Je pars début Novembre à Marrakech avec mon amie pour 5 jours ½. Après avoir parcouru le forum (une source d'infos/conseils bien cossu !) je me suis arrêté sur ce trajet avec en prévision de louer une voiture de location à l’arrivée de l’aéroport :
JOUR 0: Atterrissage à Marrakech (le matin)
JOUR 1: Escapade dans Marrakech
JOUR 2: Départ le matin de Marrakech pour Demnate IminIfri (que peux t'on aller voir hormis les cascades d'ouzoud, vaut-elle vraiment le coup ?)
JOUR 3: Départ le matin de Demnate IminIfri par la route vers Skoura (env. 5/6h de route mais somptueuse si j'ai bien compris) puis dodo vers Skoura
JOUR 4: Kasbah de Tifoultoute rapidement, Oasis de fint, Ait enhaddou et retour vers Skoura pour redodo (cela vaut il le coup de dormir 2 nuits dans le même endroit et de rayonner autour pour voir ces endroits ?)
JOUR 5: Départ le matin de Skoura pour l’aéroport de Marrakech pour prendre le vol en fin d’après midi
Pensez-vous que ce n’est pas trop « intense » en terme de trajet, le détour par Demnate IminIfri et la route de montage jusqu’à Skoura vaut-il vraiment le coup ? Est-ce intéressant de rester dormir vers Skoura et de rayonner autour sur 2 jours ?
Merci pour vos conseils !!!
Manu
PS : J'ai mis le parcours du trajet en fichier joint 🙂
Bonjour,
Votre circuit est intéressant à faire sur 5 jours.
Mais, à mon avis, ne louez la voiture que pour partir, à Marrakech, la voiture ne sert à rien, elle est même plutôt encombrante.
Votre arrêt à Ait Benhadou, faites-le au retour vers Marrakech.
Passez 2 ou 3 nuits à Skoura, oui, bien sûr, moi j'aime beaucoup.Allez voir les douars de la palmeraie, la vallée des amandiers, les potiers...
Les cascades d'Ouzoud, c'est à voir aussi...
Mon interrogation portait également sur l'intêret de passer vers Demnate IminIfri, qui a t'il a voir la bas en dehors des cascades d'Ouzoud ? La route Demnate IminIfri - Skoura vaut elle vraiment le coup ?
vous pouvez aussi prendre un peu plus de temps à l'oasis de Fint (superbe endroit) et y dormir, et rejoindre ensuite Marrakech par la route qui passe par Ait-benhaddou et Telouet
Merci pour vos conseils !
J'ai encore une interrogation sur Demnate IminIfri, le détour vaut il vraiment le coup, que peux t'on faire sur une journée en sachant que j'ai prévu un départ de Marrakech pour Demnate le matin vers 9h00 ?
Dans la région de ouarzazate/skoura, peux t'on se faire un trip sur une journée dans le désert sur dos de chameau ?
Encore merci ! 🙂
Bonjour
pour Demnate je ne connais pas encore cette route ! ( mais j'espère que ceux qui l'ont déja faite te renseigneront )
pour les chameaux , Ourzazate , Skoura ce n'est pas le désert !
pour une rando c'est Merzouga ou Mamid ....c'est loin !
à ta place je ferais Marrakech , col du Tichka , Telouet , Aït Benhaddou , puis Skoura ...à voir pour la suite ...
bon voyage !
francia
Salut, je connait bien le Maroc, j'en revient . Pour 8 jours penard, je te conseille de descendre vers ouarzazatte en passant par Telouet , visiter la maison du glaoui (avec un bon guide 20 dhs) ensuite Hait Benadhou , un des premiers hotels a droite, tenu par de gentils vendeens (confort et bon acceuil) ne pas s'inquiter avec les rabbateurs, l'entrée est gratuite, subventionnée par l' UNESCO. Apres ourzazatte n'a pas grand interet, studios de cinema en mauvais etat, . Au premier rondpoint à ourza à droite traverser un grand lotissement en preparation rouler sur 20 km environ, piste carrosable. La aussi des rabateurs chiands, tu leur dit que tu connait Rachid, suit les signalisations (la terrasse des delices) juste apres l'oued tu vas découvrir ce petit paradis. Et je pense que vue la qualité du site dans la palmeraie, tu voudras y passer 2 jours avec une belle vue sur l'oued et aussi la piscine.Apres tu remonte sur Marra, au Maroc il ne faut pas courrir et prendre le temps de regarder. A tes services si tu veux de plus amples renseignements en mp ou meme par tel. Amitiées d'un amoureu du Maroc.
Dany, qu'est-ce qui t'as déçue à Fint, avec ma femme nous y avons sejournés 2 jours debut juin a la terrasse des délices, et avons trouver tout parfait (accueil, confort, nourriture, piscine etc) les promenades dans la palmeraie, pettite il est vraie, discutions avec les villageois, peut etre que tu n'est pas tombée sur de bonnes personnes, perso nous y retournerons volontier lors de notre prochain voyage, octobre et novembre 2013. Amitiées.
c'est vrai que cela n'a rien à voire avec les grandes palmeraies de Tinherir et autres skoura, mais justement je trouve plein de charme à cette petite vallée encaissée dans les montagnes.
mais nous ne sommes pas tous touchés par le mêmes choses et c'est normal.
je rentre d'un petit séjour (5 jours) avec un itinéraire ressemblant.Toutefois, je n'ai pas pris la route de demnate pour descendre vers Ouarzazate mais celle de Telouet jusque Ait ben Haddou. Même si certains tronçons goudronnés sont dégradés, les paysages compensent. Tu pourras ainsi visiter ait ben haddou sur ton chemin avant Skoura même si cela me parait un peu juste si on prend son temps. L'alternative est peut-être le logement à Ait Ben Haddou.
A Skoura, pourquoi ne pas profiter plus de la région ( l'oasis de Sidi Flah , l'ouad merzoug, voire même aller jusqu'aux gorges du dades ou encore la région de Kelaa M'gouna jusqu'au petit village de Bou-tharar). C'est faisable sur une journée.
Pourquoi pas profiter aussi davantage de l'oasis de Fint et y loger une nuit avant le retour sur Marrakech. J'ai découvert l'auberge de la roche noire (indiqué quelques centaines de mètres après le passage du petit pont) (accueil très sympa, ambiance familiale, prix très démo). Le coin est superbe et tant de ballades à découvrir.
J'ai fait ce parcours (et quelques petites pistes) avec un Logan sans problème. Pour info, j'ai quitté Ourzazate à 10 heures et suis arrivé (sans me presser) à marrakech à 15 heures en passant par le col Tichka.
Bon amusement dans une région si magnifique.
Merci à tous pour vos réponses qui m'ont amené finalement à ce parcours :
J'ai encore des interrogations sur qq pts :
Dans quel ordre aller visiter Toundoute ?
Le Jour 3 n'est il pas ambitieux ?
Le Jour 4 avec visite Toudounte/Vallee des amandiers avec retour sur Marrakech dans la journée n'est il pas trop court en terme de temps ?
Bref, tout vos conseils sont les bienvenues sur l'ordre de mes visites, en sachant que j'ai déjà réservé les nuits d’hôtel.
Encore merci !! 🙂
Jour1 : Marrakech => Telouet (140km) => Ait Ben Haddou (100km) = 3h30 minimini
Aeroport Marrakech (tot le matin) => Location voiture
Direction TelouetTelouet => Visite : Kasbah du Pacha el Glaoui
Direction Ait Ben Haddou
Ait Ben Haddou => Visite : Ksar d'Ait Ben Haddou
Nuit a Ait Ben Haddou
Jour 2 : Ait Ben Haddou =>Oasis de Fint (40km) => Skoura (30km) = 1h40 (Toundoute)
Visite : Oasis de Fint
Toundoute ??
Visite Palmeraie de Skoura
Nuit à Skoura
Jour3 : Skoura => Boulmane Dades (70Km) => Tinerhir (55km) = 3h A-R
Kelaat M’Gouna = vallée des roses (jardin à visiter ??) jusqu'au petit village de Bou-tharar
Vallée de Dades : Village + Visite de 2h dans les gorges
Tinerhir = Ballade Gorge du Todra(Todgha) + ballade
Retour à Skoura
Nuit à Skoura
Jour4 Skoura =>=> Toundoute (30km) => Marrakech (275km) = 4h (voir ++)
Visite Kasbah Amrhidil + Toundoute ??
Aéroport de Marrakech = retour loc voiture
Nuit à Marrakech
Fais attention à ton calcul horaire , pas moyen de faire plus de 50km/h en montagne , surtout sur la route de Marrakech à Telouet, plus la sortie de Marrakech , si tu trouve de gros camions chargés ta moyenne va en prendre un coup . D'autre part ça te laisse peu de temps pour admirer le paysage .
Conseil d'une vieille routarde : prend ton temps , ne calcule pas trop sinon tu vas passer à coté du charme de ce pays . Tant pis si tu ne vois qu'un ou deux lieux mais que tu prenne du plaisir à les découvrir . Et puis, ça te donneras l'occasion de revenir voir le reste . Ce pays on ne s'en lasse pas .
slt
franchement la cascade un régal pour les yeux , apres il ya de la super marche a faire au alentour
essai de faire une visite au barrage pas tres loin de marrakech peut de gents connaisse c un super paysage
bonne vac
bouny
Hello, my husband and I will be in Egypt this coming November. Cairo seems more challenging to explore without a guide, and we’ll be there for 3 full days. Would anyone have the name of a guide?
Thanks!
Hi, we're looking for a guide to show us around Essaouira.
We're 11 adults and don't want to go through an agency. If you have a contact to help us discover this city, that would be great!
Thanks
I’m heading back to Egypt for the first time in 30 years this July. Last time, I was 20, and we spent two weeks traveling on a shoestring as backpackers.
I’m wondering about a "cruise" on a felucca from Aswan—mainly to avoid being stuck in an air-conditioned tourist bubble (we’re already spending our first week in that setting with our diving club). We’d like to explore the most interesting stretch of the Nile between Aswan and Luxor. Do you have any thoughts on this option, tips, or maybe some contacts?
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,
Here’s a first draft for a 14-night itinerary during the Christmas break with two teens. We’re especially fond of hiking (nothing too extreme, though), which is why we’re drawn to the south.
- Marrakech (2 nights)
- Aït Ben Haddou (1 night)
- Dadès (3 nights, though we’re thinking of doing a day trip to the Todra Gorge on one of those days)
- M'hamid (1 night)
- Erg Chigaga (1 night)
- 4 nights to slot in
- Marrakech (2 nights)
Okay, I realize this involves a lot of driving, and we’re still debating the return route since we’d like to avoid the Tichka Pass in January, but going through Taroudant seems like it would add *a lot* of time. 😕
If you’ve got other suggestions for an itinerary with great hikes, I’m all ears!
Also, the 4 nights total in MRK isn’t really our preference, but since we’re arriving/departing super early from overseas, we’d like to be a bit rested before the long flight.
Another question:
For hikes (aside from the desert one), is it better to have a guide with us, or are the trails well-marked?
Hi everyone,
Our trip to Morocco will be from November 3 to 17, in the High Atlas.
Basically, our route would be:
Marrakech - Aït Benhaddou
Skoura - Tinghir - Merzouga
Merzouga via the N12 to Zagora
Zagora - Draa Valley - Marrakech
It seems to be the low season, so I’d love to travel without having to book accommodations in advance. In other countries, pre-booking has restricted us and kept us from visiting unplanned sites. Freedom is important to us, but I’d also like to avoid arriving somewhere and finding nothing available.
What do you recommend? Book ahead or not?
Your advice is always helpful, and thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this for me.
Roberto
First of all: a big thank you to everyone whose insightful, funny, lively, and exotic posts we’ve enjoyed. It’s a joy to find such lovely writers on this forum, who’ve given me tons of ideas and addresses to prepare our trip.
Our plan: to explore Morocco from November 2nd to December 4th. We’ll have our own vehicle (a 2011 Renault Grand Scenic, in great condition), shipped with us from Sète to Tanger Med. Returning from Nador.
Our profile: 75 and 62 years young, so old but happy to be, in very good health. Seasoned travelers—it’s practically our whole life. Lovers of beautiful landscapes, historic sites, fine craftsmanship, and road trips. This will be my 3rd trip to Morocco, but the first two were 20 and 17 years ago. I’ve never been north of the Essaouira-Marrakech line (though I’ve gone further south). As for my husband, a lifelong expat including in Muslim countries, it’s his first time in Morocco.
He’s the one driving. He’s very experienced, cautious, not necessarily fast, but used to driving in all conditions (and countries, including the most creative on the road). But I don’t want to tire him out, and he no longer drives at night (and we’ll be there in November).
I’ve decided to show him a bit of everything by taking a road trip along beautiful backroads, with daily distances averaging 180-200 km (except on highways, which will be rare), regularly broken up by rest days. I’m counting on a speed of 40-50 km/h, plus stops/visits along the way.
Since I’ve read so many posts, I’ve narrowed it down to some very specific questions.
1) Coming directly from Rabat via the highway, we’d prefer to skip Marrakech*. Still, we’ll need to sleep somewhere nearby. We’ll head toward Skoura the next day. Does anyone have a well-located address for this route, possibly east of Marrakech? Ideally, we’re looking for a small town, easy parking, clean accommodation (minimum) with average comfort (or better if available), a bit heated, and if possible, pretty and/or nice—but above all, a place to sleep well, wash with lukewarm (ideally hot) water, and have a decent dinner.
(*Explanation for the "no-go" in Marrakech: it’s a shame, because there are truly beautiful things in this city, but I think the vibe won’t suit us—it’s an understatement for "it’ll put us off" / "make us flee" / "traumatize us." Not because it’s too crowded and we want to stand out from tourists (we’re part of them), but because of forced henna on your hand, or spending 10 minutes every quarter-hour saying "no thank you" to a "guide" who’s as much a guide as I am a trapeze artist. Knowing us, it’ll wear us down. The country is vast and beautiful, and our time too short to waste our memories just days after arriving. And I don’t want to ruin things for my peaceful husband, or he’ll demand we turn back—and Sète in November isn’t exactly thrilling either.)
2) Which route to Skoura (in 2 days)? I see two options: either via the Tichka Pass, with a night in Telouet before reaching Skoura, or via the R307/N23 from Demnate, with a night near Megdaz before descending to Skoura. So: Tichka Pass or R307/N23? I have a slight (big) preference for the second option, even though I know the other route is very beautiful too. Of course, before deciding, we’ll check the weather and the current state of the R307/N23—does anyone know where to get info on the road conditions? But even assuming the road is "passable," is it a bit too tough in itself? In short, is it reasonable? If a kind soul could share their experience, a thousand thanks in advance.
That’s all I’ve written for now. I’ll save the other questions for later posts. Thanks again to those who had the patience to read this and to those who can respond. Happy Sunday to all!
I’m just a few days away from my trip to Marrakech—I’m leaving from November 13th to 20th and bringing my parents along! I’d love to plan my stay as best as I can, and I’m sure the forum crew can help. So, here are my questions:
- Where’s the best place to exchange money without getting ripped off? The owner of the riad where we’re staying told us to avoid doing it at the airport because it’s really expensive and to do it in the medina instead, near Jemaa el-Fna square.
- Which traditional hammams do you recommend that are reasonably priced? How much should we budget for one? That’ll help me plan my expenses.
- What are some nice restaurants in the medina?
- I’d also like to know roughly how much to expect for a tea, a meal, a taxi, a djellaba, and babouches. I don’t want to get overcharged and would like to know what to expect.
- What are the must-do activities and places to visit?
Hi, I’d like to head to Morocco next week with my car. I’ve looked online at all the different info about the ferry crossing to Tangier, but I’m finding it really expensive. Is there a way to buy tickets in Spain? Or another way to get the Algeciras–Tangier crossing cheaper? Thanks for any tips or info!
We found a guide who offers the trip from M'hamid to a camp (departure at 3 PM, tea, meal, camel ride, overnight stay, breakfast, and return to M'Hamid by 11 AM the next day via the sacred oasis). He quoted us a price of 380 € for April.
What do you think of this rate?
This might sound like a silly question, but is it common to negotiate the price for this kind of thing (we're booking from France)? It’s still a big part of our travel budget.
Hi there,
We're planning to visit Egypt between January 25 and February 15, 2027. I looked up the Ramadan dates and found some sites saying it starts on February 8, while others say February 18... Where's the mistake?
Thanks,
Christian
Hi there,
We’re a family of 4 with two boys aged 12 and 10 traveling to Egypt in February.
We’re spending 3 days in Cairo to take our time exploring the city and the sites before heading south.
-Is it necessary to have a guide to visit the GEM? Are audio guides available?
-Do you have any contacts for drivers to organize a few transfers (Giza, Saqqara, Airport)?
-Do you know a French-speaking guide who’s friendly, family-friendly, and good at making things exciting, with reasonable prices?
With our two teens, we’re heading to Morocco for two weeks at the end of December and beginning of January. It’ll be our first trip that’s more "off the beaten path," even though we’ve visited several countries before. Given the overwhelming amount of info, I’m feeling a bit swamped with the prep this trip requires, and I’ll admit I’m a little lost when it comes to figuring out what’s realistic to visit in two weeks 😕 So, all your tips, personal experiences, and suggestions are more than welcome!
- Which places should we prioritize during this time of year? (I’ve read that some spots are less accessible in winter?)
- What’s the best way to get around? (rental car, train, private transport, buses, etc.? — just a heads-up, we’ll have a few suitcases!)
- In terms of "safety," are there any areas to avoid?
- Any recommendations for reliable local tour companies (beyond the big names like "Get Your Guide") that offer excursions or private transport to help us explore the country?
- A doable 2-week itinerary that lets us enjoy the country’s diversity without having to change accommodations every two days?
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.
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
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.