Des infos glanées sur les forums nous avaient aidés à construire ce voyage.Merci à tous.
Atterrissage à Marrakech et 1ère nuit à l'hôtel Faouzi dans la médina, calme, typique, agréable.
Après réception de la voiture(LOGAN) louée chez Medloc, nous partons en direction des cascades d'Ouzoud, nous laissons la voiture pour descendre à pied admirer les cascades depuis le bas avant de traverser la rivière sur un petit bac et de remonter de l'autre côté et voir d'en haut.C'est très impressionnant!C'est beau!
Puis, on reprend la route pour rejoindre Demnate et Iminifri, on s'installe au riad Agbalou, un petit hôtel très agréable, très calme et on fait une promenade jusqu'au pont , une arche surprenante et des oiseaux qui nichent un peu partout.Le lendemain, on nous conseille d'aller voir les empreintes d'animaux préhistoriques dans le village voisin et le village de potiers à quelques kilomètres.Deux visites intéressantes et des ambiances...Après le petit déjeuner au bord de la piscine on reprend la route, la 307, qui nous conduit d'abord à Skoura, dans la palmeraie, au gite La Palmeraie, où on fait la connaissance de Mohamed, de sa femme Ghizlane et de leur petit Abdou.On y reste quelques jours, le temps de visiter la palmeraie et de comprendre son fonctionnement grâce aux explications de Mohamed, le temps de faire une grande marche dans la vallée des amandiers , de visiter une kasbah voisine, d'aller dans les villages au fond de la palmeraie et bien sûr de partager quelques recettes avec Ghizlane.
Et on reprend la route pour la vallée des roses, puis la vallée du Dades avec une nouvelle étape à la kasbah Ait Arbi, très agréable aussi, on se promène aux pieds des doigts de singes, la lumière y est superbe.La soirée se passe en jeux et en tours de magie.Bravo!
Le lendemain, on repart vers Tineghir et les gorges du Todra, on loge dans les gorges, à 'entrée, hôtel La Vallée, simple et correct.Un site remarquable, gorges et palmeraies.
L'étape suivante, c'est le désert, l'erg Chebbi, une nuit en bivouac avec les gens de L'OASIS,2 h de dromadaire pour l'aller et autant pour le retour.Très impressionnant d'être sur le dos d'un dromadaire!C'est bien plus haut que ce que j'avais imaginé!Inconfortable aussi!Mais le désert c'est magique!Les lignes!Les couleurs!Super!
Puis on entame le retour vers Ouarzazate, en faisant une étape à Tamnougalt, on y visite un grand ksar et on passe la nuit au Jardin de Tamnougalt, chez un Berbère un peu froid mais ses chambres sont agréables et son jardin est joli.
Le lendemain, on visite la kasbah Taourirt à Ouarzazate avant de filer sur Ait benhadou, encore un site remarquable.On visite le ksar dans la soirée, les lumières, ici encore, sont extraordinaires.Nuit chez Valentine, c'est mignon, l'accueil est sympa.Mais on est les seuls.On est surpris!Dans un site pareil!
Après une bonne nuit, on continue vers Télouet, visite de la belle kasbah du Glaoui, et retour vers Marrakech par le col Tizi N Test et de nombreux arrêts photos.
Au retour, visite de la médina, de la méderda, des tombeaux saadiens et du jardin Majorelle.Magnifique!
En résumé, de merveilleuses vacances qui en appellent d'autres!
Merci de ton retour.
Tu as fait une boucle très classique, mais ce n'est pas pour rien qu'elle l'est..
Car on y voit de très beaux paysages, et très variés.
Ps le col au retour ce n'est pas le Tizi N'Test mais le Tizi N' Tichka.
" Nous ne saurons jamais tout le bien qu'un simple sourire peut être capable de faire."
Mère Teresa
Bonsoir Marie et merci pour ce résumé.
Comme vous avez eu raison d'inclure Ouzoud à votre circuit, on ne l'avait pas fait,
c'est notre regret, le seul, il est vrai, mais ça valait sûrement le coup!
Bonne soirée.
On a bien aimé notre promenade aux cascades d'Ouzoud et notre étape à Iminifri.De même la route qui mène à Skoura à travers la montagne est d'une grande beauté.C'est un beau circuit.
Bonsoir Marie,
Nous débutons dans nos recherches pour préparer notre voyage de 2 semaines au Maroc, première quinzaine d'octobre.
Nous n'y sommes allés qu'une fois avec un tour opérator, en famille, hébergés à l'hôtel Andalous.
Mais on voudrait y aller seuls cette fois et louer une voiture.
Pouvez-vous nous donner quelques conseils indispensables?
Quelles sont les erreurs à éviter?
Merci pour votre aide.
Bonjour
merci pour ce retour !
la route 307 est-elle facile à faire avec une Logan ?
malgré mes nombreux séjours au Maroc je ne l'ai encore jamais emprunté et j'aimerais le faire !
les routes s'améliorent au Maroc et c'est bien !
cordialement
francia
le mérite d'un homme réside dans sa connaissance et dans ses actes et non point dans la couleur de sa peau ou de sa religion!
Khalil Gibran
Bonjour Francia,
Contente que ce retour vous ait intéressée.
Nous n'avons rencontré aucune vraie difficulté sur la route 307, quelques tronçons sont moins bons par endroits mais rien de compliqué.Il semble cependant que la météo peut avoir son importance mais pour nous c'était correct et très beau.
Bonne journée
Bonjour Dorothée,
Je n'ai pas une grande expérience du Maroc.Mais si vous avez des questions précises je ferai de mon mieux pour vous aider.
Louer une voiture est une excellente idée.Mettez 2 chauffeurs sur le contrat pour vous relayer.
Prenez le temps de bavarder avec les gens aux terrasses, c'est sympathique!
A+
D'Iminifri à Skoura, en prenant notre temps, en faisant des pauses et des poses photos:4h.
Peu de circulation et pas de stations-service, une seule pompe très rudimentaire dans un petit village, mais vraiment il vaut mieux prévoir le plein avant de partir.
Merci Marie,
Nous mettrons donc 2 chauffeurs sur le contrat;sur les routes de montagne, on doit être un peu tendu et chacun souhaite pouvoir admirer le paysage sans prendre de risque.
En 15 jours on espère pouvoir prendre un peu de plaisir aux terrasses et prendre le temps de rencontrer les gens.
Nos étapes, on ne sait pas encore tout à fait comment on va les faire.Sur ce circuit, on ne va pas avoir tant que ça de solutions...
A réfléchir.
Bonne soirée.
Merci pour ce retour détaillé de votre voyage au Maroc ça fait rêver.
Je prépare moi même mon voyage pour 15 jours et j'ai une question: avez vous fait dans la même journée Télouet, la visite de la Kasbah Glaoui et Marrakech car ça me parait chargé.
En vous remerciant de l'aide que pourrez m'apporter
Bonne journée
Bonsoir Sonia,
Ravie de pouvoir t'aider si je peux.
Nous avons visité La kasbah du Glaoui de Télouet et ensuite nous sommes rentrés sur Marrakech que nous avons visité les 2 jours suivants avant de reprendre l'avion.Et 2 jours c'était très bien, on a eu le temps de voir ce qui nous intéressait et de faire quelques petits achats.
Bon week-end.
Combien de temps faut-il prévoir de consacrer à la kasbah Ait Benhadou et à celle de Télouet?
J'ai vu qu'on pouvait visiter une mine de sel à Télouet.Avec guide ou sans guide?
Merci et bonne journée.
Deux heures consacrées à chacune de ces kasbahs, c'est déjà bien, il me semble.
Quant à la mine de sel de Télouet, elle se visite , avec un guide c'est mieux, il pourra vous donner des explications et vous introduire auprès des ouvriers...et vous faire ouvrir le site...il saura qui contacter.
Merci pour ces précisions.
Il semble donc envisageable de faire les 2 sites dans la même journée si la distance entre Ait Benhadou et Télouet le permet.Quand je dis "distance" je pense "temps de trajet"en fait.Qu"en pensez-vous?
Merci.
Quand on peut passer une nuit à Ait Benhadou, c'est un plus!
Si vous voulez être tranquilles, c'est l'idéal:soit le matin, avant l'ouverture des boutiques, soit le soir quand les bus sont repartis, le site retrouve son calme et c'est mieux, incomparable!
C'est ce que j'ai dans votre message initial.On visitera cette partie du Maroc en revenant vers Marrakech, donc, on fera en fonction du temps qui nous restera.Merci.
C'est exactement ce qu'on avait fait et de cette façon, on n'a pas été ennuyées le moins du monde , les gens qui voulaient nous vendre des excursions n'insistaient pas puisque nous étions en fin de vacances.On nous avait prévenues que c'était parfois pesant à Ait Benhadou, mais pour nous, ça s'est très bien passé.
Il faut avoir l'air sûre de vous, laisser penser que vous êtes habituée, que vous accompagnez des amis pour leur faire découvrir le Maroc...Et on vous laissera tranquille.
Je viens de passer décembre janvier au Maroc avec mon CC, j'ai pris le ferry a Algeciras jusqu'à Tanger, ensuite Marrakech resté 1 semaine, puis Aglou plage 1…
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.
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
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.
