Bonjour à tous! Je suis une québécoise de 20 ans qui part en voyage pour une 4 ième fois à l'extérieur du pays. Cette fois je pars en Tunisie avec une autre copine pour environ 2 semaines à partir du 22 mai 2008. Je ne connais pas encore beaucoup de choses sur ce pays alors j'aimerais me faire éclairer sur plusieurs choses....Voilà...
Nous avons acheter notre billet d'avion jusqu'à Nice mais il nous reste celui de Nice vers la Tunisie à trouver. J'ai trouvé un vol vers Tunis à 205 euro....est-ce que je pourrais trouver mieux? Si oui, quel site me conseillez-vous? Est-ce que Tunis est un bon point de départ ou si nous devrions atterrir ailleurs ?
Nos attentes pour le voyage sont: Voir de belles plages, faire une excursion dans le désert, avoir un contact avec les habitants, se reposer mais aussi avoir l'occasion de faire un peu la fête, voir du nouveau sans trop savoir à quoi s'attendre, et ce avec un budget raisonnable, rien de luxueux!
Je vous fait part de mes questions et toute réponse à une ou plusieurs de celles-ci seront très appréciée! 🙂
Les villes à ne pas manquer?
Ou sont les plus belles plages?
Quel type d'excursion dans le désert me conseillez vous? (nbre de jours, endroits à voir, coût, )
Endroit pas cher mais confortable ou dormir? (habitant, auberge de jeunesse?)
Quel est le budget approximatif pour dormir, manger et se voyager pendant 2 semaines en Tunisie quand on se contente de pas grand chose?
Y-à-t-il des endroits ou il y a plus de jeunes et ou faire la fête?
Quel est le moyen le plus facile et le plus économique pour voyager d'une ville à l'autre ?
Bref tous conseils par rapport au type de voyage qu'on désire faire sera énormément apprécié!
Merci de me lire et de me partager vos expériences!
Arriver à Tozeur, c'est très peu cher avec transavia!, les oasis de montagne, Chebika, Tamerza, Midès, puis, la traversée du Chott El Jerid, immense étendue salée où tu verras des mirages!!!..................
puis Douz (souk le jeudi, marché aux animaux...., babouches, burnous.), sortie en dromadaire, hébergement chez l'habitant, contacte moi perso, tu peux regarder sur ton serveur randomadairedouz, ou voyagenutopie.canalblog.com, tu auras une idée de ce que tu peux trouver, ? puis, Matmata, Toujane, super endroit dans la montagne, petits tapis berbères......, hébergement chez l'habitant.......Medenine......puis Zarzis, les plages sont très belles, beaucoup moins de monde que dans le nord à cette saison, tout dépend de ce que tu cherches
l'authenticité?
celà te fait un voyage est ouest, avec plein de choses différentes à voir sur ton périple
"ici, c'est autre chose que loin, c'est ailleurs" J Giono
Une autre façon de vivre.........la liberté, dans le désert
Tu vas passer une tres bon vacances a Tunisie! Le fin de mai est une merveilleuse temps, et en 2 semaines tu peux voir la plupart de ce pays.
Je te conseille voir: Tunis, Sidi Bou Said, Carthage Sousse - Monastir Kairouan El Jem Tozeur: Chebika, Tamerza, Mides Chott El Jerid le Sahara! -- faire une campment au desert Matmata et les troglodytes les Ksars environs Medenine et Tataouine. Tu peux reste au residences la plupart de ta visite(12-15TND avec PD): a Tunis: Hotel de France; a Sousse: Residence Monia; a Tozeur: Residence Warda ou Niffer. A matmata il faut rester a Hotel Marhala Matmata...c'est genial et seulment 16TND.
Il y a plus de jeunes a Sousse-- beaucoup des bars et discos. Tunis, aussi, mais l'ambiance n'est pas le meilleur. Aussi a Yasmine Hammamet, il y a quelques bons discos pour les jeunes.
Pour transportation prendre le Louage (un taxi-collectif) ou bien le train ou bus. Mais pour voir le sud tunisien il faut reserver une voiture ou 4x4 pour voir tous--et tu auras une tres bon experience traditional au sud.
(pardon pour manque tous les accents, je suis americain, alors c'est trop de travail!)
Bon vacances! Si tu as des autres questions n'hesite pas m'envoye un email: vivian@hedficonsultingpartners.com
je suis un jeune guide touristique resident en tunisie
j ai lit ton message
je suis capable a t aider a t accompagner toi et ta copine sur terrain comme je suis spetialiste
ce sont toute mes coordonnee
0021623448876
khalloulihamza@hotmail.com
bon journee
un passage à Douz, son souk le jeudi, une rando chamelière...........................
voyageutopie.canalblog.com
tu peux trouver des chambres d'hôtes et aller en toute sécurité chez un couple franco-tunisien, juste en bordure du désert
la cuisine traditionnelle est excellente, les dromadaires, chameliers et guide te feront découvrir mille choses.............
puis tu rejoins la mer en passant par Matmata, Toujane...........
Pour découvrir un pays, il faut aller chez l'habitant
"ici, c'est autre chose que loin, c'est ailleurs" J Giono
Une autre façon de vivre.........la liberté, dans le désert
regarder randomadaire.canalblog.com, pour le désert, une visite à Douz s'impose!, le souk est le jeudi, une randonnée avec des dromadaires, chameliers et guide expérimentés et sympas, c'est là qu'il faut aller, pour y découvrir la culture, la cuisine et les traditions aussi......les gens de Douz sont extraordinaires, la vie à Douz est douce, on a toujours envie d'y revenir
"ici, c'est autre chose que loin, c'est ailleurs" J Giono
Une autre façon de vivre.........la liberté, dans le désert
hello Vicky
comment vas tu ? 2 semaines en Tunisie c est une bonne idee, comme ca vous allez voire tout,
pour la destination Tunis Carthage ou l aeroport de Monastir, y a pas une grande différence, avoir Tunis comme point de depart ou Monastir ca change pas bcp, , , , , , , , donc je crois qu il est mieux le billet le moins cher (nice-Tunis ou nice=monastir)
Les endroits à voire : Région de Tunis surtout la medina qu'il faut pas la rater et le musée de Bardo le plus riche en mosaïque incluant aussi la banlieue nord de tunis (sidi bousaid-Carthage - gammarth et la marsa ) rayon de 30 km!! et banlieue sud (Solimane - Hammam chott et autres petites villes côtières )
== > caractéristiques plage ; ruines romaine muslmane Medina de Tunis ancienne Tunis, rampars héritage romains, carthagenois, punique, arabo islamique jusqu'à coloniales !!! verdure plantations collines plus au moins élévés, Région de Sahel situé sur la mer à 200km de Tunis (sahel est la côte en arabe et ça désigne toute en région ) Sousse -Monastir-Mahdia et environ:::beau plage, région des oliviers, des touristes et bcp d hotel, une de plus grande concentration avec Hammamet (150 km au nord) et l'ile de Djerba (350 km au sud).....Nord ouest de la Tunisie a ne pas rater ruines de Dougga (site classé patrimoine humanitaire par l Unesco) Bella region aussi ==> villes romaines
sur la route de Kef à coté de Touboursouk
Aussi plus au nord mais sur la mer Tabarka (cote de corailles) Cap sirat (plage+fôret )
Au niveau de Sahel (mais plus en profondeur : plus vers l ouest la ville de Kairouan capital muslman de pays, avec sa mosquée le 1er au nord afrique, ancienne Medina, à Kairouan vous allez admirer les artisans des tapis !!!
plus au sud et coté Est L 'ile de Djerba biensure à voire absolument, manifique à decouvrir !!! vers l est Tozeur l oasis de montagnes cascade d eaux et le train de Bey ( lézard rouge) des choses à voire, , , Douz porte de désert avec ses superbes oasis, les dunes de sables qui commencent à cet endroit ( pour cela Douz est nommé porte de désert ) à Douz l'idée de passer une nuit dans le désert ou plus est inévitable ....
Pour le budget ça dépend de vous, mais en générale la vie n 'est pas chér, les excursions dans le désert sont très bien et pas cher ; pour les auberges je connais une maison de hôte à Douz, là vous sentirez comme chez vous !!!
Bises
ALI :)
Salut tout le monde! Je pars aussi en Tunisie pour 2 semaines d'aventures avec une copine.
On sera sur place entre le 16 et le 31 mai et on pense bouger au jour le jour dans le pays, et notamment vers le sud.
Si vous êtes dans le coin à cette période, n'hésitez pas à nous contacter, c'est tjrs un plaisir de rencontrer des gens du monde!
BONJOUR! POUR TES VACANCES en tunisie il ya beaucoup de chose à faire Du nord au sud,
la région de TUNIS, avec ses plages Gammarth La Marsa, ses sites archéologiques de Carthages à 5 kms, le port punique; les souks etc...
Plus au sud, Hammamet, mais en Aout c'est bondé, très touristique, mais c'est très jolie.
souusse
Après djerba, iles interressante
et vers le bas le desert, il y a beaucoup de chose à faire, mais en 2 semaines il faudra que tu te limite.
si tu veux des adresses pour te loger en appartement meublé sur tunis ou hammamet contacte moi
Vicky,
As-tu trouvé un guide pour la partie vers Douz ? Je reviens tout juste de là-bas et le guide qui m'accompagnait est très sympa. Il connait très bien le désert et peut préparer une randonnée chamelière du nombre de jours qui vous arrange.
Il connait aussi la région de Tozeur et des oasis de montagne... et la région de Matmata et des maisons troglodytes, ainsi que Djerba 😉
LN
Non je n'ai rien réservé encore pour notre randonnée dans le désert alors j'aimerais beaucoup connaitre ses coordonnées! Ce serait gentil de me les envoyer!! Merci beaucoup pour tous vos messages....le voyage est dans 5 dodos!! :D Wow j'ai hâte!
Coucou,
D'abord je vous souhaite la bienvenue en tunisie...si vous voulez vraiment vous amuser en Tunisie avec des prix pas du tout chers, je vous conseille le sud tunisien.ou bien vous atterrissez à tozeur ou à djerba, l'ile des reves...ou il y a la plus belle plage de toute la tunisie.a douz (150 km de djerba) c le portail du sahara...vous pouvez assister à 2très beaux spectacles:les dunes du grand erg oriental, le coucher de soleil, les excursions à dos de dromadaire...
donc bref, je vous conseille d'attérir au sud:djerba ou tozeur.
Moi chui un jeune saharien de Douz, si vous comptez visiter le désert je peux vous faciliter la tache...avec bien sur des endroits pour faire la fete et des prix raisonnables.
répondez si vous etes vraiment intéressées.
bye et à +
Le Voyage ! Un baume pour le coeur, l'âme et l'esprit !
hello de qu'il ya une femme qui veut visiter la tunisie sur se forum tu va trouver les memes personnes qui propose leur service gratuit c bizarre😉 mon conseil c de voir avec les agences du voyage a douz pour les nuit dans le sahara c assurer et pas chere pour le reste la tunisie et trop touristique ne t'inquiete pas tu auras 200 chois par jour
bnjour, je viens de lire ton post.nous sommes 10 femmes à partir en juillet en tunisie. Nou sallons partir pour la première fis à Djerba. Connais tu des hôtels pas cher car nous ne sommes pas riches toutes et nous voulons profiter de la mer et de la fête.
tu as donné des hôtels dans les 16 dinars dans d'autres villes, mais en connais tu sur djerba ou des chambre d'hôtes ? nou ssommes preneuses, nous cherchons maintenant le contact pour réserver au plus vite nos vacances avec nos billets d'avion.
Nous sommes un jeune couple, et nous avons acheté 2 billets Aller / retour Marseille Tunis. Je ne voulais pas forcément prendre un hôtel et être dépendant un…
On est deux femmes et on aimerais voyager en Tunisie au alentour de septembre-octobre 2007 pour environ 2 ou 3 mois Nous aimerions savoir approximativement le…
Je réfléchis en urgence à un voyage en novembre en Tunisie en mode routard (pas d'agence, ni guide ou taxi, transport public, auberges de jeunesse ou petits…
S'il vous plaît j'aimerais savoir pourquoi ils mettent plusieurs agences de voyage pour le même itinéraire et date non pas une seule agence? Merci d'avance…
This autumn’s trip should be in Morocco—barring any geopolitical issues between now and then.
After many trips to the south of Fès, I’m giving the north a try.
My plan is roughly to do a road trip loop from Rabat back to Rabat, passing through Asilah, Tangier, Tétouan, Chefchaouen, Akchour, Fès, Meknès, and Volubilis.
That’s a lot of cities.
Probably a bit too many for our taste—we usually prefer more isolated spots...
So I’m looking for tips on little backroads, secluded beaches, half-day hikes, and offbeat places.
If you’ve also got recommendations for accommodation... (We’re open to splurging over 100 € if it’s a real favorite.)
Feel free to think outside the box—this is an open-ended plan! !😉
Hello,
I’m looking for testimonials from Pieds-Noirs who have recently returned to Algeria.
There can’t be many left after 65 years of the country’s independence.
I’m planning to go back myself soon to reconnect with my roots... before I pass away...
I’ve started making a few pre-bookings for hotels and apartments to rent in Algiers. At first, I received friendly and welcoming responses. Then, when I mentioned I wanted to stay for two or three weeks—maybe even a month—explaining that my trip wouldn’t be strictly touristy but more of a pilgrimage to the places of my childhood, and that it would likely be a very emotional journey, I expected a positive and warm reaction to my approach. Instead, I suddenly stopped getting replies from the three or four people I’d contacted. So now I’m wondering about the reception former Pieds-Noirs can expect...
Anyone here who can share their experience of returning? I specified “recently” because it seems that right now, diplomatic relations between the two governments are extremely tense, not to say hostile... even if Macron claims otherwise...
Hello,
I’m traveling to Algeria from October 27 to November 16, 2026.
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s been through the process about the accommodation attestation required for the visa application:
- Does it need to cover the entire duration of the trip?
- Is this document mandatory for a hotel to rent a room?
- Is it checked during inspections?
- Is a hotel booking (e.g., via Booking.com) sufficient for the visa?
- If so, does it need to be paid in advance?
I plan to visit several cities and do one or more treks with a guide or agency.
If you have any contacts you’d recommend, I’d be grateful!
Also, I’d love to share this trip with a companion who’s already done some traveling.
We’d organize the journey together, of course.
Thanks for your feedback!
Safe travels to all,
Dom, Dijon, 64 years old
I’m leaving for Tunisia in five weeks for a full 15-day trip. I’ll be arriving in Monastir and departing from there as well.
I’d like to do a route that’s a bit different from my first stay, which was more focused on cities and culture (Tunis, Sousse, Kairouan, El Jem).
I’ll be getting around by public transport.
I’d like to head south toward Tozeur, and I saw that you can take a *louage* from Monastir to Sbeitla (2h30). I imagine it’s not too complicated to get to Tozeur from there afterward? The issue is the return trip to Monastir and safety in Sbeitla.
If this route seems too complicated, I might opt for Djerba instead, which looks simpler.
I’m heading to Morocco in September 2026, and part of my trip takes me through Merzouga. I’m looking for a 4x4 driver-guide to explore the area with my partner and me.
Even though I come to Morocco four times a year, it’s been a long time since I’ve made the trip by car. I need to refresh my knowledge! I’ll be traveling in early October. I have a car that’s about 20 years old. The plan is to cross via Algeciras/Ceuta.
A few questions:
1) Does this crossing still exist? If so, do I need to buy the ticket in advance or on the spot? From whom? Any advice is welcome!
2) What documents are required for the car?
3) If anyone is making the trip around the same time, it could be fun to drive together 😊
Hi there,
I’m looking for some friendly recommendations for places to stay in Marrakech for 3 nights in June 2026.
In the meantime, have a great day, everyone! Thanks so much in advance.
I’m reaching out to gather your thoughts on an itinerary (10 days... or more?) I’d like to do at the beginning of June 🙂.
Just so you know, I’m planning to do this trip solo (25 years old), using only public transport and just a backpack. I’ve already been to Marrakech and climbed Mount Toubkal two years ago...
I’ll be arriving in Tangier.
Day 1-2: Explore the city center, hike around Cap Spartel...
Day 3: Stop in Tetouan
Day 4-5-6: Chefchaouen and a day hike in the Rif Mountains
Day 6-7: Discover the city of Fes (I’ve heard so many great things!!)
Day 8: Stop in Meknes and possibly visit the historic site of Volubilis
Day 9-10: Rabat (I’ve heard mixed things... some good, some bad)
After that, I have the choice of heading back to Tangier for my return flight... or going down to Agadir (also a possible return flight) and extending my trip by 5 days :)
From what I can tell, everything is well connected by bus (CTM) or train (ONCF).
Another question: Is the vibe in Moroccan youth hostels for meeting people the same as what you’d find in Western Europe?
Thanks in advance for your replies and your kindness! 😊
Tickets for entry to Majorelle Garden are only issued online via an official site
(though there are fraudulent sites out there). On the official site, they ask for legitimate info
(name, nationality, etc.). What made me go "hmm" was the request for both an email address
AND a password (with confirmation). Is this normal?
Thanks for your replies.
Hi there, a group of girlfriends and I are heading to Tunisia. We’d love to know how much cash we should bring for 6 days, considering everything’s already paid for at the hotel. Thanks for your tips!
I’m finalizing the loop I’d like to do in May over 13 days, starting and ending in Essaouira.
We’re planning to rent a vehicle and are pretty active—we’re not really into crowds (that’s why I’ve decided to skip Marrakech).
Here’s my proposed itinerary:
Trip Proposal Summary:
From May 13 (morning arrival) to May 26 (morning departure)
Arrival and departure: Essaouira
Day 1 (May 13): Arrival in Essaouira – Settling in / Exploring / Rest
Day 2 (May 14): Essaouira – Water activities
Day 3 (May 15): Essaouira to Tafraoute (~5h30) – route via Agadir – arrival and first exploration; Question: Is a detour to Taroudant worth considering?
Day 4 (May 16): Tafraoute – Hike in the granite rocks – wild bivouac
Day 5 (May 17): Tafraoute – Aït Mansour gorges – oasis – night in a hostel
Day 6 (May 18): Tafraoute → Foum Zguid (~5h) – transition route – simple overnight or bivouac
Day 7 (May 19): Foum Zguid → Zagora (~3h) – Draa Valley – desert prep
Day 8 (May 20): Zagora → M'Hamid El Ghizlane → Erg Chigaga – departure with 4x4 guide – entering the dunes – bivouac
Day 9 (May 21): Erg Chigaga – full desert day – walking, exploring – bivouac
Day 10 (May 22): Desert → Ouarzazate (~5–6h) – leaving the desert – rest
Day 11 (May 23): Aït Benhaddou – early visit – short hike – overnight stay
Day 12 (May 24): Aït Benhaddou → Telouet – route toward the Atlas – start of trek – bivouac
Day 13 (May 25): Atlas → Essaouira (~5–6h) – end of trek – return to Essaouira (overnight)
Day 14 (May 26): Essaouira – free time + return flight
What do you think?
I aimed for an excursion to the Chigaga desert from M’Hamid because it seems less touristy and allows for a more compact loop. Is that a good idea? Is the drive to M’Hamid maybe too tedious?
Open to your great tips if there’s room for optimization!
A lot of people find it important to stick to their budget when traveling—not to skimp, but to visit as many places as possible since traveling is their hobby.
In this post, I want to share some tips for those coming to Morocco who want their trip to be budget-friendly.
1. Prebook everything: hotels or riads, car rentals, or tours. If you book these in advance, it’ll make your life easier. You won’t have to deal with hagglers or people trying to overcharge you for services that are available online for free. Use platforms like Booking, Expedia, carsrental.ma, Airbnb, and other booking services to get this done properly.
2. Exchange your money to Moroccan dirhams as soon as you land. 1 € is always a little over 10 dirhams, but many people get charged as if it were exactly 10 dirhams per euro.
3. When visiting an old site or the old medina, avoid talking to vendors and shop owners—they’re really good at getting your attention and making you overpay for things.
4. Ask your tour guide to buy things for you. Yes, they do get a commission, but you’ll probably pay way more if you buy something yourself that they can get cheaply.
5. Walk everywhere. You don’t need a taxi for every little trip. Pick a good location and walk—most Moroccan cities are safe during normal hours.
6. Buy your food, drinks, etc., from supermarkets at normal prices. They can’t overcharge you since they scan every product.
Hi everyone! 😊
We’re traveling as a family to Marrakech from April 19 to 24, and there’ll be 15 of us (all ages), staying in the Targa neighborhood (El Idrissi Street).
I’d love your advice on a few things! 🙏
🚗 Vehicle rental
We’re thinking of renting 3 cars. We’ve seen really low prices online, but often without insurance.
👉 Do you have any reliable contacts or personal experiences to share?
👉 Would you recommend getting specific “tourist” insurance?
🏛️ Visits – Bahia Palace & Saadian Tombs
We’d like to visit the Bahia Palace and the Saadian Tombs, but:
We can’t find single tickets online
We only see guided tours with fixed times (like 9:30 AM / 4-hour tours)
👉 Do you know if it’s possible to book without a guide?
👉 Or do we have to buy tickets on-site? (We’re a little worried about crowds and lines, especially with older folks in the group.)
🍽️ Restaurants / meals
We’ve spotted the Grand Bazaar Marrakech for a meal.
👉 Any thoughts?
👉 Could you recommend other restaurants in the same budget? (We’re a big group, so it needs to stay reasonable.)
For lunch/snacks, we’ve seen:
Snack Toubkal
Goûter Saveur
👉 If anyone’s been, I’d love your feedback! 😊
🛒 Practical info – Targa neighborhood
We’ll be in Targa (El Idrissi Street).
👉 Are there shops nearby for quick groceries (breakfast, water, etc.)?
If you’ve got any great tips, contacts, or little tricks, I’d love to hear them! 😍
Thanks so much for your help! 💖
We’re heading to Morocco as a family from April 22 to May 8. It’s a bit short to explore such a beautiful and vast country, but school and work commitments, you know how it is...
My partner is a musician and absolutely loves Gnawa music.
Unfortunately, we won’t have time to visit Essaouira, as we’re heading south toward the Valley of the Roses...
Do you know of any places around Marrakech, Ouarzazate, or Kelaat M’Gouna where we might have the chance to meet Gnawa musicians?
We’ll also be staying a few days in Aït Benhaddou and Skoura during our trip toward the Dadès Valley.
If you have any good spots to buy a guembri along the way, I’d love to hear about them too! :)
Mid-May: arriving alone (so, a "petit taxi"?) at Marrakech airport around 4:30 PM,
is it advisable to take a taxi at the airport (cost?) or is it wiser to book one through the hotel before departure (which would cost me 20 €)?
I think I’ve seen lower fares elsewhere (12 €?).
Destination: Riad Sijane near Djemaa El Fna square. Thanks!
I’m planning my next trip outside Europe for next year, but unfortunately, I don’t have a choice with the dates—it’s late June to early July. Last year, I went to Japan for three weeks, and it was constantly 36-37°C with over 90% humidity. It wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t impossible either.
For Egypt, I know it’s a period to avoid if possible, but I’m thinking that by the sea, it might be manageable. Otherwise, I’ll consider another destination.
Day 1: Arrival in Hurghada in the evening
Day 2, 3, 4: Hurghada
Day 5: Hurghada, then drive to Luxor in the early afternoon
Day 6: Luxor
Day 7: Luxor, then drive back to Hurghada in the late afternoon
Day 8, 9, 10, 11: Hurghada
Day 12: Return flight
For the Hurghada trip, either rent a car or—easier—a private car/van.
Is it worth adding an extra day in Luxor?
During the stay, we’re planning activities like camel rides, quad biking, jeep tours, snorkeling, and jet skiing.
Hi there,
We’re planning a trip to Morocco in September-October in our Fiat camper van, which isn’t a 4x4 but has already handled quite a bit of rough travel. While reading up on southern Morocco, we’ve been drawn to the Aguinane oasis but I’m having trouble locating it on the map. Is it possible to get there without a 4x4?
Thanks for your help
Hi there,
Can anyone tell me if it's possible to travel from the Dades Gorges (Msemrir) to the Todra Gorges (Tamtatouche) on a paved road? Thanks in advance for any answers.
Hello,
We’d like to hire a French-speaking guide (agency, professional, or volunteer) to show us around Cairo over three days.
Trip planned for November 22, 23, and 24, 2026—four veteran French travelers.
We’re open to any leads, contact info, or suggestions.
Best regards,
Jacques
Hi there,
I have a layover in Algeria.
I won’t be leaving the airport.
The two tickets aren’t with the same airline.
Do I need a transit visa?
Thanks for any details and your help!
Hi there,
I live in Casablanca and my parents, who are 80, will be joining me in Marrakech at the beginning of May for a few days.
We’ll be renting a car to get around.
Do you have any suggestions for things to see or visit within a 2-3 hour drive max from Marrakech that aren’t too touristy?
My parents can walk a bit, but at 80, no climbing Mount Toubkal!
Thanks so much in advance for your ideas!
Hi everyone, just back from the 8-day Marrakech-Merzouga loop by car, and I’d love to share my feedback in case it helps some of you. Big thanks to all the forum members who kindly answered my questions!
Trip from Friday the 20th to Saturday the 28th, flying out of Marseille with Ryanair
- Landed late around 8 PM local time, exchanged some currency, and the rental agency (Magdaz Car, which I highly recommend) delivered the car straight to the airport with some great route tips (don’t blindly trust Maps.me). The night drive was a bit intense—lots of people out and about due to Ramadan. Stayed at Riad Midhou (really nice) on the outskirts of the city, which made it easy to hit the road the next morning.
- Day 1: Marrakech to Skoura. The drive was smooth, roads are great, but watch out for roundabout priority—it’s different from France. Beautiful route. Quick stop in Ouarzazate for lunch, Ait Benhaddou for the view (stunning), and the Fint Oasis (meh...). Spent the night at Taloute Ecolodge in Skoura, overlooking the palm grove (super cozy).
- Day 2: Skoura to Todgha Gorges via the Valley of Roses and Dades Gorges.
Adventure-packed day! We crossed the Valley of Roses (pretty, but not as amazing as I’d hoped) and took a "shortcut" recommended by the *Routard* guide to reach the Dades Gorges without backtracking. After asking locals, they said, "It’s doable." Turns out it was a narrow, rocky cliffside track—no way to turn around! A stressful moment, with a nice scratch on the bumper and a good sweat. Fine in an SUV or 4x4, but not in a Logan... Then the Dades Gorges (nice) and a detour through the north to reach Todgha from above. Gorgeous mountain road and a quick stop on some snow patches—touching African snow! Spent the night at *Les Gorges de Todgha*—great place, except for the bathroom. The Todgha Gorges themselves are stunning!
Day 3: Todgha to Merzouga. Beautiful drive, and the view of the erg (sand dunes) on arrival is breathtaking! Totally worth the trip. Explored the desert and stayed at *Café du Sud* hotel just outside Merzouga—absolutely gorgeous.
Day 4: Merzouga. Desert exploration and chilling by the hotel pool (with a bonus sunburn). Lunch in Merzouga—I recommend *Dakar*—their lemon tajine was amazing. Spent the night in the hotel’s luxury camp, including a camel ride. The camp was beautiful, but I was disappointed we weren’t deeper in the desert given the price (100 € per person, including dinner, breakfast, and camel ride).
Day 5: Merzouga to Tamnougalt. Gorgeous route. First fine (a supposed stop sign...) but the officer was super nice—only 150 MAD. Stayed at *Kasbah Maktob*, right in the middle of ruins—really unique and beautiful!
Day 6: Tamnougalt to Marrakech. Another beautiful drive, and a second fine (minor speeding), same amount. Crossed a windy mountain pass during a big storm—traffic was blocked in the opposite direction (not sure why), causing massive jams for those coming from Marrakech. A few downed cables, but nothing serious. Arriving in Marrakech was tricky—hard to find the rental agency, and the traffic was intense (watch out for GPS trying to send you through the medina). Ask the rental company to meet you somewhere quiet. They didn’t even notice the damaged bumper... Stayed at *Riad Zifamo* in the heart of the medina. Big change of pace—so many people and so much hustle!
Day 7: Marrakech. Lots of wandering through the souk and a quick trip to Gueliz (not essential). A few tips for the medina: watch out for scooters weaving too fast, always negotiate prices (aim for at least 1/3 off what they ask, unless it’s a small amount), don’t buy spices—more expensive than in France! Head to the *Carrefour Market* in Gueliz for better prices. In the end, not many truly unique items—you’ll find more or less the same things everywhere.
Day 8: Early morning flight. We’d booked a car to the airport from the riad, but a taxi would’ve been fine—plenty available even at 7 AM. Security wasn’t an issue (we had lighters and liquids over 100 ml).
A few extra notes: Pleasantly surprised by the road quality—just a few potholes here and there, but overall very drivable. Watch out for the police—they’re everywhere! The car cost me 30 € per day (with the *Routard* discount) and about 90 € in gas. No safety concerns, no harassment, and no stomach issues, despite the ice in Marrakech. Breakfasts at the hotels were usually hearty—take advantage! The timing (end of February) was perfect—pleasant daytime temps and cool nights. Since it was Ramadan, nothing unusual to report, except it was hard to find food outside Marrakech at lunchtime.
If I did it again, Merzouga is a must, but I’d spend a night in a real desert bivouac, deeper in the dunes. My stops (no more than 300 km a day) were well-paced, and with so few cars on the road, it wasn’t tiring—even though I’m not usually a fan of driving...
Happy to answer any questions!