Je ferai un circuit en voiture de location dans le sud marocain sur une semaine à fin avril et je voulais savoir si les gorges du Dadès et de Todra se ressemblent, si les deux itinéraires sont à faire ou si l'une est plus recommandée que l'autre. Notre temps est compté (les baby-sitters à la maison ne sont pas éternels...) et nous ne voulons absolument pas manquer Merzouga. J'hésite aussi au retour des dunes de pousser jusqu'à Mhamid.
Quelques avis ?
Merci d'avance
Chez vous comme en voyage, respectez la nature, elle nous le rend bien.
Dades ou Todghra, kif kif, pas vraiment le meme paysage, mais qui peut dire que l'un est meilleur que l'autre ?
Pour y dormir, j'ai un petit faible pour les auberges assez éloignées dans les gorges du Dades, "Berbere de la montagne" par exemple.
En 1 semaine, il n'est pas raisonnable de cumuler Merzouga et Mahmid. surtout qu'à Mahmid, il n'y a rien, les dunes (les vraies) sont encore très loin et nécessitent un 4x4, ou alors de faux petits campements assez proches, mais sans aucun intéret.
Jur1 : o
Journée consacrée a la visite de Ouarzazate :casbah taourirte casbah ait ben haddou
Oasis de fint studio atlas…..
Jour2 :Ouarzazate –zagora 160km
Départ matinal en voiture pour zagora déjeuner a casbah tamnougalte et en continuons vers kasbat dar el hiba par la vallée du daraa installation dans les chambres et dîner
Jour3 :zagora- m’hamid 110km
Départ pour la visite la bibliothèque et les dunes de tinfou .puis contenu vers bivouac pour faire coucher de soleil
Jour4 :mhamid – elkalaa mgouna 180km
Départ vers les gorges de dades par tansikht déjeuner akasbat bah bah et contenu vers
Les gorges
Jour 5 :el kalaa – marzoga
Départ pour les gorges de toudra puis contenu vers merzoga .
les deux gorges sont assez différentes, le passage pour y aller aussi, et à mon avis ça vaut le coup de visiter les deux. Surtout si tu es en 4*4 et la piste réparée (ce qui devrait être le cas inch allah à l'époque de ton voyage) la piste entre M'semrir et tamtatouchte est très belle.
En revanche, si tu passe par Merzouga, amha le détour par Mhamid, qui va te prendre du temps, n'est pas nécessaire. Il faut savoir que les belles dunes sont assez loin de M'hamid (environ une heure et demie de piste), et si tu n'as pas ton propre 4*4, le transfert est très cher. M'hamid en soi est juste un avant poste, une ville "frontière et touristes".
Puisque vous êtes limités en temps, je vous conseille plutôt un retour tranquille par la vallée du Draa.
Tout la maroc est accessible en transports collectifs locaux,
Les grands axes par bus locaux sans probleme:
(env 40 km/h avec les multiples arrets)
Ex: Marrakech Ouarzazate, Zagora, Mahmid.
Ouarzazate El Kelaa, Boumalne Tinghir Er Rachidia, Erfoud Rissani.
Sur ces memes axes sévissent aussi des grands taxis.
Les axes secondaires sont parcourus par des grands taxis collectifs qui ne font que des troncons.
Ex: Agdz, N'kob, Tazzarine Alnif, Rissani, Merzouga, il faut changer plusieurs fois.
Agdz vers Tazenacht, pareil.
Les culs de sac de montagne, vallée des roses, gorges du dades, il existe aussi des taxis collectifs sous forme de camionette, pick up baché ou merco 207, 307. confort des plus rustique, mais ces véhicules vont assez loin sur les pistes dans les villages reculés.
Une autre forme est le "camion de souk", expérience inoubliable, parfois une trentaine de passagers, leurs marchandises, moutons et autres sur le plateau d'un camion.
Le tout est d'avoir du temps!
Merzouga Mahmid par exemple, avec le maxi de bus, donc le mini de changements, par Ouarzazate prend au minimum 1 jour et demi. et en taxis par N'kob Tansikt au plus court, de 1 (miracle! digne du Guiness) à 2 jours, mais parfois pire, selon les attentes de chargement à chaque troncon, et il y en a une petite dizaine, et on peut se trouver bloqué pour la nuit n'importe ou .
Les gorges du Dades, et les gorges du Todghra sont entièrement goudronnées, il est donc inutile d'avoir un 4x4, sauf si on veut faire la liaison entre les 2, mais chaque hiver dégrade de plus en plus la piste.
Si tu veux faire la route aller retour, tu dois pouvoir négocier à Boumalne pour les unes, ou à Tinghir pour les autres, un grand taxi pour vous seuls sur la base de 6 places payées autour de 35 40 dh les 100 km la place juste pour rouler, ou un forfait pour la journée autour de 600 700 dhs pour les arrets photos, les arrets gargottes.
Donc en voyageant selon la formule "Le tout est d'avoir du temps!", nous pourrons voir du pays.
Crois-tu qu'à l'intérieur d'un séjour de 6-8 semaines -nous posant qqs fois à qqs endroits pour qqs jours- en utilisant les transports collectifs que nous pourrons faire un tour acceptable du pays? Nous voudrions avoir une image la plus complète du pays sans pour autant tout-tout-tout voir.
Pierroro
Quand le moment est arrivé, l'heure est venue! (C.Bobin.)
- et je vous remercie par avance pour votre réponse.
Sur deux mois, il est possible de découvrir une bonne partie du Maroc. Voir, en fonction du nombre de jours de "pause" quasiment tout. Cela dépend aussi un peu de la saisons, certaines régions sont froides et pas très agréables l'hiver (le nord), tandis que le grand Sud est "chouia chaud" l'été... Mais deux mois c'est déjà une belle immersion !
T'as déjà eu pas mal de réponses, mais juste pour ajouter: Si tu n'as que une semaine, vas à merzouga et pas à Mhamid. Les deux c'est pas faisable si tu veux encore aller au Todra et dadés. Merzouga c'est fantastique et à Mhamid il n'y a rien à voir... il faut aller plus loin et en 4X4...
Dadés et Todra, les deux trés belles et encore plus belle la piste de Msemrir à Tamtattouche mais la piste à faire que en 4X4 et si tu est du genre aventurier parce que en 2004 il y avais des passages en assez mauvais état...
Sinon les gorges se font en voiture jusqu'à Msemrir et Tamtattouche, et son trés belles.
J'ai une preference personnel par le Todra ! En plus j'ai des amis à Tamtattouche parce que sur la piste dont j'ai parlé j'ai crevé deux pneus et c'est un garçon de 15 ans qui était méchanicien qui nous a aidé sur la piste ! On a resté chez son oncle Moha à l'auberge Tafouyt (vraiment à la extremité nord de Tamtattouche) et de ce séjour on garde les plus beaux souvenirs, c'est pourquoi on y a retourné en 2006 !
Je ne suis sur le maroc que depuis 5 mois et je souvent d'accord sur tes remarques et conseils divers continue.
As tu fais beaucoup de sortie 4x4 depuis Marrakech, si oui lesquelles sont les mieux ? (pas trop dur pour faire en famille mais surtout pour des paysages.)
merci
Nous serons dans la région du Dadès/Todra début Avril: nous recherchons adresse sympa dans les gorges: vous avez des tuyaux? Idem pour Ouarzazate. merci!
Nous sommes 5 personnes et partons 12 jours au mois de mars au maroc nous arrivons à marrakech avons loue un riad pendant les 3 premieres nuit, ensuite, nous…
Cet été nous prévoyons un périple de 2 semaines au Maroc et j' ai du mal à organiser la partie autour de Ouarzazate... Nous partirons de Ouarzazate le lundi…
J'envisage de passer une grosse quinzaine de jours au Maroc en mars-avril prochain et aimerait aller de Boulmane à Tinerhir via les gorges du Dades/Todra. 1/…
Nouvelle venue sur ce forum, je voudrais demander quel type de vêtements apporter pour la quinzaine de jours que nous passerons dans le sud du Maroc, fin avril…
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!
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
