bonjour, je glane des infos depuis novembre à droite à gauche, et notre séjour approche maintenant à grands pas et la dernière ligne droite pointe le bout de son nez!
je viens donc vous demander deux trois petits conseils avant de partir!
côté excursions, comme beaucoup de primo-voyageur😛, nous espérons en prendre plein les yeux!
à priori ne restant qu'une semaine sur marrakech(riad réservé!), nous allons éviter de passer nos journées à faire de la route pour faire des excursions ! un jour sur deux à rpiori soi environ 3 visites sur la semaine hors marrakech semble correct!
le dilemne des destinations se fait sentir!😊
les cascades d'ouzoud, pièges à touristes à priori, mais tellement alléchantes qu'elles me semblent incontournable avec un repas au riad au sommet des cascades!
la vallée de l'ourika.....que peut on y faire! je lis que c'est beau, magnifique, mais qu'y a t'il à voir là bas? y'a t'il un itinéraire recommandé?
le zat et les 7 sources ? j'ai découvert récemment cette destination, est ce vraiment superbe, la balade aux 7 sources seul sans guide possible?
imlil? le samedi à priori souk inratable mais y'a t'il des choses à faire aussi?
essaouira, aït ben at' et ouarzazate me semblent bien loin, bcp de route au final....😕
nous arrivons le jeudi 20 mars, j'ai lu sur un guide que le vendredi les commerces ferment, jour de prière. y a t'il ds choses à faire tout de même? les musées sont ils ouverts ce jour là?
question d'une phobique qui risque d'en faire rire et se moquer plus d'un mais y'a t'il des araignées énormes à marrakech? y a t'il un risque d'en trouver une dans ma chambre par exemple? le comble de l'horreur pour moi!!!!!!!!
Si tu ne devais faire que 3 journées d'escursion au départ de ton riad, et si comme tu le suggère dans d'autres messages, tu es pret à prendre une voiture de location, sors donc des destinaitions à foule.
Ouzoud, se justifie, si c'est à l'occasion d'un tour plus vaste,
par exemple, départ route de fes, puis sidi Rahal, à droite vers le barrage, de là, une route rejoint Demnate et le pont naturel d'imi n'ifri, tres belle campagne, ensuite aller passer une h à ouzoud, et retour par Azilal, et la vue splendide sur Bin el Ouidan, Afourer, et retour rapide par la nationale.
Un souk ! le jeudi, souk à Ouirgane, sur la route de Tarroudant à 1H30, pas un touriste, quelques auberges pour manger, retour possible avec un crochet par Imlil, ou on peut aussi manger, et faire une ballade en montagne.
Et comme tout le monde, un aller retour à Essaouira, qui peut meme se faire en bus facilement. mais ce n'est plus du Maroc, je n'aime plus ! !
Le Zat, c'est splendide, mais sauvage et nécessite un 4x4, les promenades sans guide sont difficiles, pas de carte, pas de panneaux ! enorme souk sur la route à Ait Ourir, le mardi je crois (à confirmer) .
L'Ourika, ca peut etre juste un après midi, c'est joli, mais surpeuplé, si tu vas à Imlil, tu auras aussi bien, meme paysage, et pas d'autocars ni vendeurs.
Pas vu d'araignée plus grosse qu'ici ni à Marrakech ni ailleurs - Pour les excursions, les gorges d'Ouzou oui bien sûr le tajine chez la petite grand mère en descendant aux chutes, à commander à la descente - voir avec le chauffeur de taxi : un contact taxi : Hamid Chaïra 061 55 28 36 (prix toujours à négocier avant le départ) et un contact pour la promenade en calèche dans Marrakech : Hassan Chaïra 063 28 57 50 (de la part de Denise la soeur de Jacqueline) - les prix sont affichés dans la calècle sinon idem à négocier avant le départ. pour les autres ballades "Essaouira" très typique, un peu plus au sud de Marrakech, Taroudant "la petite Marrakech" à faire par la montagne (magnifique) Très bon voyage.
merci beaucoup pour ces précisions concernant la sortie pour ouzoud!😉 j'avoue avoir ouvert des post il y a quelques mois et il faut que je les reprenne pour revoir en détail et à tête reposée toutes les subjections qui avaient été faites! dont les votres il me semble!
concernant la zat à priori il vaut mieux prendre une excursion organisée alors car quand je vois le prix de location d'un 4x4! c'est hallucinant!autant se faire conduire....
tout le monde parle de l'ourika mais en effet il parait que imlil propose la même chose en moins touristique! on va "méditer" cela alors! en passant donc par l'option ouirgane. va falloir se replonger dans les cartes détaillées!!!!!!!🤪
merci du réconfort concernant les bêtes à 8 pattes! à priori ça devrait aller alors!🤪
question concernant les taxis collectifs justement : si on en prend un à marrakech via ouzoud par exemple, est ce qu'il nous attend là bas toute la journée si on décide de profiter de sa jouréne à visiter, se balader, flaner quoi! où doit on en trouver un autre sur place?
j'avoue que je n'ai pas réussi à trouver de réponse à ce sujet déjà spécifié!😏
merci pour les coordonnées de la personne pour les calèches, à priori il y en a pas mal et il faut toujours négocier la courses mais je garde ces coordonnées précieusement!on ne sait jamais....
Le taxi collectif privé, c'est une loterie !
premièrement, ils ne sont pas guides ! pas toujours bien francophones, pas toujours bien au courant de tes attentes, profiteront de ce qui tu ne connais pas pour t'amener ou ils le souhaitent. et les prix peuvent varier selon tes capacités de négociation. une journée à Ouzoud, sans détour, 9h 17 h, 3h la bas à t'attendre, ca peut varier entre 700 et plus de 1000dh. des gens te diront qu'il y en a des bons, je n'ai jamais eu la chance d' en trouver autre que ceux qui sont attachés aux hotels assez importants.
une solution consiste à louer une voiture chez un loueur local, de s'attacher les services d'un chauffeur guide, les prix ont l'avantage de ne se négocier que peu, et tu peux définir avec le loueur, la prestation du guide, pour des prix honnètes (voiture 400, chauffeur 200, carburant 300, pour la journée Imi n'Ifri, Demnate, Ouzoud, Bin el Ouidan, par exemple).
Mais on se passe très bien d'un chauffeur, les routes sont sures, et les indications claires en francais partout !
Tu écris par ailleurs :
* ***j'ai lu sur un guide que le vendredi les commerces ferment, jour de prière****
Quel guide ???, pour l'éviter !
tout est ouvert le vendredi, sauf que la coupure de midi peut durer de 11h à 15h au pire!
les musées et tout ce qui concerne les touristes, n'est pas du tout impacté.
merci du tuyau concernant les taxis, je pense donc que nous louerons une voiture! on partira à l'aventure ! deux vrais touristes quoi!😄 on risque mêm de le tenter sans guide! un coups de folie!😄
le guide que je mentionne est un guide fram qu'une amie m'a fait passer! je vois que fram est toujours aussi au point sur certains domaines!🤪
Pour ouzoud pas besoin d'un guide, un taxi collectif et sur place on peut se débrouiller, même faire le tour des cascades sans guide (partir du parking à droite, descendre dans les chênes vert et oliviers et remonter par les escaliers)
Pour le ZAT il faut aller jusqu'à tighdouine et là prendre un taxi 4x4., on ne peut pas les louper. S'il parle français !!!, il feront les meilleurs guides. Au fond de la vallée j'ai réussi à trouver à manger mais prévoir un pique nique. (vallée sauvage pas un touriste) Il faut 1 journée. tranquillement.
Pour l'ourika, je préfère vers imlil. L'idéal c'est de faire avec 4x4 tahanaoute, piste, asni, imlil. Retour par la route.
Le taxi indiqué est celui d'une personne que nous connaissons ( Hamid est le frère de Hassan, celui qui conduit les calèches) - L'an dernier ils nous a emmené aux chutes d'Ouzoud, nous étions 4 adultes - Le prix a té négocié avant le départ (le veille) et était tout à fait conforme au kilométrage (env. 160 km x 2 si je me souviens (aller-retour) et il nous a attendu toute la journée - C'est lui qui a négocié nos repas et bien sûr le sien inclus, le tout parfaitement correct - l'autre solution aussi si vous êtes moins nombreux est de louer une voiture - mais comparez les prix et n'hésitez pas à demander à plusieurs avant de commander, ça vous rassurera - Bon voyage
Je confirme que location de voiture d'un loueur local reste une bonne option & aussi comme deja proposes la journee a Ouirgane & je dirais meme Tassaouirgane 6km dans le park national de Toubkal depayasement & autheticity garantie & tres bonne adresse pour deguster la cuisine locale = Dar Tassa .
Apres pour un tour Culturel je dirais la mosque de Tin Mal sur la route descendant vers Taroudant ...
bonjour! merci à tous de vos idées et conseils!
je pense que nous louerons une voiture alors, un petit modèle, le moins cher en somme!😛 juste pour aller d'un point A à un point B! pas de luxe inutile!
merci pour les itinéraires proposés, je note tout ça, restera à ne pas se perdre!😄
bon alors à priori choix final des excursions : Imlil et les 3 vallées avec lac takerkoust, le Zat et les 7 sources et les fameuses cascades d'ouzoud!😛
par contre attention, je me suis renseignée auprès de maroc en liberté et les tarifs proposés sur le site sont "à partir de ", pour en bénéficier il faut être minimum 7! sinon rajouter 20€ si vous êtes 2 comme nous pour chauqe personne par prestations! donc soit on s'incruuste à un groupe déjà existant pour payer moins cher si possible soit il faut revoir le budget à la hausse! par contre très bon contact avec eux!
merci "raoulx" du tuyau glané!😉
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.
