Several cities in Morocco, particularly in the southeast, have played a significant role in the country’s history. This 5 days desert tour from Marrakech to Fes will take you to Rissani & Erfoud, two of Morocco’s most prominent desert cities.
Rissani
Rissani, the capital of the Tafilalt area, is the first stop. Tafilalt is a Berber word that meaning jug in Berber. It is also known as Sijilmassa and was the primary stopping point for caravans going from Niger to the north of Morocco. As a result, it became well-known and had a long period of success. In reality, the present royal family and the Alaouiet dynasty originated in this city.
In Tafilalt, one of Morocco’s largest Oasis, you’ll find one of the world’s largest palm groves. Rissani is also home to the largest traditional Souk in the Southeast, if not the entire country. When it comes to transferring and selling products, the locals rely on conventional methods. Citizens and vendors still rely on donkeys and horses as their primary means of transportation, as well. Rissani provides a significant amount of dates for Morocco, and it also contributes to the development of the desert region.
A large crowd gathers here every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday since it is the only time when there is a larger selection of goods on display for the public. There are a lot of purchases coming from Rissani or Erfoud, thus this city is bustling.
Erfoud
Meanwhile, Erfoud, a lovely city located approximately 50 kilometers from Merzouga Desert, is another option. Since it contains several tiny workshops that create different types of fossils throughout the year, it is the primary source for the fossils found in Southeast of Morocco. Erfoud also holds a festival every year to commemorate and display different kinds of dates. As well as Moroccans, visitors from all over the world attend this festival.