To discover another side of Morocco, it's not always necessary to seek out completely isolated places. Often, it's enough to leave the major tourist destinations and dedicate more time to small towns, oases, and in-between regions .
From the palm groves of Skoura to the southern roads around Tata, Foum Zguid or Guelmim, several destinations allow you to travel at a calmer pace and discover very different landscapes.
Skoura: taking your time in the palm grove
Skoura is an excellent alternative to a single night in Ouarzazate before continuing on to the Dadès.
The large palm grove, the kasbahs and the guest houses scattered throughout the gardens create a much more rural atmosphere.
Spending two nights there allows you to walk in the palm grove, discover the surroundings and enjoy a very different pace from that of the major tourist centers.
Agdz and the Drâa Valley
Agdz is located on one of the major routes leading to Zagora and M'Hamid, but deserves more than just a stopover.
The city is a good base for exploring the palm groves and villages of the Drâa Valley.
This is an interesting stop for those who wish to slow down the journey before continuing on to the desert regions.
Foum Zguid: a different kind of desert gateway
Foum Zguid offers a different approach to the Sahara than Merzouga.
The region is of particular interest to travellers attracted by the tracks, 4x4 excursions and wide open spaces of the South.
It also provides a starting point for exploring desert landscapes without necessarily following the most classic routes.
Tata: Oasis and Mountains of the South
Tata is located in a region where arid terrain, oases and pre-Saharan landscapes meet.
The destination is particularly suitable for travellers who enjoy long scenic drives and stops where the interest lies more in the territory than in a list of monuments to visit.
It is also a good stop on a route linking the Anti-Atlas to the more southern regions.
Taroudant: a southern city on a human scale
Taroudant allows you to rediscover ramparts, souks and urban atmosphere without exactly reproducing the experience of a large city like Marrakech.
Its location between the Atlas mountains and the Souss plain also makes it possible to organize excursions in the surrounding area.
It can easily be integrated into a stay around Agadir or into an itinerary to the interior of the country.
Guelmim: at the gateway to the Saharan landscapes
Guelmim gradually marks the transition to the landscapes of the great South.
The region is particularly well suited to road trips linking the Atlantic coast, oases and pre-Saharan areas.
It will be of more interest to travellers who like to explore a region than those who are looking for a beach destination or a succession of tourist sites.
Tantan and the South Atlantic route
Tantan can serve as a stop on a route descending along the coast towards the Saharan regions.
The landscape gradually becomes more open, with long distances and a tourist presence much less concentrated than in the major coastal resorts.
It is primarily a destination to be included in a road trip rather than considered as a classic urban stay.
Erfoud: Discover the Tafilalet in a different way
Erfoud is often passed through quickly on the road to Merzouga.
However, the city and its region allow you to discover the landscapes of Tafilalet, the palm groves and the pre-Saharan areas before reaching the dunes.
Spending a night in the region can make the journey to the Sahara much more gradual.
Rissani: do not head directly towards the dunes
Rissani is located near Merzouga but offers a very different atmosphere.
Rather than heading straight to the dunes, a stopover allows you to discover a city historically linked to trade and trade routes in the South.
It can easily be incorporated into a day trip from Merzouga or as a stopover before the desert.
Should we avoid major destinations altogether?
No. The goal is not necessarily to remove Marrakech, Essaouira or Merzouga from your itinerary.
A good solution is to alternate between large stages and smaller destinations .
For example, a few days in Marrakech can be followed by a stay in a palm grove or a much quieter valley.
Staying longer in the same place
Avoiding the most crowded places also involves a different way of travelling.
Spending two or three nights in a small destination often gives more of an impression of discovering a region than a series of stops made in a few hours.
This also allows you to walk, talk with the locals, discover the surroundings and modify your program according to the advice received on site.
Traveling outside of peak season
The chosen time of year greatly influences the atmosphere of a trip.
When possible, travelling outside of the main holidays and peak periods allows you to enjoy accommodations and sites more peacefully.
Spring and autumn remain particularly interesting for travelling in the South without the extreme temperatures of summer.
Choose accommodations away from the centers
The choice of accommodation can also make a big difference.
A guesthouse in a palm grove, an inn located outside a city or rural accommodation often allows you to regain peace and quiet much more quickly.
Therefore, it is not always necessary to completely change regions to get away from the most lively areas.
A journey through the oases of the South
A trip between Skoura, Agdz, Tata and Foum Zguid, for example, allows you to build an itinerary focused on the oases and landscapes of the South.
The distances remain significant, but the route crosses very different territories and offers many opportunities to stop.
This type of tour is particularly suitable for travelers with a car or driver.
A route towards the South Atlantic
From Agadir or Taroudant, it is also possible to gradually descend towards Guelmim and Tantan .
The journey then combines the hinterland, arid landscapes and the Atlantic coast.
With more time, this route can be extended much further south.
Desert: Look beyond Merzouga
Merzouga remains a remarkable destination, but it is not the only way to discover the Moroccan desert landscapes.
Foum Zguid allows you to approach the desert via different routes and landscapes.
Agdz, Tata or the regions further south can also be part of a route where the Sahara appears gradually rather than at the end of a direct journey.
With or without a car?
Having a vehicle makes the organization much easier for this type of trip.
Secondary destinations are often more interesting when you can stop in the villages, palm groves and landscapes encountered between two stages.
Without a car, it is still possible to reach several cities and then organize taxis, transfers or excursions locally.
Who is this type of trip for?
These destinations will be most suitable for travelers who prefer the scenery, the drive, and the atmosphere of a region to an accumulation of monuments and attractions.
They are also interesting for a second trip to Morocco, when the major destinations have already been explored.
In summary: where to go to discover a more peaceful Morocco?
Skoura: for the palm groves and the kasbahs.
Agdz: for the Drâa valley.
Foum Zguid and Tata: for wide open spaces and roads in the South.
Taroudant: for a southern city on a human scale.
Guelmim and Tantan: for a road trip to the Saharan regions and the southern coast.
Erfoud and Rissani: to discover the Tafilalet before heading to the dunes.
These steps allow you to build a trip that is less focused on big tourist names and more oriented towards landscapes and the progressive discovery of the territory.
