Bonjour, mon mari et moi irons 15 jours au Maroc en octobre, et nous avons prévu de passer une semaine à Marrakech, et l’autre semaine dans la vallée du Dadès, gorges du Dadès et du Todra, et les dunes de Merzouga.
Pouvez-vous svp me conseiller en ce qui concerne Merzouga ? Pouvons-nous aller jusqu’à Merzouga avec une voiture de tourisme ? Nous pensons faire une excursion en 4x4, mais éviter si possible les pièges à touristes… Est-ce mieux de partir d’Erfoud ou de Merzouga ?
J’ai une autre question : comment visiter les gorges autrement qu’à pied ? J’ai un léger handicap et ne peux pas marcher longtemps. Faut-il un véhicule 4x4 ?
Dernière question : avez-vous des hôtels coup de cœur à recommander dans la vallée du Dadès et à Erfoud ou Merzouga ?
bonsoir
vous pouvez bien sur voyager à merzouga par une voiture de tourisme.
le mieux c de visiter Merzouga pour profiter des gorge, et vs n'avez pas besoin d'un 4*4, une voiture de tourisme suffit.
pour plus d'informations contactez moi au tnourdine@hotmail.com , je serais à votre disposition.
Effectivement la voiture de tourisme est la meilleure solution, les routes sont excellentes et le 4x4 superflu. En bus vous risquez de perdre pas mal de temps et de pas pouvoir toujours vous arreter la ou vous le souhaitez.
Je vous conseille de revenir de Merzouga par la route de Tazzarine et Nkob pour éviter de faire deux fois la même route. En plus les paysages y sont superbes.
J'ai fait ce tour en 8 jour en septembre (en logeant à skoura, dans les gores du todra, merzouga, nkob et ouarzazate), le rythme est soutenu mais tout à fait supportable
C'est bien de nous avertir systématiquement en ce qui concerne le rabattage, au début j'étais un peu irritée mais maintenant j'ai compris qu'il fallait consulter les profils et la date d'inscription sur le forum des intervenants et aussi aller voir les autres messages des mêmes intervenants. Tout cela demande du temps mais on en ressort moins bête!
A partir du moment ou il y a ..... "contactez moi en privé.. ou sur mon mail ", il y a de fortes présomptions de rabattage... puisque c'est pour échanger des propos qui n'ont pas leur place sur un forum public.
DAns le cas présent , on est en présence d'une nouvelle campagne pour l'établissement de ce membre.
Ca, c'est pour la partie "en public" ! sur laquelle on peut réagir ! (pas trop violemment , ils vont facilement pleurnicher !)
Imagine la personne qui va se faire racoller en privé, qui ne connait rien , et fait confiance .... qui va se faire vendre un circuit du même tonneau, et qui loupe entièrement ses vacances , avec sa famille et ses gosses !!! sans aucun recours, puisque ces rabatteurs n'ont pas de carte d'agent de voyage, et pas d'assurance professionnelle !!
En attendant, Gribstick reste sur sa faim. Je viens de lire un superbe récit de voyage qui a été posté hier je pense avec plein de bonnes adresses mais il faut du temps car le récit est long mais très instructif et bien vivant. Avec des adresses pour les logements.
A moins d'avoir des impératifs sur MRK , il est dommage d'y rester 7 jours, trois c'est suffisant pour se donner une idée de la ville. Par contre le reste du parcours demande plus de temps si vous voulez profiter des paysages. Il faut compter sur la durée des déplacements qui grévent pas mal le capital disponible et obligent à visiter au pas de course les différents sites entre MRK et l'Erg Chebi.
Pour la visite des gorges du Dadés, si vous ne voulez pas faire un trop long parcours à pieds, il faut prendre la piste qui surplombe les gorges. Mais là il faut un 4x4 pour des raisons de sécurité, le terrain pouvant être plus ou moins dégradé en raison des conditions météo du moment (en principe en Octobre la piste devrait être en bon état).
"avez-vous des hôtels coup de cœur à recommander dans la vallée du Dadès et à Erfoud ou Merzouga ? "
A Erfoud je suis allé plusieurs fois à l'hotel TIZIMI à la sortie d'Erfoud en direction de Merzouga, très correct !
Egalement une bonne adresse locale pour manger la spécialité d'Erfoud ( La kalia, excellente ! ) dans le centre près de la place vers le souk. Le restaurant du Sud.
"Nous pensons faire une excursion en 4x4, mais éviter si possible les pièges à touristes… Est-ce mieux de partir d’Erfoud ou de Merzouga ? "
Ben là ... pas évident d'éviter les pièges ! De toute manière la seule possibilité c'est de faire le tour de l'erg ( le traverser n'est en principe pas proposé , mais en payant...) et il n'y a qu'une seule piste , donc le circuit est le même pour tout le monde, reste le prix proposé par les differentes "agences". Si vous allez dans un des grand hotel qui bordent l'Erg ( et ils sont nombreux) ils pourront vous organiser une petite ballade sans problème. Maintenant , partir de Merzouga ou d'Erfoud cela dépend du lieu que vous choisirez pour passer la nuit. En partant d'Erfoud , un bon guide peut vous faire un super circuit passant dans des zones de désert superbes avant d'arriver sur l'Erg chebi pour en faire le tour. Sinon en partant de Merzouga il peut se contenter uniquement du tour de l'erg.
Qui boit l'eau d'une terre étrangère doit en suivre les coutumes (proverbe Mongol)
Je suis en train de préparer un voyage au Maroc pour la fin de l'année. Je prévois de passer 2 nuits dans une auberge ou un hôtel au fond de l'une des 2…
Je dispose de 4-5 jours au départ de Marrakech pour visiter les gorges du Dades, avec peut-être un arrêt à Ouarzazate. J’ai lu plusieurs messages sur ce forum,…
Je serai la semaine prochaine au maroc et beaucoup à faire mais temps restrein. qui pourra me conseiller (je sais, c'est dur de faire un choix, mais bon)…
2 nouvelles questions: 1) Qui a visite les gorges d'Ait Mansour au sud de Tafraoute? Est-ce a voir et est-ce comparable a celles du Dades ou du toghra?? Et…
Je vais aller à Marrakech au mois de février pour une retraite de méditation, qui sera à Quarati, et j'aimerais en profiter pour visiter Marrakech et le haut…
I’m planning a trip to the High Atlas in Morocco and have a few questions for you:
- Why do so many people recommend avoiding international agencies for car rentals? Can anyone explain why?
- Is Booking.com reliable, and has anyone rented a vehicle through their service? There’s a pretty big price difference compared to local Moroccan agencies.
- Is there a detailed road map included in the rental car?
- Is Google Maps enough to get around the High Atlas? This will be my first trip there.
Thanks so much to anyone who can help with this destination I’ve been dreaming about for years.
Have a great evening,
Roberto
hi there, I’m heading to Tunisia 🙂 from April 27 to May 8 with my family. I’ve read through the various discussions about the country, but I’m still a bit unsure🤪: for currency exchange, I saw on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website that withdrawing currency with a bank card from ATMs is limited to 200 TND per week. There are four of us traveling by car, so that might be a bit tight! And it’s a hassle to carry a lot of cash, even if I’m not being paranoid! What do you all recommend?
Cheers,
Laurent.
I was wondering if it’s possible to join a group as a solo traveler with local agencies in Djanet for circuits like Tadrart, Essendilene, Sefar, or Tassili?
If you have any agencies to recommend, I’d love to hear about them.
I didn’t find any info on the forum.
Best,
We're planning a 2-week trip in late February/early March for a road trip in the High Atlas with a rental car, and we'd love to avoid booking our accommodations in advance. Is that doable, easily manageable, or risky (are accommodations available, expensive, or not great)? Thanks for your tips!
Annie
Hi,
This autumn, we’re planning to explore the Oriental region and we’re wondering where the best place to land would be. We’ll have three weeks ahead of us and we’ll be renting a car.
Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Is there an official website or list of certified Egyptologist guides in Egypt? And most importantly, what are the normal prices for a full day or half day? There’s so much scamming and crazy pricing—depending on who you contact, it can range from simple to quadruple!!!!
Thanks
Hi everyone,
We're leaving in early October 2026 and planning to travel from the Aït Bougmez Valley ("Happy Valley") to Skoura/Ouarzazate via Demnate and the R307/N23 route.
Has anyone taken this road recently? Is it passable with a regular car (non-4x4), or is a 4x4 absolutely necessary? Are there any ongoing construction projects or degraded sections to be aware of?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Hello,
In September, my wife and I, along with another couple, will be traveling to Tunisia and staying at the Sheherasade Hotel near Sousse.
We’d love to hear your recommendations or tips on places to visit, as well as advice on taxis or other transportation options.
Thanks in advance!
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!
