Tafraoute Things to Do

4 more images

A Fantastic drive out to the Afella Ighir - ie the beautiful gorges of Ait Mansour and then on further along the way the hillside ksar villages of Gdourt, which I had a great adventure visiting following tracks through holes ie falling down buildings...though not necessarily safe but made great photos!!, and Aguerd Imlal - both these ksar villages make much more authentic visits than the on-tourists-schedule Ait Benhaddou.

If you are doing this on a Sunday you can take the opportunity enroute to visit the morning souk at the village of Souk Had Issi and then continue on down this road to the intersection where the signpost says to Tiouadou or on to the Akka mines...about 10 minutes or 5 km from Souk Had Issi along the piste road to Tiwadou, just go slow but otherwise its fine to go by ordinary car.

A really nice place to stay at Mohammeds Sahnoun Auberge awaits at Tiouadou - with a small oasis around the towns water reserve out the back door. Mohammed has had an interesting life and maintains a great interest in the community, particularly educating the next generation of the importance of caring for the environment with an annual plastic bag collection competition! ie the notorious plastic bag scene hanging in every tree or bush for miles in some parts of Morocco!

An auberge in traditional country house style with great roof views - lovely for having your breakfast or mint tea in the sunshine from there overlooking the oasis and the village nearby - along with a log fire on chilly nights and half or full board available along with interesting ancient villages to discover nearby and walks to ancient rock drawings make this a great inclusion on an itinerary to experience the Anti-Atlas region around Tafraoute.

This is also a recommended cycle route and many keen visitors arrive here by bike, stay overnight and continue on the piste road back to Taraoute that is unfortunately not passable by normal car

4 more images

A lot of almonds grow around the Anti-Atlas so the area around Tafraoute is well known for its beautiful almond blossom season - and in particular the festival that is held to celebrate the blossoms and their forthcoming crop - this is held anytime from mid Feb to the first weekend in March depending on the weather and season.

Blossoms can be found from early January but when Ive been there in March they are in a raggedy end of season state and when there in mid Feb either slightly early or raggedy already - so it really is up to how the season is doing but mid Feb is ideal to aim for if its almond flowers you want to see.

Right around the area the roads are good for seeing them - including the back road to Tanalt and out to Ait Mansour which also has almond blossoms in abundance and even more beautiful during this season - the road out to Ait Abdellah is stunning and they are along the roadsides and in the villages in great abundance and theres an interesting weekly souk at Ait Abdellah on Saturdays - also the road to Tahala and Col Kerdous and Ackchour.

The small villages around Tafraoute such as Aday, Aguerd, and the Ameln valley villages are also extra lovely when surrounded by the pink and white flowers of almond trees.

A lot of Argane trees grow around here too but though the nut looks much like an almond they have no flower and the nut in its original form is very bitter.

4 more images

30km from Tafraoute is the beautiful gorge of Ait Mansour with majestic orange cliffs towering above palm trees - with often spectacular shapes and formations and sightings of the remains of granaries and watchtowers on top - with river flowing down through providing a cool oasis in otherwise harsh and dry rocky mountainous landscapes.

The white or pink flowers of almond trees in blossom are an added beauty during January and February.

Well worth a visit for a few hours, a day or even better an overnight stay or longer - whether you are selfdriving, cycling, walking, take an excursion with a local agency or hire a local guide with car to drive you or with your own campervan.

There are places to stop for a moroccan tea and refreshments, a meal or stay the night such as Chez Messoud just past the first village sign of Tiori - theres an area with tables and chairs nice for sitting in under the almond blossoms or in the heat of summer - and theres toilets here.

There are several villages throughout the gorge - a couple have clear signs and these make interesting visits - there are pathways up around these villages which give great views of the gorge and make interesting visits to see local life along these hillsides.

At Tiorri theres an official guide called Mustafa - you will either be lucky enough to have him approach you and offer his services or if you run into anyone around the village you could ask for him and they should be able to contact him for you if you are wanting some local input - he doesnt speak english though.

2 more images

4 storey traditionelle house that was lived in by the same family for about 400 years until about 5 years ago - though recently turned into overnight accommodation for tourist guests.....this is in an excellent old mainly uninhabited ancient hilltop village amongst huge boulders - some incorporated into the buildings walls - with great views over the valley and other ancient fortified multi storey houses below.

Recently restored and still undergoing restoration this is an excellent insight into traditionelle berber living - where the animals were kept, where and how food supplies were stored to last through the seasons....

Open during hours of daylight

Not only a picturesque area with its pink rocks and buildings, and prolific almond blossoms to be seen all around the area during the month of February along with its famed Almond Blossom Festival, the area of the Ameln Valley, Jebel El Kest, is fast becoming a centre for avid rock-climbers....and craggers! (see what that means if you dont already know! in the website).

Steven Broadbent from the Oxford Alpine Club is responsible for a well received guidebook outlying discovered routes for climbs and all the information required for the sport - which can be purchased via the website provided below for Climb-Tafraoute.

they tend to recommend Les Amandiers, the big 4 star hotel on the hill as they give a discount for climbers and have culminated as a centre or base for climbing...though I have stayed there myself and wuold only regard it as a 3 star and as for a place to stay would recommmend better value in the town....a good place to eat though with great views and pool while you are up there!

4 more images

In French this interesting rock formation is known as Le Chapeau de Napoleon - Napoleons hat....not nose!

1 km from Tafraoute is the town or area's distinctive landmark - most advertising will have this representing Tafraoute as one of many, many interesting or beautiful rock formations or mountains around the area - and they are pretty much pink in colour.

Also characteristic of the area are the houses that are painted pink to match - or some places red - and there is an interesting village sitting right at the base of Napoleon's Hat, called Aguerd-Oudad, that like most villages around the area with often fascinating little hobbit like houses and doors make an interesting wander.

There is a concrete footpath alongside the main road all the way from Tafraoute to this village - often locals can be seen taking a walk along here for an evening stroll.

You can also continue on from Aguerd-Oudad a couple of kms or so on further to the 'Painted Rocks' - rocks painted various shades of blue and red by a Belgian painter back in 1984 - another tourist attraction and another tip!

In the area of Tafraoute the soil is fertile.
Except palmtrees, argan and almond trees you find also citrus trees.
When we had a closer look at the tree beside the house at the former picture, we saw, that is was full of citrons.
We liked it to see so many fruit trees in the village.

Central in the village Tafraoute is the Place Mohammed al-Khamis. In the area around the place are the bank, the postoffice, an internetcafe. For shopping there is a fruit and vegetable market, a souq, an artisanat, slippershopsand carpetshops.
Scattered in the village are some hotels and restaurants.
So it's nice to walk around a bit, have your tea or lunch and do your shopping.