where to stay between fes and merzouga

But we found the lake and it was surrounded by herds of camels that were there to refresh themselves in the cool water. Some people like to stay a little longer in the desert area and if you're staying in Merzouga for the day there's enough to see and do, depending on what you prefer. Fes. Would it be advisable to just get in the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? One small note I would like to add at the end of this guide is how useful an Arabic phrasebook has been for me to get by around Morocco. You can see the oldest tree in morocco. Thank you. It is packed with all the essential words and phrases you will need on your trip to Morocco and will help you in every situation from finding a hotel room to ordering tajine or joining the local festivities this book will cover almost every situation you could imagine. I highly recommend this place! I like to add though that also big difference in the desert camps is to look at location!. If you go on a tour with a Berber guide, you could also ask him to fold it and tie it on your head in the traditional way. The museum is deemed as one of the national monuments for its cultural and historic relevancy. 50000 Rue Ahmed Bendriss Mellouli, Meknes 50070, Morocco. During this time, the temperatures tend to be cooler, and the winds tend to be calm. I definitely don't want to leave my departure till too late and then arrive in Fes late at night. And do you by any chance know how frequently the buses depart? Because of its historical significance, and cultural importance, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Last November when I was on my way back to Taroudant from Merzouga, it was in *Erfoud* that I found a local bus which took me as far as Ouarzazate. Tips for the best photo: you can get a really nice shot of the inner facade from the Htel Cascade rooftop. Then you have more near to Erg Chebbi (4 hours) and your boy friend will not complain to drive crazy haha. as mentioned there will be other bus companies going on this route, it is difficult to find out info about them as they dont have online schedules like CTM and Supratours. Merzouga is the ideal place to visit a small part of the Sahara desert. Step into the Kingdom of Morocco, a country packed with lively cities, vibrant colours, and jaw-dropping natural landscapes. The structure was very nice, good food and friendly host. Contact Seastreak Martha's Vineyard for details (tel. Tinerhir is located 200 km North-West of Merzouga and driving between the two cities should take about 3 hours. But it's Morocco's culture that stands out above all else, encouraging visitors to lose themselves in a Kingdom that offers warm hospitality, colourful charm, and exotic mystery. Fez or Fes is a city in northern inland Morocco and the capital of the Fas-Meknas administrative region. I would suggest staying either in Ouarzazate for a day where you can visit an ancient mud Kasbah called Ait Ben Haddou or in a city called Tinerhir where you can visit stunning rock gorges. Mohamed and the team were kind enough to show us their vineyard and share their wine on Dec 31, when most of the staff was on holiday. However, when I have a look at the ONCF website, all I can see is a 9:30pm bus from Errachidia so I am a bit confused. Wanderlog makes planning a trip so effortless. I'm glad the info was of some assistance. From sandboarding between the dunes to going for a ride in a 44 in the desert, we guarantee you wont run out of cool things to do in this desert village. Vast 9th-century Karaouiyne University is tiled in vivid painted ceramics, while the towering Rcif Mosque overlooks a lively market square. Aside from the free things you can do independently, Merzouga offers a plethora of cheap activities that almost every budget traveler will love. Rissanis big enough to wander around and soak up the atmosphere and small enough so that you dont get lost. My questions are - how long is this journey by. Receive tour updates, travel tips & behind-the-scenes stories once a month in your mailbox! Morocco is incredibly diverse, with something to offer every traveller - outdoor adventurers can navigate majestic mountain trails and sprawling sand dunes, while food lovers can indulge in culinary fusions and traditional dishes. You can not do anything. The wine was quite nice, they specialize in syrah and cab, all clones imported from France. I will definitely bring other friends here. We payed I think 70 each to go visit the royal stables. This desert camp is one of the most inexpensive ones in Merzouga. The 17 most beautiful places to visit in Morocco. The lake is called Dayet Srji and its located West of Merzouga. Which periods of the year were that? The best moment to go there is right before sunset. Because 470 Km's seems a lot for one day we are now looking for a place to stop and sleep about half way. Really it is an impressive place. Overall not a great experience!!! You will find there in particular a beautiful garden at the entrance but also embroidery, pottery, carpets and many other artisanal products from Fes. These pants will dry quickly if you sweat and are not as heavy as jeans or as other types of pants. If your scarf is long enough, it will also cover your shoulders. On the first night we arrived in the late afternoon, we wanted to just explore but stay close. It is set in the Moroccan desert a bit outside of town. If youre thinking of visiting Rissani town its definitely an entertaining way to spend a few hours. Here you can tumble out of the door, climb the highest dune and sit undisturbed reading a book for a good couple of hours. place to stay between fes and merzouga - Morocco Forum - Tripadvisor Answer 1 of 7: We are driving from fes to merzouga and have heard it can be quite a haul. Visit the best places in Morocco with these 3 Morocco itineraries. Its primarily known for its Fes El Bali walled medina, with medieval Marinid architecture, vibrant souks and old-world atmosphere. Navigate forward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Dar Batha has been a museum for more than a century now, and is a repository for artefacts from Old Fezs ruined buildings. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. I was amazed by how clear the milky way appeared above us and how bright and big the stars seemed to be. So much so I wanted to leaveand just stay in the hotel. I completely forgot to bring warm socks the first time I camped between the dunes in Merzouga and my feet were so cold I couldnt sleep at all. The temperature in summer reaches highs of 40C (104F ) and it rarely drops below 26.7C (80F) at night. There are small rooms on the top floor that you can overlook at the courtyard. Oued Fejjaline, 5 Ave du Batha, Fes, Morocco. It is important to note that even though it is a Muslim place of worship, this school is open to non-Muslims and therefore it is an opportunity for everyone to learn more about the local culture. This city is located 368 km North-West of Merzouga and reaching it should take about 5 hours. The dar is located just a few minutes from the Blue Gate and has a small garden inside perfect for a walk. Spending the night in a luxury camp among the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Unfortunately my review is negative because we booked 2 standard rooms via booking but one of the two we got was extremely smallthere was not even space to open the lugguagesunacceptable!! Maybe this will be a nice place to stop, but it's allready quite near to Merzouga (100 Km's). Volubilis contains essentially Roman vestiges of a fortified municipium built on a commanding site at the foot of the Jebel Zerhoun. Errachida has a better accommodations, Beside Hotel Rissani, there are couple hidden/nicer hotels, they are located after the junction to Meknes, Road to Goulmima, -Aproximately less than 1 mile-. Extensive remains of these survive in the archaeological site, located in a fertile agricultural area. . your blog is amazing, thank you so much for sharing with us. Almost every hotel or hostel in Merzouga offers and organizes their own camel tours in the desert and overnight stays at their own private desert camps. You may find a bus to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Bringing Merino wool socks to the desert may sound a bit counter-intuitive but believe me, it gets super cold at night! or you go out for a walk and to eat. Keep writing, you are doing a great job. Find the best travel insurance for Morocco, Free Things to do in Erg Chebbi and Merzouga. Although these treks are possible during the whole day, the best time is at sunset. What companies run services between Fes, Morocco and Merzouga (Station), Morocco? Guest rooms at the guesthouse are equipped with a comfortable seating area where you can enjoy a quiet evening after long walks in the desert. Wonderful place to discover the treasure of fossils from Morocco. I had never been at a tasting like this before! A scarf will be your best piece of clothing in the Moroccan desert for various reasons. What may take you by surprise is how young this monument is compared to the religious schools and shrines in Fez. Places to stay in Fs. Where To Stay In Merzouga Many restaurants and cafes on the main square and overlooking the square, although I'd be mindful that the restaurant workers can be a little aggressive in their attempts to get you to dine in their restaurants. Id come back ;), 6 rue numro 1 quartier belair, Meknes 50010, Morocco. If you are touring Morocco and arrive to Fes, youll immediately recognize the Grande Porte Bab Boujeloud, also known as The Blue Gate of Fes. If you exit through the Bab Boujloud, however, youll note that its other side is actually green.The towering entryway with its mosaic tiles is the most iconic portal to the old medina, Fes el-Bali, the worlds largest surviving medieval city and urban car-free zone. The top stops along the way from Merzouga to Chefchaouen (with short detours) are Fes El Bali, Conservation du site Archeologique de Volubilis, and Medina. The reverse side, which faces the medina, is greenthe color of Islam.Built in 1913, the bab (gate) is a doorway between two equally colorful and dynamic scenes, one that feels distinctly 21st century, and the other an intriguing mix of different eras.Once you pass through The Blue Gate, the thrum of traffic will quickly fade, replaced by the din of shopkeepers selling their wares and the muffled footsteps of thousands of animals and pedestrians making their way through the winding alleyways. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-52831525', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Fes. In Merzouga, I plan to separate from my tour guide and group as they are going back to Marrakech and I want to continue. I did read elsewhere as well that Thursday was a market day in Rissani which is why I thought it might be nice to stop there before departing for (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? They're harmless but I don't like when people try to push you to choose their establishment even if you're not interested in dining; what I didn't like about these restaurants is that once you're in and have ordered they no longer care about you and are after new customers. Our guide was named Hassan who was really experienced and knew everything about the site, highly recommend this guide. Heres where the bus station in Ouarazate is located and you can find the bus station in Tinghir here. Or you need to change every time Merzouga - Rissani - Rissani - Errachidia and there to find some local bus going to Fes. 8 reviews 15 helpful votes 1. If you have your own car, you will love the landscape as you drive there. Sun protection is vital. HIRE A TOUR-GUIDE IF YOU HAVE A BABY. This desert camp offers trekking by foot, on camel, by quad or 44. On the way from Fes, you can stop in Merzouga or in the beautiful Gorges du Ziz on the pass between Fes and Merzouga. "RICH" is a small town halfway where you can stay for a night, get refreshed, and get ready for the following day adventure. It was carved by a German soldier during WORLD WIDE 2, when Ifrane was used briefly as a prisoner-of-war camp. Yes the building is falling apart in some places, but it really adds to the charm. She also highly recommends that you clean your camera thoroughly once youre back in the dust- and sand-free room of your hostel or hotel. I went there with a group of friends and we had the most amazing time. The ablution fountain in the courtyard continues to flow after more than 750 years, and standing here its hard not to be dumbfounded by the geometrical tilework topped with bands of Arabic calligraphy, the feather-light stuccowork, and the carved cedar screens. However park is still relaxing and away from city rush. Bab Boujloud, the Blue Gate, is an architectural masterpiece which marks the entrance to Fes old city. Other people are walking around selling fruit to give them as well. They start at around 17 USD per person for two hours with a private guide. My favorite place to visit in Fez. which says that if you go from Merzouga --> Rissani --> Errachidia, there are daytime buses from Errachidia to Fes. Hello, thanks for sharing your tips. document.getElementById( "ak_js_4" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Journalofnomads.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon and affiliated sites. Khamlia is located right next to the Erg Chebbi dunes. Speaks arab and France. The stables alone could hold 20,000 horses. This Koranic academy, founded in 1350 during the Merinides dynasty, is well worth a detour if youre visiting Fes. This bus station is located almost adjacent to the train station in Marrakech. Midelt is more or less the halfway point, but there's nothing there to recommend it. Many camps are too close to the village and you may hear rooster cries in the morning. The hotel is located in one of the wealthiest areas in Meknes. Exactly what I needed to plan a trip. They have a large showroom/store that has the best prices for fossils that you'll find in Morocco! If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. I was there five years ago and couldnt resist visiting this charming little village once more this year. the city build like a alpine city, a lot of sky places so all the city looks like European place It was built out of the marble columns removed from the ruins of the Roman city called Volubilis. Hotel Sahrai 4.6 . In this section, I will cover a few of the best desert camps in Merzouga, from the most inexpensive ones to the high-end luxurious options. If you would like to admire the stars through the lens and optics of a powerful telescope in Merzouga, there is a company that can help you do just that!! I would recommend this stop to everybody driving through! Here are some of the best budget hotels and guesthouses in Merzouga. Our guide . Im waiting for the next Blog about the other parts of Morocco It is the closest town of significant size to the Erg Chebbi, the largest sand desert in Morocco. I didn't realise there were local buses, that's good to know. Where to find Marrakechs best food, hotels, and sights. We will probably stay in Rich or Errachidia. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Simply follow the highway N12 direction North-West until this highway becomes highway N9. If you have your own car, simply follow highway N13 going North from the desert town until it reaches Rissani. This is blog information is a desert trip Merzouga Morocco is an Awesome place. Thirdly, this was the granary of the king - in other words the empires most important figures only survived because of the food that was kept here. Once you reach Boumalne Dades, take route R704 North. Gorgeous photos, amazing experience. Ci siamo trovati benissimo, eravamo in 8, con tre macchine e siamo stati nel deserto di Merzouga insieme a Brahim et Hassan, loro sono carinissimi e molto professionali, oltre ad averci raccontato un sacco di aneddoti sulla cultura berbera, consiglio vivamente, Cafe du sud place.what a place to go for enjoying your self with camel riding and quads also.visit it you deserve much more tjan good places, Numero 311 Bloc 5 Ain el Ati 1, Errachidia, Morocco. say between midelt and er rachidia? It is oasis and it seems as river of the palms. To avoid losing a lot of water through sweat, a good clothing option to spend time in the desert are light-colored long-sleeve shirts and pants. This is the most imposing, impressive and majestic gate of the Imperial City of Meknes. I thought it would be impossible to find a lake (and birds) in such an arid location. you can get your own guided tour from the entrance by 200dirham if you arrive by car If it were destroyed, there is a good chance that the empire would have gone with it as well as many of the other amazing sites that people enjoy elsewhere across the country. Strange experience overall. Tickets cost MAD 190 - MAD 250 and the journey takes 9h 45m. If you go and only visit Azrou and then continue to Midelt there you have Kasbah Asmaa it is nice hotel. Places to stay in Reani. Tinerhir is located 200 km North-West of Merzouga and driving between the two cities should take about 3 hours. The palace is located near Bab Bou Jeloud, on the western edge of Fez el-Bali, the city's old medina district, and near Fez el-Jdid, the new medina district. Covering an area of 42 hectares, it is of outstanding importance demonstrating urban development and Romanisation at the frontiers of the Roman Empire and the graphic illustration of the interface between the Roman and indigenous cultures. The square is busy during the day and has snake charmers, horses, an ostrich even and a monkey to see; there's souvenirs on sale and it's what you go through to get to the main souk, which has everything you may want to remember Morocco by. Re: place to stay between fes and merzouga 14 years ago Save Hi, "RICH" is a small town halfway where you can stay for a night, get refreshed, and get ready for the following day adventure. Erfoud Palace . Just off the busy streets of main town Fes, you can experience complete peace and tranquillity in this lush garden. Nice to sit up on a roof terrace, drinking coffee and watching. Elaborate madrasa founded in AD 1351--56 & known for its historic Marinid & Moroccan architecture. Affordable prices. What type of electrical adapter plugs to use, Al Boraq LGV (Morocco's high speed train service), http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g304017-i10021-k6367775-Bus_from_Merzouga_to_Fez-Merzouga_Meknes_Tafilalet_Region.html. The book gives in-depth advice on how to tackle the wondrous Acadia National Park, the foodie scene in Portland, such small-town gems as York Village, Camden, Castine, and more. It's setting, even without refurbishment, is both lovely, and unique. Best options seems to bee Midelt after 200 Km's or Errachidia after 340 Km's. My mom I think damaged a small part of clothing when flipping over the fence. Watching the sun slowly disappearing over the horizon from the top of this dune is a spectacular sight and makes the long and strenuous climb really worth it. Imagine the work and skill that went into its construction without the assistance of modern technology - outstanding! Who has never dreamed of sleeping in the Sahara cozily nestled between sand dunes while looking at the stars? If youre planning on spending some time in the Sahara desert and you are wondering what to wear and bring, remember this: when in Morocco do as the Moroccans do. It's also possible to take a Supratour bus in the morning from Merzouga to get there. Hello! Today it boasts a collection of over 6,500 traditional artifacts, from woodwork, embroidery, and textiles, to the incredible Moroccan zellij tiles you keep seeing. Also a gorgeous dog on the premises! Tripadvisor staff removed this post because it did not meet Tripadvisor's forum guideline limiting each user to a single forums screen name. This semi-ruinous early-20th-century palace is a former residence of politician Thami El Glaoui (1879-1956) notorious for collaborating with the French and helping to overthrow Mohammed V. This negative association might be why the complex has been allowed to go into decline, but decades of wear and tear take little away from the palaces beauty. Im super happy you liked this article Hassan. You can see ornate calligraphy and Islamic patterns spread all over this horseshoe shaped gate. You could check out Rissani and Sijilmassa, or the always popular The mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif! Its great information always searching the best options to find an adventures tour, Thank you so much for all the information that you share about our lovely village, I like your pictures . 03 October is a Thursday, one of Rissanis vibrant and bustling market days, the others being Tuesday and Sunday. Or, you can take group tours to Merzouga from Marrakech or Fes, which can often be the most affordable option and is certainly the easiest. Apart from your guide and your travel companions, the only other people you will encounter during your stay are the native nomads that call this arid but beautiful environment their home. Solo es un parque para caminar entre los gatos. The road distance is 466.4 km. The drive from Merzouga to Chefchaouen is 397 miles (639 km). The Complete Guide to the Todra Gorges and Tinerhir. The place is where the last ruler of Fes, Thami El Glaoui, lived. However, you could also travel via Er-Rachidia to Fs, where you can continue to the truly unique mountain town Im about to describe. Because of its isolation and the fact that it had not been occupied for nearly a thousand years, it presents an important level of authenticity.