Donc, il n'y avait pas de photo d'Aït Benhadou.
Y en a qui savent observer jusque dans les détails. Super!
bonjour
j'ai pas tellement de mérite j'ai passé des semaines et des semaines à Aït Benhaddou !
et Tamnougalt un peu moins , mais j'aime beaucoup cette région !
je suis vraiment fasciné par tous les vieux murs , les vieilles kasbas en ruine !
mais je connais beaucoup moins les villes !
je suis une sauvage de la campagne !😉😉
Non a la période où nous sommes allés en février il n'y avait pas beaucoup de monde; il faut cependant faire attention de ne pas tomber dans un riad très connus où des groupes arrivent pour aller dans le désert; c'était pas notre cas; nous étions juste avec un couple; c'était magique ce silence; mais on a vu un peu plus loin beaucoup plus de monde alors toujours demander avant de ne pas intégrer un groupe trop grand; faut le faire; des paysages epoustoufflant; un chamelier nous a promené 1h jusqu'à la tente; puis on dépose les affaires, on voit le coucher de soleil et on rentre manger un bon tajine; mmmm musique et ciel étoilé puis lendemain lever de soleil et retour vers 9h en chameau 1h
Quelle auberge aviez-vous choisie?
Je pense que toutes ne se valent peut-être pas ?
Merci.
Toutes ne se valent pas, c'est évident.
Mais avant d'arriver à Merzouga, on vous conseillera une auberge correcte.Il suffit de dire précisément ce que vous souhaitez et surtout ce que vous ne voulez pas. Les auberges dans lesquelles vous logerez, ont l'habitude d'organiser des bivouacs dans le désert pour leurs clients.
Salut Francia ,
Chouette endroit , mais , bon, la piscine , à la rigueur je peux tout à fait comprendre pour les habitants mais les touristes pourraient faire un petit effort 😉
Bonne fin de journee
C'est une ancienne kasbah désaffectée qui avait un usage militaire ( mais il semble qu'elle ait peu servie) .
De là part une piste facile qui mène à Agdz en traversant champs de henné, vie rurale et villages dans leur jus ( une belle promenade de deux heures que je vous conseille)
On la faite poour aller au souk de A gdz (retour en taxi !)
Non a la période où nous sommes allés en février il n'y avait pas beaucoup de monde; il faut cependant faire attention de ne pas tomber dans un riad très connus où des groupes arrivent pour aller dans le désert; c'était pas notre cas; nous étions juste avec un couple; c'était magique ce silence; mais on a vu un peu plus loin beaucoup plus de monde alors toujours demander avant de ne pas intégrer un groupe trop grand; faut le faire; des paysages epoustoufflant; un chamelier nous a promené 1h jusqu'à la tente; puis on dépose les affaires, on voit le coucher de soleil et on rentre manger un bon tajine; mmmm musique et ciel étoilé puis lendemain lever de soleil et retour vers 9h en chameau 1h
Quelle auberge aviez-vous choisie?
Je pense que toutes ne se valent peut-être pas ?
Merci.
L'auberge du petit prince pourrait répondre à vos attentes.
L'essentiel est de bien fixer les choses avant de partir.
Nous , on ne veut surtout pas se retrouver en groupe trop important, et bien, on le précise tout de suite.Moins de 10....Sinon, on n'y va pas.Pour nous, c'est un impératif. Sinon, pas la peine d'aller dans le désert.
La sacré question , que deviendrait Merzouga sans les touristes ?
Peut être un lieu tranquille où les autorités auraient pu investir pour la gestion de l'eau et la possibilité de vivre de l' agriculture .
Peut être un lieu de découverte de la faune et de la flore du desert avec des " classes de sables" , je ne trouve pas d'autre terme ( ni classe verte, ni classe de neigé😉) .
Avec la gestion d'un tourisme raisonné associé à cette petite agriculture il semblerait qu'une partie des habitants s'en serait tiré. Je chercherais une étude que j'ai lu il y a deux ans sur ce sujet pour la mettre en ligne .
En attendant c'est devenu un terrain de jeux pour les européens , qui veulent aussi des piscines dans le desert et des quads pour massacrer les dunes . C'est surtout les TO quî se sont fait du fric sur cette fausse image du desert .
bonjour
Merzouga sans les touristes ?
à savoir qu'il y a longtemps qu'il y a des touristes à Merzouga , mais comme ailleurs il y avait moins d'auberges , moins de boutiques ...la population était bien moindre aussi !
j'ai connu Aït Benhaddou avec 2 auberges , maintenant il y en a plus de 30 !
comme dans tous les villages , il y avait moins de populations , les gens vivaient de la terre et surtout consommaient moins et ils avaient moins de besoin !
puis quand l'ère de la consommation est arrivé ils ont comme nous connu un exode rural !
on a exactement le même fonctionnement dans ma région , que ce soit avec le ski ou les autres activités du tourisme !
des villages complètement abandonnés ont repris vie !
les jeunes peuvent rester au pays plutôt qu'aller dans les grandes villes !
chez moi c'est l'or blanc de la neige , chez eux c'est l'or ocre des dunes !
rien de nouveau sur la planète !😉
francia
On voudrait bien vivre dans un monde idéal mais ce n'est pas le cas, loin de là.
Trouver de bons compromis n'est pas toujours facile.
Et l'argent est le nerf de la guerre.
Alors....
L'essentiel est de bien fixer les choses avant de partir.
Nous , on ne veut surtout pas se retrouver en groupe trop important, et bien, on le précise tout de suite.Moins de 10....Sinon, on n'y va pas.Pour nous, c'est un impératif. Sinon, pas la peine d'aller dans le désert.
C'est tout à fait notre façon de voir les choses. Merci.
Certaines auberges travaillent avec des agences et reçoivent des groupes mais si vous arrivez individuellement, normalement, on ne vous mettra pas avec un groupe déjà formé.
Voilà des routes que j'ai parcourues il y a quelques années déjà.
Et j'en ai gardé un bon souvenir.
Je crois que c'est au Maroc que nous allons aller chercher dépaysement et soleil.
C'est si près et si beau.
Je vais essayer de trouver sur ce forum de quoi me construire un itinéraire. Les carnets ne manquent pas.
Je vous le soumettrai dès qu'il aura pris forme.Si vous le voulez bien.
Vous pouvez prévoir un petit circuit dans un secteur déterminé. Sachant que vous ne ferez pas le tour du Maroc en 12 jours.
Vous êtes plutôt mer ou plutôt montagnes ? Plutôt architecture et histoire ou plutôt nature et rando ? Plutôt active ou plutôt contemplative?
Nous serons en voiture.
Mais pour le reste, on aimerait faire un peu de tout, nature, histoire, montagnes, plus la campagne que la ville. Mais on voudrait trouver un bon équilibre entre tout ce que le Maroc peut nous offrir. Et c'est le moins facile à trouver. On compte beaucoup sur vos conseils.
En voiture, c'est l'idéal. Mais il faut maintenant faire le choix de la région qui vous intéresse en priorité. Consultez les différents carnets. Ils sont assez nombreux en ce moment et vraiment bien faits.
Une boucle toujours prisée de tous les voyageurs, la boucle qui va de Marrakech vers le désert en passant par le Tichka, les palmeraies de Skoura et de Tinghir et retour vers Marrakech, soit par le Dades, soit par Tamnougalt, et visite du ksar Aït Benhadou avant de rentrer.
C'est ce qu'on avait fait pour notre 1er voyage. Et pas déçues du tout.
Une boucle toujours prisée de tous les voyageurs, la boucle qui va de Marrakech vers le désert en passant par le Tichka, les palmeraies de Skoura et de Tinghir et retour vers Marrakech, soit par le Dades, soit par Tamnougalt, et visite du ksar Aït Benhadou avant de rentrer.
C'est ce qu'on avait fait pour notre 1er voyage. Et pas déçues du tout.
Merci Dominique pour votre réponse.
Je connais un tout petit peu le coin de Ouarzazate mais pas mon compagnon.
J'y suis allée, il y a déjà un bon moment.
Je suis partagée entre l'envie de retourner vers les oasis et le désert et l'envie d'aller plus dans le sud et en bordure de mer.
Ou alors essayer de faire un peu les deux mais ça risque d'être difficile au niveau temps.
A votre avis ?
En 12 jours, vous pouvez vous permettre une jolie boucle depuis Marrakech jusqu'au désert et ensuite une échappée vers Essaouira en fin de voyage. Ça peut se faire sans courir.
En 8 jours, vous faites la boucle Marrakech Ouarzazate Merzouga Marrakech et puis un jour à Essaouira au retour et le reste à Marrakech. Et le tour est joué.
En 8 jours, vous faites la boucle Marrakech Ouarzazate Merzouga Marrakech et puis un jour à Essaouira au retour et le reste à Marrakech. Et le tour est joué.
Personnellement je n'ai pas aimé me dépêcher et courir d'un endroit à l'autre; le Maroc, il faut le vivre, ressentir les odeurs, couleurs, rencontrer les gens; si c'est pour parcourir un bout à l'autre du Maroc et n'avoir vu que du paysage, certes vous en aurez plein les yeux mais pas plein le coeur, à vous de choisir; bon voyage
Tout à fait, le Maroc est un pays où il faut pouvoir prendre son temps. Mais c'est un luxe de pouvoir prendre son temps quand on est encore en activité. Pas si simple.
I just got back from a week in Mirleft, south of Agadir, and I felt like I d stumbled upon an "off-the-beaten-path" Morocco: a raw Atlantic coastline, cliffs,…
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.
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 😊
