Where?

Tafilalet Oasis,
Morocco

Why?

Approaching the oasis from the dusty roads backed by the
ochre-hued gorges and Atlas Mountains feels like stumbling onto a
mirage. The largest desert oasis in the Sahara is an explosion of
date palms, fortified kasbah villages and glittering pools of water
that seemingly challenge the surrounding dunes. Take time to wander
around the mud villages known as “ksours” – the panoramas from the
roofs over the necklace of palms bursting from the arid valleys are
pretty spectacular.

The surrounding towns and villages were once a crucial stopping
point on the Saharan caravan route, while the ancient city of
Sijilmassa was the birthplace for many royal dynasties. Be sure to
visit the archaeological ruins – they’ll likely be void of other
visitors and will give insight into the prosperous history of the
region.

Stop over in Rissani – the gateway town to the oasis – stroll
through the souk and soak up its energy. Miles away from the
tourist hullabaloo of
Marrakech, here you’ll find residents haggling over date
prices, textiles and day-to-day essentials.

Where to stay

Bordering the oasis is the ancient town of Rissani. Pitch up
here for easy, early morning access into the desert – by camel, of
course. Kasbah Hotel Ziz Palace is our pick thanks to
the spacious, traditionally decorated rooms and a pool in the
hotel’s centre.

What to pack

This Jacquemus stretch-knit maxi dress will take you
from date-picking to dinner.

Travel tip-off

Stop by the Wahati cooperative in Tafilalet. Here you’ll find
locally grown dates, jam, syrups and Moroccan tea harvested by the
woman-only group.

How to get there

Work visiting Tafilalet into your Morroccan road trip itinerary.
Fly into Ouarzazate Airport and then travel the five-hour drive to
Rissani by car.