Earthen ksars
Towers and lanes.
Sergey Pesterev — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hammou bakkass — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hammou bakkass — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hammou bakkass — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hammou bakkass — CC BY-SA 4.0
M'Hamid El Ghizlane is a small oasis town in Zagora Province in south-eastern Morocco, at about 500 m above sea level, with around 7,500 inhabitants, about 57 km in a straight line south of Zagora. Its name means «plain of gazelles», and in Amazigh it is called Taragalt. It stands at the end of National Route 9, which comes from Ouarzazate along the Draa valley, and here the Sahara begins. The town lies on the Draa river, which rarely carries water today. It has long been a stop for nomads and caravans, and its wide palm groves suggest it was settled very early. Drought since the 1970s and a fungal disease affecting the date palms have weakened farming, and sand has crept in around its edges. Around the town stand old earthen ksars with towers and narrow lanes, among them Ksar Rgabi. The dunes of Erg Lihoudi are close by, and further out lie the great dunes of Erg Chigaga. This is the starting point for camel treks, 4x4 trips and nights in desert camps. Each year the Taragalte cultural festival, celebrating nomadic culture, is held in the dunes nearby. The weekly market is on Monday. Summers are extremely hot, so October to April is the best time to visit, with warm clothes for cold desert nights.
Towers and lanes.
Nearby dunes.
By camel or 4x4.
M'Hamid El Ghizlane, Zagora Province, Morocco
October to April.
On an organised 4x4 or camel trip from M'Hamid.