Surroundings
Guelmim still has a beautiful souk where you can find everything and which stays open until quite late. The Rue des Mauritanians (Zenkat Al Mauritans) is particularly well known; there you will find a wide selection of traditional Saharawi clothing and fabrics.
Souk Amhirich in the early period, Guelmim
In the vicinity of Guelmim and Tighmert, research has led to the discovery of more than 270 archaeological and ethnographic sites, including Asrir, where the remains of ancient Nûl Lamta are believed to be located. In Taghjiijt are Tigmi Ougalid (“the house of the sultan”), an Almohad kasbah overlooking the oasis of Taghjiijt, and Adrar Zerzem. Rock paintings can be found at many of the sites.
The inhabitants of the small surrounding villages practice to this day various traditional dances: Guédra and Ahouache. (See also the Festival & Moussem section.)
- Guelmim: Saturday (Camel Market)
- Sidi Ifni: Sunday
- Ifrane Anti-Atlas: Sunday
- Taghjiijt: Wednesday
- Bouizakarn: Friday
Asrir / Nül Lamta
Asrir is located 10 km east of Guelmim, towards Assa, in a small dune valley (20°55’33′′ N, 09°59’52′′ W).
According to the first archeological conclusions of the Moroccan-Spanish mission, this is very likely the location of the caravan city of Nûl Lamta.
Oase van Tighmert
Tighmert: a large palm garden 12 km from Guelmim (after passing the village of Asrir in the direction of Assa), where you can discover a new form of oasis tourism, staying with the locals, as part of the POS program (Southern Oasis Project).
Tighmert is een van de mooiste oases van Zuid-Marokko.
The oasis of Tighmert is a true natural wonder. It is located in the heart of the southern Sahara and has a special atmosphere that you should not miss. For visitors, she shows the authentic and rich history of this beautiful region, through the daily lifestyle of the residents and the age-old values of the famous ‘blue men’.
As one of the oldest oases in southern Morocco, it has managed to retain its inhabitants over time. In the past, the inhabitants were nomads who travelled regularly. Then they settled down and went on to agriculture. Since then, they have been growing small pieces of land, mainly for food crops. The oasis of Tighmert is a special place, with tall and beautiful palm trees.
Tarmguist
At 14 km from Guelmim, on the PN 12 in the direction of Assa, you can visit khettara’s.
Abaynou
The thermal springs of Abaynou (in the direction of Sidi Ifni) are located 15 km northeast of Guelmim.
The White Beach
At 65 km west of Guelmim (when leaving Guelmim in the direction of Sidi Ifni, after 5 km turn left — see the road sign).
Plage Blanche, the White Beach, is one of the most beautiful locations in the province of Aoreora. A shipwreck of a trawler marks the location of Aoreora (N20°50’13.2′′, W10°52’1.6′′).
Abaynou
Abaynou is 98 km from Guelmim, via Bouizakarn in the direction of Tata. In this rural municipality is the source Lalla Mellouka.
Amtoudi
At 120 km east of Guelmim (via the Bouizakarn–Tata route) is the valley of Amtoudi. With its well and Agadirs, this is an internationally known location.
Oued Drâa & Oued Chbika
130 km from Guelmim, in the direction of Tan-Tan, lies the mouth of the Oued Drâa, one of the most beautiful locations on the Moroccan Atlantic coast. A wide valley ends here in cliffs, through which the wadi flows.
Illigh
The Zaouïa of Illigh, also called the Zaouia of Tazeroualt, was a Sufi brotherhood from the Souss in Morocco, founded by Abou Hassoun Semlali in the early 17th century.
The Zaouia originated in a period characterised by the weakness of the central Saadian power. She quickly grew into an important and powerful player in southern Morocco and the Souss.
Unlike other Zaouia who had a strong political influence when the Alaouites came to power, they did not destroy the Zaouia of Illigh, despite an attempt by Sultan Rachid in 1670.
The Zaouia continued to exert a local political and economic influence within the tribe of Lakhsass and maintained tense relations with the Alaouite Makhzen until the second half of the 19th century.
The moussem of Sidi Ahmed Ou Moussa
Dit is een jaarlijks evenement van religieuze en commerciële aard, dat in de openlucht plaatsvindt in de vorm van een soort jaarmarkt of kermis.
Men ontmoet er handelaren in vee en graan, liefhebbers van zang, dans en fantasia, en men kan er ook optredens van plaatselijke groepen bijwonen.
Het is tevens een plaats voor uitwisseling en ontmoetingen tussen bewoners van verschillende regio’s van Marokko en zelfs uit het buitenland. Herinneringen, handelsactiviteiten, ontmoetingen, bondgenootschappen enzovoort vormen allemaal onderdelen van het programma van de Moussem van Sidi Ahmed Ou Moussa.
De Moussem van Sidi Ahmed Ou Moussa is in feite een soort eerbetoon aan Ahmed-Ou-Moussa Abou Al-Abbas Ahmed-Ou-Moussa Al Jazouli Al Semlali (1460–1560), geboren in Bou Merouan, binnen de stam van de Ida of Semlal, in de Anti-Atlas.
Hij vervolgde zijn studies in Marrakech en was leerling van grote meesters. Op zoek naar kennis reisde hij volgens deskundigen zelfs naar het Oosten.
Sidi Ahmed-Ou-Moussa was een zeer eenvoudig man die meer waarde hechtte aan intuïtie en mystiek dan aan redenering, geleerdheid en kennis van de Arabische taal.
Door zijn ervaring werd hij zowel door Arabieren als door Berbers zeer gerespecteerd.
Na zijn dood bleef hij een van de meest vermaarde heiligen. Zijn mausoleum is tegenwoordig een bedevaartsoord.
Hij ligt begraven in Tazeroualt, ten oosten van Tiznit, waar zijn graf wordt vereerd. Na zijn dood werden daar een mausoleum en een zaouïa gebouwd die zijn naam dragen.
Ait Boufoulen
Of the 60 caves that the region has, the Pigeon Cave at Ait Boufoulen (about 54 km from the city of Guelmim) is a true masterpiece of nature that still manages to amaze.
Ait Boufoulen is a true tourist pearl, located between Bouizakarn and Lakhssass, in the Souss-Massa region. The area is famous for its cave, where rainwater flows in and reappears in a pool called Bizane, in the Oued Agjgal.
Taghjijt
60 km northeast of Guelmim (on the Bouizakarn–Tata road) is a beautiful palm garden that is worth discovering. Also here is the protohistoric site of Adrar Zerzem, which has the shape of a rocky ridge running from east to west. It overlooks the right bank of the Oued Sayad. The dating of this site goes back to about 2,500 years before Christ.Also on the heights of Taghjiijt, on the top of the beautiful Znagz, you can see the ancient citadel of Dar es Sultan, called Tigmi Ouglid. It used to serve as a control and lookout tower for this region.