Taroudant , a walled Berber market town, lies just South of the High Atlas mountains and to the North of the Anti Atlas Mountains in the heart of the beautiful Souss Valley. It is not visited as much as its larger counterparts, and is a great place to experience the real Morocco, with charming souks and wonderfully varied local geography.
Taroudant is a market town rather than a city; it has a predominantly Berber population who are well known for their friendliness. Its town walls are more complete than any other town in Morocco, and glow majestically in shades of gold, pink and orange depending on the time of day. Taroudant is half citadel and half oasis, and its souks are reputed to be the best in the south, offering much better value for money than the souks of for example Marrakech. Being off the main tourist trail, Taroudant offers visitors an authentic glimpse of everyday life in a relaxed atmosphere – a thoroughly more chilled out experience than Marrakech.
Its location offers great diversity for sightseers, and is well placed for use as a base from which to explore the surrounding area; the beautifully unspoilt Atlantic coast to the South of Agadir just an hour or so away, the High and Anti Atlas Mountains both within easy reach, and abundant oases through the Souss Valley.
It is also the warmest town in Morocco from November to March, with temperatures rarely dropping much below 22 degrees C – yet in summer the cool Canaries breeze prevents it from being the hottest.
Taroudant is only an hour’s drive from Agadir and its International airport and about a 3 hour drive from Marrakech. The walls, the souks and the dramatic backdrop of the High Atlas are the town’s main attractions and the best way to see the town is by horse drawn carriage – especially at dusk. The souks are not very big, but they are varied and packed with traditional local craft, much of it of outstanding quality.
Sightseeing
The Ramparts
The 7.5km of ramparts surrounding Taroudant are among the best preserved pise walls (reinforced mud) in Morocco. Their colour changes from golden brown to the deepest red depending on the position of the sun. They can easily be seen on foot (approx. 2 hours) and the best time to see them is in the late afternoon. Alternatively you can take a bike or a caleche and see the walls by moonlight.
The Gates
Built in the 16th and 17th century, a string of mighty defensive towers create the gates of the city. One of the most commonly used of these gates is the impressive, triple-arched Bab el-Kasbah, approached via an avenue of orange trees. Through here, on the right past an olive press is another gate, Bab Sedra (cyclists and pedestrians only) leading to the old Kasbah quarter – a fortress built by Moulay Ismail in the 17th century but is now the poorest part of town.
The Souks
The Souks are an absolute must while in Taroudant. You don’t have to buy anything if you don’t want to, but a walk in the souks is great fun and the perfect way to see the local way of life. There is little harassment and prices are very reasonable and low compared to other places like Agadir or Marrakech.
Taroudant Excursions (Organised by the Dar Zitoune)
Tioute Oasis
600 Dhs
1/2 day trip
The oasis of Tioute is green and fresh, with small roads and irrigation canals running through the palm groves, and is one of the best organized oases you will come across in Morocco.
Tizi n test pass
1400 Dhs
Full day trip
Tizi-n-Test at 2100 metre above sea level and the highest pass in Morocco, it is the point where the numerous valleys of the Marrakech side of the High Atlas tip over into the Saharan side of the Atlas mountains, and is definitely a place to stop and admire the awe-inspiring views.
Imouzzer
1800 Dhs
Full day trip
61km to the North of Agadir in the High Atlas Mountains,you come to an area of terraced crops and undulating plateaus, covered with Argan, Palm, Almond, Juniper and Olive trees. The area around the small town of Imouzzer is wonderful for short walks or longer treks, visiting the natural pools of the Asif Tamraght gorge or the Tinkert wadi waterfalls (where water flows only in winter).
Massa
1400 Dhs
Full day trip
The Souss Massa National Park opened in 1991 and is probably the most important bird watching site in Morocco. It extends along the banks of the River Massa which spills into the Atlantic just south of the Village of Sidi Rbat. The original purpose of the nature reserve was to preserve the endangered Bald Ibis (Morocco is home to half of the world population of this fascinating bird which has a pink bald head). The best time of year for bird enthusiasts is February, March, April and September to November.
Tafraoute
2000 Dhs
Full day trip
Driving from Taroudant to Tafraoute through the Anti Atlas Mountains the scenery is stunningly beautiful, and well worth a visit just for the mountain scenery. The oasis of Tafraoute is dominated by the backdrop of awesomely shaped natural rock formations, scattered and balancing at precarious angles along the length of the valley.
About 4 kms from Tafraoute is a sight well worth a short detour. In 1984 a Belgian Painter (Jean Veran), with the help of a team of local firemen and 18 tons of paint, sprayed most of the colossal boulders spread over an out-of-sight field in blue, red, orange and purple – a bewildering sight!
Essaouira
2000 Dhs
Full day trip
Essaouira stands on a vast bay sweeping south with miles of superb sandy beach and wooded pine forests dominating the skyline to the east. Probably the best known coastal tourist town of Morocco, Essaouira is called the windy city, and is visited more the town than the beaches (unless you are there for the wind sports!). The fortified harbour is a hive of activity with fishing nets laid out on the quayside, boats unloading their catches, fish auctions and stalls serving seafood sizzling on grills.
