Kerdous

Kerdous launches at about 1,213 m between Tiznit and Tafraoute in Morocco's Anti-Atlas mountains, close to the roadside Kerdous Hotel roughly halfway between the two towns. It's a large, flat takeoff area, though the gentle slope can make launching tricky in weak wind - there's a second takeoff further up the ridge as a backup. A long north-facing ridge to the left of launch is good for soaring or gaining height before heading out over the valley, and on hot afternoons the site produces good restitution lift over the valley, sometimes allowing a long, smooth glide far down it. The site takes wind from north, west and north-west, and is flown for thermalling, ridge soaring, cross-country and hike-and-fly. Access is easy by Moroccan standards: a fully surfaced road runs all the way to launch, turning off the main Tiznit-Tafraoute road just after the Kerdous Hotel and covering about 800 m to the launch area - roughly 1 hour 15 minutes' drive from Tiznit. Landing is near the settlement of Tawrirt. There are no known local flying regulations and the site sits well away from commercial flight routes, but mountain conditions can change quickly, so keep monitoring the weather closely once you're airborne.

Launch & conditions

The main takeoff is a large, flat area, though the gentle slope can make launching tricky in weak wind; a second takeoff sits further up the ridge as a backup. A long north-facing ridge to the left of launch is good for soaring or gaining height before heading out over the valley.

Getting there & local rules

A fully surfaced road runs all the way to launch - turn off the main Tiznit-Tafraoute road just after the Kerdous Hotel and follow it about 800 m to the launch area, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes' drive from Tiznit.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Kerdous, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Kerdous with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.