Wing

Nestled deep in the Sahara Desert and the last fishing port in Morocco before Mauritania, the city of Dakhla, situated between the Atlantic Ocean and the lagoon, offers all watersports enthusiasts an Eldorado like few others in the world. A popular spot for kitesurfers since the late 1990s following the opening of the iconic “Dakhla Attitude” kitesurfing camp, Dakhla is now a prime destination for surfers seeking perfect waves and a return to the true values of surfing.

A wave and a surf camp symbolize this quest: the Ocean Vagabond ecolodge located at the Lassarga surf spot. Long kept secret by the Moroccan surfing legend, Jérôme Sahyoun recounts his first encounter with the wave: “A passionate fisherman in my teens, I often went to Dakhla to fish. One day, I decided to see what was happening at the end of the road, behind the military zone sign, because I sensed there was a well-kept secret there; and there I discovered a perfect wave with no one in the water, as access was forbidden to all. I absolutely had to surf it despite the repeated, albeit polite, refusals from the soldiers. Something inside me told me I had found perfection, so I kept returning to the lineup to catch waves despite the reprimands from the guardians of the temple. After this timeless session, I had to share the secret with my brother Laurent. Imagine my surprise to learn that he had already been surfing it for years, alone and without telling anyone, to the point that a section already bore his name: Lolo’s Point!”

Later, thanks to the former governor’s desire to open the region to tourists, the area where this Moroccan gem breaks was opened to everyone. From that moment on, and with the encouragement of his partner Sébastien Deflandre, Jérôme opened the Ocean Vagabond surf camp on this magical spot with a single goal: to bring joy to everyone in a family atmosphere, with sharing as the guiding principle. “Here, the priority is the children during school holidays,” explains its director, Jaafar El Mekkaoui, who also manages other surf camps in Taghazout and is a fervent advocate of sharing a wave.
Opened in 2017, this ecolodge has since become an enchanting promise of life. Extreme sports enthusiasts who love to ride the waves—from beginners to seasoned athletes—all agree that it’s the ideal spot for learning and improving their skills. And for those who appreciate a more relaxed pace of life, there’s plenty to do with morning yoga classes, a spa, and of course, the restaurant serving local produce and organic vegetables in the famous Moroccan tagines.

As for wave quality, look no further! This wave never reaches its limits, regardless of swell size, although Jerome Sahyoun believes the ideal size is between 80 cm and 1.30 m. At this size, all the sections are connected, and the ride can last up to 1 minute 30 seconds! But don’t be fooled, this seemingly easy wave is very physical, both in the incredible turns you can link together and in the hike back up to the peak. Lassarga can really test your cardio, and Ramzi Boukhiam would certainly agree, given the power he puts into his carves for over a minute without stopping…

Jeremy Flores, who recently visited Lassarga, sums up his stay if you still have any doubts about Moroccan paradise: “I had an amazing time. The locals were lovely and the welcome was fantastic. It was perfect for a family trip because the first few days the waves were small and the whole family was able to surf long waves. Then the waves got bigger and the swell was magnificent, and I was able to pull off some great maneuvers. I’ll definitely be back!”

So, what more can be said after the opinion of this masterful two-time Pipe Master? Nothing, just dream of going there…