Paradise Valley

Paradise Valley is the local name for the lower gorge of the Tamraght river, in the hills behind Agadir. A dirt path drops from the roadside into a canyon of pale limestone where the river pools between rock ledges and date palms, and the pools are deep enough to swim in and, in one or two places, to jump into from the rock. It is the standard half day escape from the beach for surfers and families, reached in about an hour on a winding road lined with argan trees and honey stalls. Walking upstream through the gorge takes you past several linked pools, and the further you go the fewer people you meet.

What you actually see

• The river pools - a chain of clear pools between limestone ledges.
• The gorge walk - a rocky path upstream that thins out as you go.
• The palm groves - date palms and oleander along the riverbed.
• The Immouzzer road - argan trees, honey stalls and views on the drive in.

When to go

Spring is best, when the river runs strong after winter rain and the gorge is green. By late summer, and in dry years, the pools shrink and can turn stagnant. Weekdays are much quieter than weekends, when families from Agadir fill the first pools. Go early to have the upper stretches to yourself.

Honest expectations

In drought years there is very little water, and photographs taken in April do not match what you find in September. The rocks around the pools are slippery and the descent is steep in places. Parking attendants and self-appointed guides expect payment, so agree a price first. Litter around the lower pools is a real problem at weekends.

Nearby

The surf beaches at Tamraght and Taghazout are on the coast below, and the Immouzzer waterfalls lie further up the same road.