Rissani Things to Do

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The Ksar of Tinerhas - ksar meaning fortified stronghold - is still inhabited and is built graduating its way up a large rock which from the top has nice views over the area.

From here there are good views in all directions - over the plains in which palms grow and movies were made to the palmeraie south of Rissani to Erfoud and to the orange dunes in the distance of the Sahara of Merzouga.

Park your car at the bottom and walk up but make sure you do lock your car properly and keep valuables out of sight.

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Famous fortified villages along the route named as such as its a pretty 21 km driving circuit from Rissani - include the Ksar Oulad Abdelhalim built for Sultan Moulay Hssan's brother around 1900 which still has a substantial amount of decoration remaining, and the Ksar Aber which was once housed disgraced or unwanted members of the Alawite family.

Other ksars include Ksar el-Beidha, Ksar Haroun and several ksars on the road to Mezguida near here.

This area was once the ancient city of Sijilmassa of which there are some ruins over the 2 mile area that the city once covered. Some say this city was founded as early as 757 AD but the by the end of the 8th century it had an important role on the trans-Saharan trade routes becoming rich from the trade in gold, ebony, ivory, salt and slaves. Internal feuding led to its collapse in the 14th century.

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There are good views from the top of the rock that this Ksar is built up onto.

At the bottom was a large water reservoir from which numerous people including young children were seen arriving and departing from to fill their waterbottles.

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This 21 km loop around the palm groves south of Rissani takes you past lush wheat and grain growing fields, through villages and ksars - which are like huge fortified mudbrick villages - and old ruined ksars including ruins of the ancient previous city Sijilmassa - which some say was around as early as 757 AD.

This road becomes a little rough in places and the tarmac one car width narrow but its an interesting and scenic route getting a look at the life and culture of those living around the area.
Still many children come running out to see whos coming past, ask for stylos and bon bons or just sweetly smile and wave!

Included in this circuit is the Ksar of Tinerhas built up on a rock which gives good views over the area including the plains and palmeraie where movies have been made and views out to the orange dunes of the Sahara of Merzouga.

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One of the most magical and amazing things to do in Morocco is of course to go to the desert - huge dunes of sand that change colour at the change of the light and the time of the day - ive been blessed to have visited numerous times and spend longer periods out in the desert so been for varying weather as well - in the winter the sky is a deep blue and great for taking photos, at night of course you have a carpet of stars above you and if a full moon well! even luckier!

ive been there when theres been several days of wind blowing the sand about but see the changes and resculpturing afterwards!

and going out for sunrise or sunset or during the day as i said earlier each time of day has its special look.

as an addendum to even the memorable experiences of camping out with my loved one in the romantic and adventurous desert (stuff like your car getting repeatedly stuck but continuing on anyway as we can just get unstuck again!) and passing bedouin abodes and even having dinner with them , is the excellent experience of just going out and having a overnight camel adventure in the desert with a good friend!

then my best friend and i had our birthdays out there being taken out at night by camel and camped under a full moon with a moroccan friend of the family and a camel man to look after us and therefore just be able to relax and enjoy our night out.
back to base on our camels the next day and back to Risanni for tagine and a visit to the souks.

Usual rice for overnight trip including camel with guide, with evening meal and breakfast and then use of shower back at the associated hotel can be as low as 250 dirham but usually 300 dirham but at this time shouldnt be more than this unless done as a more luxury trip.

Auberges such as Auberge Berbere, Dunes D'or, Erg Chebbi, Auberge du Sud, Chez julia, timbutku - but would not recommend the Sable D'or or the Lahmada.

Moulay Ali Cherif is considered to have been the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty. He began to increase his power in the Tafilalt during the anarchy following the death of the Saadi Ahmad I al-Mansur (1578–1603) and ruled that region from (1631–1640).
In 1659, the last ruler of the Saadi was overthrown by Moulay Ali Cherif's son, Mulay al-Rshid (1664–1672) in the conquest of Marrakesh. After the victory over the Dila brotherhood, who controlled northern Morocco, he was able to unite and pacify the country.

I must say, when I arrived in Rissani I was used to bargain in Morocco.
I had no idea to buy something in this little village, but I liked very much to talk to an old man selling artisanat at he market. Of couse, I spent a time bargaining with him but finally I bought a metalic teapot.
At the market, you can buy almost everything. All kind of spices are available, especially those used in Tajine.

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There is a permanent souk in Rissani selling all the standard wares such as spices, home goods and jewellery and crafts but on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays the place livens up and doubles or triples with additional stalls and people coming from miles around to buy and sell.
Being on the edge of the sahara it makes a colourful get together of people groups from varying colours of clothing to races of local berber, arabs and the dark of the sub sahara and sahara.
Its a very photogenic time to visit and culturally interesting. It is also a good place to buy cumin and pepper for those tagine dishes when you get home and for those in the know can be a good place to buy silver jewellery.

As for buying crafts much is from Marrakech and with the eagerness to overcharge tourists it would be recommended to wait until at the Marrakech souks before buying babouches, decorative mirrors and pouffes.