In the surrounding area
Le souk des épices
L'erg Chebbi
La porte de Rissani, une des plus belles du Maroc
Le marché des dattes à Rissani
La palmeraie du village de Hassilabied
La musique Gnaoua à Khamlia
Les fossiles dela région d'Erfoud
Les fossiles de la région d'Erfoud
Hassilabied palm grove
A real oasis in the immediate vicinity of La Vallée des Dunes. The inhabitants of the village grow all kinds of vegetables there in small garden plots, irrigated by a central canal. Watering is regulated for an equitable distribution of water . It is a place full of serenity , where it is very pleasant to walk, in the shade of palm trees , almond trees, and many other fruit trees .
Risani
Rissani , the real commercial heart of the region, is a bustling centre.
The souk of the city is a colorful place, very frequented by the inhabitants of the surrounding communes and the nomads of the desert.You can get there by public transport on Thursday and Sunday.
Dates , produced in the region, represent an important local trade.
The monumental gateway to the city is one of the most beautiful in Morocco.
It is the former capital of Tafilalet . Under the name of Sijilmassa, it was a major caravan center of the trans-Saharan trade, the most important in Morocco, in the Middle Ages. Most of the traffic with black Africa then concerned gold, ivory, slaves and salt, coming from Sudan.
The location of Rissani, a crossroads between north and south, still gives the city an important status.
On the outskirts, you can also visit the Mausoleum of Ali Moulay Cherif , leader of Tafilalet in the 17th century and father of the current Alaouite dynasty. The monument is a point of local cultural, religious and tourist attraction.
Taouz
The former garrison town of Taouz , very active under the French protectorate, is today a sleepy town which nevertheless remains attractive with its remains and the rock carvings discovered nearby.
Khamlia
On the way, you can stop at the black village of Khamlia . It is home to ""Bambaras"", a population also known as Gnaoua, descendants of slaves from black Africa, who perpetuate traditional music.
Erfoud
The region is renowned for the fossils present in large quantities in the vicinity of Erfoud .
The stones are cut and polished to make utilitarian and decorative objects. The work is artisanal and there are many small workshops.
The Reg
In the reg , accessible only by 4x4, you can discover magnificent landscapes , but also old lead mines now abandoned, barite extraction sites, sand roses , and also meet nomadic Berber families who live thanks to their herds of goats or dromedaries.
The reg is also highly prized for researching meteorites . Many scientists from all over the world come here every year to find often very interesting specimens.
You may even have the chance to witness the fascinating spectacle of a meteorite falling in the starry sky!