Saharan Morocco
Saharan Morocco is a vast desert region dividing Morocco and Algeria. Its a hot, dry and often picturesque area. This area is not to be confused with another region further south often called Moroccan Western Sahara.
Towns & Villages
- Erfoud – The Gate of Sahara, this small city is located on the way of Erg Chebbi Dunes.
- Merzouga – Small village on the edge of Erg Chebbi Dunes.
- M'Hamid – Small village on the border with Algeria, south of Zagora town.
- Zagora – Small desert town south of Ouarzazate.
- Ouarzazate – Considered the capital of the south, a great example of preservation and tourism that hasn't destroyed the feel of a fantastic and ancient city.
- Rissani - This small oasis town lies near the northwest edge of the Sahara.
- Nkob – Small Berber town southeast of Agdz on the road Ouarzazate - Agdz - Alnif - Rissani; full of old kasbahs and surounded by palm groves and the Saghrou Mountains.
Other destinations
Understand
Talk
French is widely spoken by most people connected to some kind of business. Moroccan Sahara divides into Berbers and Arabs from different tribes.
How are you
- Berber: meitanit?; Arabic: labass?; French: ça va?;
Thank you
- Berber: tanmirt; Arabic: shukran; French: merci;
I want one orange juice
- Berber: righ ian assir limoun; Arabic: bghit wahid assir limoun; French: je veux un jus d'orange;
My friend
- Berber: assouninu; Arabic: sahbi; French: mon ami;
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
- Tachelhit Berber: yan, sin, krad, kkuz, semmus, sdis, sa, ttam, ttza, mraw; Moroccan Arabic: wahed, juj, tleta, arbaa, remsa, setta, sebaa, tamanya, tsaa, aashra; French: un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix;
Get in
Get around
Getting around Moroccan Sahara desert is as easy as it gets. You have plenty of buses and grands taxis connecting all imaginable cities, towns and villages.
See
- <see name="Erg Chebbi Dunes" alt="Erg Chebbi Dunes" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Erg Chebbi Dunes</see>
- <see name="Tinfou Dunes" alt="Tinfou Dunes" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Tinfou Dunes</see>
- <see name="Chegaga Dunes" alt="Chegaga Dunes" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Chegaga Dunes</see>
- <see name="Old Kasbahs in Nkob" alt="Old Kasbahs in Nkob" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Old Kasbahs in Nkob</see>
- <see name="Ksar of Maadid in Erfoud" alt="Ksar of Maadid in Erfoud" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Ksar of Maadid in Erfoud</see>
- <see name="Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate" alt="Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate</see>
- <see name="Unesco Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou in Ouarzazate" alt="Unesco Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou in Ouarzazate" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Unesco Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou in Ouarzazate</see>
Itineraries
Do
Eat
Drink
- <drink name="Desert Tea" alt="Desert Green Tea" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Desert Tea is most of times just Chinese green tea and plenty of sugar. Ask for mint just for a change.</drink>
- <drink name="Bottled water" alt="Bottled water" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="5.5 to 7 Dirhams" lat="" long="">If you're not used to Moroccan water, most likely you'll get sick of drinking it. Get bottled water selling in all small groceries stores spread around all towns and villages. Water labels: Bahia, Sidi Ali, Sidi Harazem, Ciel (watch out for Ciel water, it is made to make you drink more water), Ain Saiss.</drink>
Stay safe
All Morrocan Sahara is safe. Be careful with heat, drink bottled water. Every little town and village have small shops selling bottled water (~6 Dirhams).
All small towns such Erfoud, Rissani, Zagora, Mhamid have plenty of good quality pharmacies where you can get most of necessary stuff.
Unemployment is high, and this is one of the countries touristic destination. Expect young boys proposing guidance through the desert. You are not obliged to, so if you don't want don't pressure yourself getting one, just smile and say no.
