Agadir: Tree-Climbing Goats & Optional Souk El Had Tour

Morocco’s tree-climbing goats are one of those things that sound made up until you see them. Goats standing in the branches of argan trees, ten feet off the ground, casually eating fruit as though gravity does not apply to them. It is a genuine natural behaviour - the goats climb the trees to reach the argan fruit that grows too high for ground-level grazing - and it has been happening in southern Morocco for centuries. The tricky part for tourists is that some roadside goat displays along the highway are staged. Handlers place goats in trees for passing vehicles to photograph, then charge for the privilege. This tour takes you about 15 kilometres south of Agadir to where the goats actually do this on their own. At EUR20 for over three hours, including an optional visit to Souk El Had (Agadir’s largest market), it is difficult to argue with the value.

What actually happens

Your guide picks you up from your accommodation in Agadir and drives south to the argan tree belt where the goats naturally climb. The stop is long enough to watch, photograph, and have the phenomenon explained - the goats eat the argan fruit, spit out the nuts, and those discarded nuts are what humans collect to produce argan oil. It is a strange and endlessly photogenic food chain. After the goats, you visit a local women’s argan oil cooperative where you can see the oil being pressed by hand and buy directly from the producers. The cooperative visit is partly educational, partly commercial, but it is honest about being both. The optional second half of the tour takes you to Souk El Had, Agadir’s massive daily market with over 6,000 stalls selling everything from spices and olives to leather goods and household items. Your guide helps navigate the souk, translates, and gives context on what is worth buying and what is overpriced. The full experience runs just over three hours.

Our honest take

The goats are the draw, and they deliver. There is something genuinely delightful about watching an animal that has absolutely no business being in a tree calmly eating its lunch twelve feet above the ground. It photographs beautifully and makes an excellent story to bring home. The argan cooperative visit is worth your time even if you have no intention of buying anything - understanding the production process adds context to a product that has become ubiquitous in Moroccan tourism. The Souk El Had portion is optional but recommended if you enjoy markets. It is not a tourist souk - this is where Agadir residents do their actual shopping - which means the prices are more reasonable and the atmosphere more genuine than the medina markets in Marrakech or Fez. At EUR20, this is almost too cheap to believe, and the 4.9 rating from 89 reviews confirms that the low price does not come with low quality. We also feature a similar morning goat tour at EUR17, which is slightly cheaper but does not include the souk visit. For EUR3 more, the fuller experience here is the better choice.

Who should book this

• Families with children - the goats are endlessly entertaining for kids, and the whole tour is low-stress
• Photography enthusiasts who want genuinely unusual wildlife shots
• Visitors who enjoy markets but want a guide to navigate rather than getting lost alone
• Anyone in Agadir looking for a half-day activity that costs less than a restaurant lunch

Who should skip this

• Travellers who have already seen tree-climbing goats elsewhere in southern Morocco - there is no reason to pay for a second look
• People with no interest in shopping - the Souk El Had portion is optional, but without it the tour is quite short
• Visitors who expect a nature reserve or sanctuary - these are goats climbing trees in a semi-rural landscape, not a wildlife park
• Anyone uncomfortable with the argan cooperative sales pitch - the visit is educational but there is pressure to buy

Before you book

Duration: 3 hours 20 minutes (including goats, argan cooperative, and optional souk visit)

Price: From EUR20 per person

Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Rating: 4.9/5 from 89 verified reviews

Practical tip: Go in the morning when the goats are most active in the trees. By mid-afternoon in hot weather, they tend to seek shade on the ground, which is considerably less photogenic. Bring cash for the souk - most stalls do not accept cards. The argan oil at the cooperative is genuine and reasonably priced, but compare before buying in bulk since quality varies between cooperatives and the savings over tourist shops are not always as dramatic as claimed.