mountains and on the coast
Best time is October to April, especially the middle of winter.
Cool evenings in ancient cities full of enthralling culture.
Spectacular flying on the edge of the Atlantic, the Atlas mountains and the Sahara desert.
It offers a great winter bolt hole for the weatherbeaten free flying community of Europe at an affordable price.
This base, Marrakesh, is the cultural and tourist capital of Morocco, it lies in the plains just north of the Atlas. The Atlas is best flown over the winter season when the weather is being difficult back home, which makes Morocco a superb destination for winter vacation. The flying season can be extended to the end of Autumn to the beginning of April. Two fantastic sites are within easy reach of Marrakesh: Aguergour and Ait Ourir. Both sites offer fantastic soaring and thermal flying.
No bars, no discos, just dusty roads, and sometimes the simplest of accommodation, this is adventure paragliding at its best. Swoop through the African skies as the scenery changes through incredible shades of crimson and scarlet, shades of saffron yellow, lilac and purple. See the brightest star-filled night skies. Enjoy delicious Moroccan cuisine from aromatic and spicy tagines to succulent fruit and of course the ubiquitous mint tea.
Launch: Aguergour 1,258m, Ait Ourir 946m
Landing: Aguergour 400m, Ait Ourir 654m
A. Aguergour (beginners) (4wd)
http://flymorocco.info/en/aguergour.html
Aguergour is 35 km south-west of Marrakesh and reached by first a metalled road, then a dirt track that leads right to the launch itself. The site faces north-west and looks out over the plains, with a high plateau behind launch. XC routes extend in all directions, although going over the back takes you into the boonies where you’ll need your own retrieve for sure.
Aguergour is one of the most famous site in Morocco, it is located only an hour away from Marrakech. It is an easy site with a designated take off area and landing zone. From Marrakech, take the direction to Lalla Takerkouste. Once in Lalla Takerkouste, you'll need to follow Moulay Brahim/Ouzguita direction. Take off is accessible with a 4x4 or a high car but it can steep and tricky to access. Two clubs operate on this site, Aguergour Eagles and Vol Libre
*It is about 40km south of Marrakech. Thermal flying is here, XC opportunity if you have plenty of time to retrieve yourself as the area is remote and the roads are scarce. You will always find here pilots that will give you advice and tips on what to do and what you should not.
*Aguergour is pretty easy to get to. There are two hostels next to each other sharing the landing zone. The hostels can provide airport pickup for approx. 25Euro. From the hostel, it's easy to get a taxi to go up to the mountain. There's also a tour guide who would charge 50Euro a day.
B. Ait Ourir (Hike & Fly)
http://flymorocco.info/en/aitourir.html
Ait Ourir is a beautiful north-westerly-facing shark’s fin that lies 35 km south-east of Marrakesh. The ridge offers fantastic soaring all afternoon and XC routes once the thermals get going. Like Aguergour, heading over the back leads to some isolated places and potentially difficult retrieves, unless you follow the N9 road that carves its way through the Atlas, or follow the road system that leads west. Pilots regularly fly between the two sites.
This is an amazing site to fly. It works like Aguergour meaning that it takes the same wind orientation and mainly work with anabatic flow from Marrakech to the High Atlas behind. Unlike Aguergour, you'll have to walk to the top to be able to take off but fortunately, it is still accessible through goat tracks as long as you're aiming to the top. Club Illaguiss is operating in the area.
