GUELMIM
Guelmim still has a pretty souk where you can find everything and which stays open quite late. Very well known is the rue des Mauritaniens (Zenkat Al Mauritans) where you can find a large choice of traditional Sahrawi clothing and fabrics.
In the surroundings of Guelmim and Tighmert, research has led to the discovery of more than 270 archaeological and ethnographic sites, including “Asrir”, believed to house the remains of the ancient Nul Lamta, and in Taghjiit “Tigmi Ougalid” (the house of sultan), an Almohad Kasbah overlooking the Taghjijt oasis and “Adrar Zerzem”. Many entrances have rock engravings. The inhabitants of the small surrounding villages practice different traditional dances to this day: Guédra, Ahouache. (See also Festival & Moussem section)
Guelmim – CAMEL MARKET AMHAYRICH – Saturday
Sidi Ifni – Sunday
Ifrane Anti-Atlas – Sunday
Taghjiijt – Wednesday
Bouizakarn – Friday
ASRIR / NÜL LAMTA
Asrir is located 10 km east of Guelmim towards Assa on a small dune valley (20° 55’33″N 09° 59’52” W). According to the first archaeological deductions of the Moroccan-Spanish mission, this is most likely the location of the caravan city of Nûl Lamta (link).
TIGHMERT OASIS
Aït Baku & Tighmert a large palm grove 12 km from Guelmim° (after passing the village of Asrir towards Assa) where you can discover a new experience of oasis tourism (homestay) POS program (southern oasis project). Tighmert is one of the most beautiful oases in southern Morocco.
The Tighmert oasis is a pure marvel of nature, it is located in the heart of the southern Sahara, it exudes a special atmosphere that should not be missed and it displays for its visitors the great authentic history of this beautiful region, through the daily lifestyle of the inhabitants and the ancestral values of the famous “blue men”.
Comptant parmi les plus anciennes oasis du sud marocain, elle a su, au fil du temps, conserver ses habitants. Autrefois, les habitants étaient des bédouins qui se déplaçaient régulièrement, puis, ils se sont sédentarisés et se sont mis à l’agriculture. Depuis, ils cultivent des petites parcelles, principalement de cultures vivrières.
L’Oasis de Tighmert est un lieu exceptionnel, pourvue de hauts et merveilleux palmiers.
TARMGUIST
You can visit Khettaras 14 km from Guelmim on PN 12 direction Assa
ABAYNO
The thermal springs of Abaynou (direction of Sidi Ifni) are located 15 km northeast of Guelmim
ANDJA
The small village of Andja is located 20 km from Bouizakarn. there 10 km direction Guelmim, at the village Tagant, take the road on the right for Lakhssas).
THE WHITE BEACH
65 km west of Guelmim (at the exit of Guelmim direction Sidi Ifni 5 km turn left – see sign). The white beach is one of the most beautiful sites in the AOREORA province, a wreck of a trawler marks the point of Aoreora (N20°50’13.2″. W10°52’1.6″).
ABAYNOU
Is located 98 km from Guelmim via Bouizakarn towards Tata. In this rural commune is the Lalla Mellouka Source.
AMTOUDI
120 km east of Guelmim (Route Bouizakarn-Tata), the Amtoudi valley with its Kasbah, source and Agadirs is an internationally renowned site.
OUED DRAA & OUED CHBIKA MOUTH
130 km from Guelmim towards Tan-Tan is the mouth of the Oued Drâa, which is one of the most beautiful sites on the Moroccan Atlantic coast. A vast valley ending in cliffs where the wadi flows through
ILLIGH
The zaouia of Illigh or zaouia of Tazeroualt was a Sufi brotherhood from Souss, Morocco, founded by Abou Hassoun Semlali at the beginning of the 17th century.
Appearing during a period marked by the weakness of the Saadian central power, the zaouia will very quickly become an essential and powerful player in southern Morocco and Souss.
The Illigh zaouia, unlike the other zaouias which enjoyed strong political influence when the Alawites came to power, was not destroyed by the latter, despite an attempt by Sultan Rachid in 1670; it will continue to have a local political and economic influence within the Lakhsass tribe, maintaining tense relations with the Alawite Makhzen, until the second half of the 19th century.
THE MOUSSEM OF SIDI AHMED OR MOUSSA
It is an annual event, of a religious and commercial nature which takes place outdoors in a sort of fair or fair. There we meet cattle and grain merchants, fans of song, dance and fantasia and we can also attend shows by local troupes. It is also a place for exchanges and meetings between residents of different regions of Morocco, even from abroad. Recollections, commercial events, meetings, alliances, etc., are all elements which constitute the program of the Moussem of Sidi Ahmed Ou Moussa. Indeed, The Moussem of Sidi Ahmed Ou Moussa is a sort of homage to Ahmed-Ou-Moussa Abou Al-Abbas Ahmed-Ou-Moussa Al Jazouli Al Semlali (1460-1560), born in Bou Merouan of the Ida tribe or Semlal, in the Anti Atlas. He continued his studies in Marrakech. And he was the disciple of great masters. In search of knowledge, he even traveled, according to experts, to the Orient. Sidi Ahmed-Ou-Moussa was a very simple man who attached more value to intuition and mysticism than to reasoning, erudition and knowledge of the Arabic language. From his experience, he was very respected by the Arabs and the Berbers. After his death, he remained one of the most renowned Saints. His mausoleum is now a place of pilgrimage. He is buried in Tazeroualt (east of Tiznit) where his tomb is venerated, and where, after his death, a mausoleum and a zaouïa were built which bear his name.
AIT BOUFOULN
One of 60 caves in the region, the Pigeon Cave at Ait Boufoulen (about 54 km from the town of Guelmim) is a masterpiece of nature that still delivers on its promise of wonder.
A real tourist gem wedged between Bouizakarn and Lakhssass, in the Souss-Massa region, Ait Boufoulen is famous for its cave where rainwater enters and exits in a pond called Bizane in the Agjgal wadi.
TAGHJIJT
60 km northeast of Guelmim (on the Bouizakarn – Tata Road), a beautiful palm grove to discover as well as the protohistoric site of Adrar Zerzem, which takes the form of a rocky ridge oriented East-West. It overlooks the right bank of Wadi Sayad. The dating of this site dates back to almost 2,500 years BC. And to see on the heights of Taghjijt, on the summit of the beautiful Znagz, the old citadel of DARES SOULTAN, named TIGMI OUGLID, which once served as a control tower for this region. A beautiful walk of approx. 3 hours.