For centuries, Guelmim was where caravans from the Sahara met traders from the north. People still call it the “gateway to the Sahara”, and the region around it is full of oases, old ksour and nomad heritage.
Guelmim and its camel market
Guelmim’s weekly camel market, held on Saturday morning, is one of the best known in southern Morocco. It is a working market, not a show: traders, herders and camels, with plenty of tea and bargaining. Nearby, the oasis of Tighmert has palm gardens, earthen ksour and small family museums of nomad life.
Bouizakarne
Bouizakarne is a crossroads town where the roads from Tiznit, Guelmim and Tata meet, at the foot of the Anti-Atlas. It is a practical stop, and the start of the road east into the oases.
Taghjijt and Amtoudi
East of Bouizakarne, Taghjijt sits in a long palm grove at the foot of the mountains, quiet and green. Further on, the gorge village of Amtoudi is overlooked by a fortified granary (agadir) built on a rock spur, reached by a steep path or by mule. It is one of the most impressive granaries in the Anti-Atlas.
Two views on travelling here
For: very few tourists, real oasis life, and a sense of the old caravan world that has disappeared elsewhere.
Against: long distances, simple accommodation and very hot summers. This is a region for curious travellers, not for a quick holiday.
See it on our 4-Day Southern Coast and Oases Tour or the 6-Day Marrakech to Agadir via Erg Chigaga, Taghjijt and Sidi Ifni.
All our tours are private, with your own driver-guide and vehicle, and every route can be adapted to you. Send us your dates on WhatsApp or through the enquiry form.
Written by Hda Abdou, founder of Morocco Cultours.
