Fodor's Expert Review Palm Groves of Aït Mansour
The palm groves of the Aït Mansour Gorge southeast of Tafraoute deserve a day's excursion, although you could just take the road as a scenic (and longer) route to Tiznit. About 2 km (1 mile) south out of town, you'll see the so-called Napoleon's Hat of massive boulders on your right. Occasionally, you'll see climbers here. Continue past the pretty village of Aguerd Oudad. When the road forks, go left; the right branch goes to the Painted Rocks. A winding, paved road takes you higher into the Anti-Atlas Mountains. The views are spectacular as the road rises and then descends, crossing a riverbed, which—even when dry—betrays the presence of underground water by the cactus and oleander growing there. Twenty kilometers (12 miles) out of Tafraoute, turn right toward Aït Mansour.
After another 14 km (9 miles) of descent, you reach the palm groves. Water, shade, and greenery are abundant, and you may find a shop serving sweet mint tea or soda. The goatherds of the peaks are replaced... READ MORE
The palm groves of the Aït Mansour Gorge southeast of Tafraoute deserve a day's excursion, although you could just take the road as a scenic (and longer) route to Tiznit. About 2 km (1 mile) south out of town, you'll see the so-called Napoleon's Hat of massive boulders on your right. Occasionally, you'll see climbers here. Continue past the pretty village of Aguerd Oudad. When the road forks, go left; the right branch goes to the Painted Rocks. A winding, paved road takes you higher into the Anti-Atlas Mountains. The views are spectacular as the road rises and then descends, crossing a riverbed, which—even when dry—betrays the presence of underground water by the cactus and oleander growing there. Twenty kilometers (12 miles) out of Tafraoute, turn right toward Aït Mansour.
After another 14 km (9 miles) of descent, you reach the palm groves. Water, shade, and greenery are abundant, and you may find a shop serving sweet mint tea or soda. The goatherds of the peaks are replaced here by shrouded women, either transporting palm-frond baskets of dates or walking to Timguilcht to visit its saint's shrine. Continue on the piste to Souk Had Issi, whose market is held on Sunday. From there, the piste loops back to Tafraoute, or you can take a lower road to connect to Tiznit over the dramatic Col de Kerdous.
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