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Excursions around El Khorbat
El Khorbat is the ideal starting point for excursions through
Ferkla oasis, the valley of Todra with it's famous gorges, the High
Atlas, the Jebel Saghro and also the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi close to Merzouga. |
 
ATTENTION!
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Door of the Ksar El Khorbat Akedim
Central street of the Ksar El Khorbat Oujdid
El Khorbat palm grove
Oil mill near El Khorbat |
1. El Khorbat and it's pal grove by foot
Route:
We start visiting the Ksar Oujdid
with its covered alleys and the central square, and we also visit the inside of
a traditional raw soil house.
After that we go for a walk around
the Ksar Akedim, with labyrinthic structure.
We walk across the palm grove
of El Khorbat until we get to Tassabelbalt hill, where we can have a panoramic
view of the whole oasis and where each Friday single girls get together to the spring.
We take a different way across the palm grove to get back and there we can visit an
oil mill.
SEE THE WORK OF THE MILL
Time: Half day
Cost:
SEE MORE PICTURES OF THIS WALK
SEE
A MAP OF THE PALM GROVE
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Biking through the oasis
Moulay Abdelaziz shrine in Asrir
Zaouïa of Sidi l'Houari
Dunes in El Ksiba n'Igourramen |
2. Bike circuit through the Ferkla oasis
following Charles de Foucauld's treck
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"During the journey of today [between Asrir and Goulmima] I haven't
met anybody. I have passed close to two inhabited sites: Zaouia Sidi El Haouari, a groupe of houses surrounded by
olive trees and pomegranate trees but without any palm tree; El Mkhater [the Khettaras], a small Ksar with palm trees".
Charles de Foucauld, 1884. |
Route:
Leaving from El Khorbat, we bike
across the palm grove until we get to Asrir. This village was in former times
the economic capital of the oasis, with its Jew neighborhood, clay workshops and
a mosque of the Almoravits time.
Going on across the Ferkla palm grove we arrive at Zaouïa Sidi l’Haouari,
a sufi institution with a gorgeous raw soil minaret.
A last walk across a desert landscape leads us to the Khettaras
(underground canals) in El Ksiba n’Igourramen, which are still in use.
Near the Khettaras, small dunes covered
with palm trees offer us a charming environment.
We take a different way across the
oasis to get back, seeing many Ksars as Tighfert, Gardemit and Sat.
SEE THE ROUTE ON A MAP
Time:
5 hours including visits (20 Km).
Cost:
If you don't have a
bike, you can rent one for 80 DH.
SEE MORE PICTURES OF THIS CIRCUIT
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Todra gorges
The Kasbah of Cheikh Bassou
Ikelane mosque in d'Afanour |
3.
Todra Valley
Route:
Leaving El Khorbat along the
national road, we can soon find a little way that will lead us through the palm
grove to El Hart n’Igourramen, an interesting clay men village.
Close to Tinghir we can find the
Afanour Ksar with its old Ikelane mosque, which is restored and open to the
visitors.
SEE MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THIS MOSQUE
Also in Tinghir,
in the old Kasbah of Sheikh Bassou (transformed today into the Hotel Tomboctou), you can see
expositions of different artists and admire the building itself. It is also a good place to take a drink or have
lunch. They offer a good menu for 105 DH with two possibilities to choose.
Going to the famous Todra gorges,
we can walk across the thickness of the palm grove in a gorgeous environment.
Finally, we can go up
to the hill where are placed the ruins of El Glaoui Kasbah and gaze at the
sunset.
We take the same way to get back to
El Khorbat.
SEE THE ROUTE ON A MAP
Time:
a whole day lets us see everything deeply and quietly.
Cost:
-
If you have your own car, you can
take on a guide for 200 DH.
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If you don’t have it, a good way
to do this trip is by taxi for 600 DH.
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Taghia n'Ifegh
Igoudamène
Aghbalou n'Kerdous |
4. Trip to Aghbalou n’Kerdous
Route:
Our road starts in the
outskirts of Tinejdad and goes on next to El Ksiba n’Igourramen Khettaras and
dunes before getting close to the High Atlas.
There we first discover Taghia
n’Ifegh, and then Igoudamène, two mountain oasis which offer splendid walks on
foot.
Going through wild and amazing
landscapes we arrive at Aghbalou n’Kerdous with its big spring and several Ksars
placed among the wheat fields.
We take the same way to get back to El Khorbat.
SEE THE ROUTE ON A MAP
Time:
A whole day lets us see everything deeply and quietly.
Cost:
-
If you have your own car, you can
take on a guide for 200 DH.
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If you don’t have a private car,
a good way to do this trip is by taxi for 600 DH.
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It is necessary to take
something to eat for lunch.
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Ksar Igoulmimen
Prehistoric tumulus
Pottery of Mo |
5. Gheris valley
Route:
The national road leads us to
Goulmima, where we can visit the old Ksar Igoulmimen with its Jew neighborhood.
Near Goulmima, we drive along a
country lane full of prehistoric tumulus.
In the Tadighoust road, the Ksar Ait Yahia is also worthy
of a visit.
In Tadighoust, the guest house Chez Pauline presents an interesting
collection of African art. It is also a good place to drink something or to have breakfast. They offer a set menu for 125 DH,
with French and Moroccan kitchen.
From Tadighoust, a 3 kilometers earth road
brought us to Mo, a very active pottery village. You can also get
there walking through the luxuriant and relaxing palm grove, starting from the above mentioned guest house.
We take the same way to get back to El Khorbat.
SEE THE ROUTE ON A MAP
Time:
A whole day lets us see everything deeply and quietly.
Cost:
-
If you have your own car, you can
take on a guide for 200 DH.
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If you don’t have it, a good way
to do this trip is by taxi for 500 DH.
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The Tafilalt from the Ksar Tingheras
El Fida museum
Erg Chebbi dunes |
6. The Tafilalt and Merzouga dunes
Route:
A pretty asphalted road leads us to
Erfoud and Rissani. Rissani is a village famous for its large market.
Before getting to Rissani we can
visit the clay workshops of Moulay Abdellah Dkak, in the Ksar with the same
name.
Over there we can find the royal palace El Fida, converted nowadays in a
museum.
Later on we will arrive at Merzouga,
where we can see the most amazing dunes of the whole Morocco.
We take the same way to get back to El Khorbat after the sunset.
SEE THE ROUTE ON A MAP
Time:
A whole day lets us see everything deeply and quietly.
Cost:
-
If you have your own car, you can
take on a guide for 200 DH.
-
If you don’t have it, a good way
to do this trip is by taxi for 700 DH.
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Amsad gorges
Gheris river near Amellaghou
Imiter canyon |
7. Circuit from Gheris gorges to Todra gorges
Route:
An asphalted road leads us to
Goulmima and Tadighoust.
There, it gets into the wonderful Amsad gorges, which drives us to Amellagou.
Going on, we drive close to the
Imiter canyon where we can find several ways to climb up.
While we are going to Ait Hani and
Tamtatoucht (which has got seven Kasbahs) we can see many picturesque villages
and high mountain landscapes.
From Tamtatoucht, we go down to
Tinerhir along the famous Todra gorges and get back to El Khorbat along the
national road.
SEE
THE ROUTE ON A MAP
Time:
A whole day.
Cost:
-
If you have your own car, you
can take on a guide for 200 DH.
-
If you don’t have it, a good way
to do this trip is by taxi for
1.000
DH.
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It is necessary to take something
to eat for lunch.
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Ihandar
Alnif road through the Jebel Saghro
Jebel Asdaf summit |
8. 4WD circuit through Jebel Saghro
Route:
The dirt road leaves from the
center of Tinejdad, goes along splendid oasis such as Ihandar and Taghia and
gets into the Jebel Ougnat rocky mountain.
Going down through the south slope
we can find other palm groves and so we get to Alnif.
We take a different country way
across Jegel Saghro to go back.
Finally, before arriving to El Khorbat, those who like sport will
be able to climb the Jebel Asdaf, where is placed an old fortress and you will
enjoy its panoramic views.
SEE THE ROUTE ON A MAP
Time:
a whole day.
Cost:
-
If you have your own 4WD car, you
can take on a guide for 200 DH.
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If you don’t have it, the best
way to do this trip is renting a four wheel car with a driver (1500 DH
including maximum four people).
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It is necessary to take something
to eat for lunch.
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Other possibilities
There are different one day tours you can make starting from El Khorbat,
specially circuits with all terrain bikes. Other circuits are possible in one day
from El Khorbat, specially mountain bike circuits. Don't hesitate to contact us for further information.
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