The ancient Mellah of Tazart

At 7 km to the South of Tata (towards Akka), we can visit the ancient mellah of Tazart (29°39,80'N 07°56,30' W). It is at Tazart that the viscount Charles de Foucauld stayed in 1883 and 1884. His guide, Rabbi Mardochée Aby Serour, from Akka, introduces him into the jewish community of Tazar where his brother was living. The ksar of Jebair, located on west-southward of Tazart, can be joined up by o footpath which arrives directly on the méchouar, the main place is to be visited.

the Agouliz Cliffs

At 25 km westward of Tata (towards Taroudant) the Agouliz cliffs. Go by Akka road then rurn right when you reach Igherm road on the 20th km (29°41;75 N 08°09,63' W) take the excellent track which allows to visit the Agouliz village in a huge cliffed gorge unknown in genereal by tourists.

Tagmoute :

At 40 km from Tata, go to Tagmoute by road (29°01'51.06" N 9°27448;60" W), at the village entrance, take a very nice viewing track where you can visit an agadir when leaving.

Tagmoute to Akka Ighan :

Of Tagmoute ,60 km of track(29°02’09.82’’N_9°27’36.55’’W) Take a track of Ait Yacoub up to the road Akka Ighan Taliouine (60 km of track).

Tagmoute to Akka Ighan :

Of Tagmoute ,60 km of track(29°02’09.82’’N_9°27’36.55’’W) Take a track of Ait Yacoub up to the road Akka Ighan Taliouine (60 km of track).

ThE SALTED WATERFALLS OF TiSSiNT

At 69 km eastward of Tata (towards Ouarzazate), you can discover the salted waterfalls of Tissint (29°54,34’N 07°18,93’W) where you can take a fresh bath.Under the waterfalls children can bath, in summer in a greater water plan. Using the same way it is possible to visit the house where Charles de Foucauld has stayed

Heart

The Anti Atlas Is known for its beautiful geomorphosites shaped over thousands of years of erosion. One of the most remarkable is modeled in form of heart. It is actually of a repetitive hectometric or decametric shape and he can be identified easily from Moroccan sky (Virtual navigation on websites "maps").

Karst Of Imitek

A Karst means all limestone hills shaped by water infiltration generating deep caves, sinkholes and underground rivers and on the surface various geomorphosites often spectacular among which the Karst of Imitek.
It is located 30 km west of Tata and near Imitek. The joints allow the penetration of surface water, which loaded with carbon dioxide, start the digging process. Thus we will be able to observ "domes", "standing stones", "lapiaz" or "karren".

Ironer

In the Moroccan Anti-Atlas rock formations of the Ediacaran, the Cambrian and Ordovician era present sculptures of interfluves of chevron shapes, repetitive decametric and hectometric structures which are pointing towards the sky. The modeling of type "ironer" gives the illusion that it is folding. In fact this form observed from the side shows that the strata are skill in monocline position.

The Siren of the desert

In the Anti-Atlas more than a dozen of geological monuments have been identified including "the Siren of the desert" located at 23 km from the ESE of Tata (29°40'41.24"N 7°43'44.23" W), its morpjogenesis result from the shaping process of erosion of a folded structure. The site have 4 sedimentary cycles called Rich 1, Rich2, Rich3 and Rich4, each of which begins with limestone overlain by shade and finishes with sandstone with intercalations of shale. The arcade shape we observe within this geological monument is the result of a process of morphogenetic erosion of type "ironer".

the pyramids tadakoust

The Anti-Atlas is an impressive rock formation with remarkable geomorphological features.
Around the village of Tadakoust you can find impressive rock formations of pyramid. One one of them located 750 m above sea level stands a fortress. this is the Agedir village, which can be accessed by a tortuous staircase.

EYE OF ZITRI

A virtual navigation of southern Morocco, using the sites “maps” at low altitude, allows us to appreciate the beauty of many “geological monuments” which is a geological heritage to be known to the general public. Among these monuments quoted as “eye of Zitri”, their morphogenesis originates from the shaping by erosion of Paleozoic formation. The iris of the eye is rich in hematite, which is of color red.

PIT de Tata

WELCOME TO THE REGION GUELMIM ES SMARA
As part of the ongoing efforts to achieve a vision of 2020 tourism, The CRT of the Guelmim Es Smara Region wishes once again to stand out with its will to give the voices and institutional decisions a realistic and pragmatic view on the necessities to provide immediate solutions taking into account the territorial, provincial and local To ensure the success of tomorrow's tourism.
For this purpose, having sought to define this region of Guelmim Es Smara and its five provinces, Guelmim, Tata, Assa-Zag, Smara and Tan Tan in the balance to be found between "Oasis and Ocean", Our CRT was able to collect local, provincial, regional and national data, tourist, economic and cultural, thanks to the Tourist Information Points (PITs) located on all the routes of penetration to the region, But also the data on the cooperative world, associative of the artisanal world, folklore of eco-societal and economic development thus allowing the constant updating of a portal www.portailsudmaroc.com thus feeding now with more than 13000 articles, news, documents and Videos, a tool for professionals as well as travelers themselves.
The latter makes it possible both to give the image of the Guelmim Es Smara Region perfectly integrated to the national development as that of an identifyingly strong region of these capacities and particularities.
Through these actions and the reality of the information thus transmitted, the Guelmim Es Smara Region is increasingly visited both by internal tourism and by international tourists now coming from all walks of life and from all over the world, fond of the riches and peculiarities of Niches it can offer.

THE AMTOUDI VALLEY

At 120 km eastward of Guelmim (towards Tata), the Amtoudi valley with its kasbah and this Agadirs is an international reknown site.The research deal over about 150 kms from the wadi noun basin, which allowed the discovery of more than 270 archeological and ethnographic sites , including notably “Asrir”, “Tigami Ougallid” (the sultan house), an Almohad Kasbah opened to the aghjirjt and “Adrar Zerzem” oasis which includes more than 265 stone engravings.
A wadi runs among the argan trees, the palm trees, the fig trees and the almond trees, in the middle of the valley which, in places, narrows to go between two high and impressive 200 meters high walls : walks on mules back or on four-wheel drivesis recommended.

HISTORY AND CULTURE:

We know today that most of the civilization trends which have been detected in Sahara reached its north border and even then the mountains of the Moroccan South.
The first occupants were blacks which presence has been certified by the engravings of Tassili (5th century BC).
Various white populations make up the Berber (called Lybico-Berber) Mediterranean who lived in Spain, Morocco, Moroccan Sahara and Canaries.
Palestinian charmite came by sea and land.
Semite arrived by emigration waves (10th century BC) searching for gold, silver or copper mines, either by sea or through desert.
Thus, Berber seams to have received from Mediterranean and Egypt their eldest element of civilization.
In 622, comes the islamic era. From 670, Oqba Ibn Nafi, at the head of the first arabic conquerors army, arrives in The Maghreb and founds Kairouan. In 681, he will mount a raid as far as Draâ and Souss. In 710, Moussa Ibn Noussair receives submission of the whole of The Maghreb in care of the caliph Omeyyade from Damas.In 786, Idriss the 1st, descendent from Ali, prophet’s son-in-law runs away from Arabia and finds a place of refuge in Morocco; as from 788, he has been recognized iman by Berber from Morocco.

Almoravide Dynasty 1055-1144 : The nomadic Berber almoravide warriors progress to the North, found Marrakesh in 1070 which becomes the capital of the kingdom, to who it gave its name : Morocco.
Amohade Dynasty 1130-1269 : The capture of Marrakesh in 1147 makes an end to the conquest of Morocco by the Almohades (the Unitarians). Abd el-Moumen manages to unify North Africa.
Merinide Dynasty 1269-1471 : the Beni Merin from Zenetes, coming from the Moulouya basin seizes Fes, Rabat, Sale and Abdou. Youssef Yacoub takes over Marrakesh in 1269.
The Cherifan movements : Since 1508, the Portuguese compete with the transaharan trade. Coming from the Beni Saad arabic tribes, Mahomet descendants, originating from the Drâa Valley, the Saadian cherif el-Kaim resists to the Portuguese as from 1509. The Cherifan power is officialized when Marrakesh got seized in 1525.
In 1578, the Saadan secures the gold road control by seizing Timbuktu and the Niger loop.
The Alaouite Dynasty : Birth of the Cherifan empire. Native from the Chorfa from Tafilalet, Ali descendant, the dynasty imposes its authority as from 1666. Moulay Ali Cherif, its founder, and its successors reunify Morocco and founds the Cherifan empire which spreads its authority as far as Senegal. To strengthen its external relations, he treats Louis the 15th and Jack the 2nd from England as equals.
Guelmin- Es Smara area : Spreads over a surface of 142 380 km², that is to say almost 20% the kingdom area. Strengthen by its priviledged geostrategic position, the variety of its natural sites, the area gathers all the ingredients of a center of tourist developments on a large scale.It is more than 170 kms of Atlantic coast (Guelmin and Tan-Tan districts), from where la plage Blanche spreads over 40 kms, Oued Chbika, also its hot springs. The area has actually at its disposal important potentials, its various natural scenery and the richness of its cultural heritage thanks to the mixing of Hassani and Berber cultures and traditions.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS :

The oasis from the communes of Taghijt, Asrir, Tighmert, Ifrane of the Anti-Atlas and Timoulay include several tourist appeals : the Ksours and Kasbahs, the historical sites along the wadi Noun and at Kahf Lahmam (pigeons grotto) in the commune of Ait Bouflen, the Igoudas or collective shops (Amtoudi) and the cave engravings.
The palm groves from the district of Tata (Akka, Tata, Foum Zguid) and from the district of Assa-Zag (Assa) count among the most important ones in the south of Morocco (more than a million palm trees that is to say 20% of date palm national heritage).
The hot springs, notably the ones of Abaynou and Aïn Lalla Mellouka the water is renown for the treatment of dermic and rheumatic illnesses, which have therefore curative effects.

THE WADI MOUTHS :

Foum Assaka, tourist interest site attracts already the tourist professionals. This coast of great views and ecological richness is the subject of tourist vocation.
Foum Draâ, isolated site and difficult to accede by track from the national road RN1. It sets out a remarkable views quality with varied fauna. The site has been the subject of a detailed analysis of a future tourist development as part of a study on a tourist area schedule and development which will number 8 000 beds.
In addition of the mouths, the wadi surroundings towards the inside offer a tourist attraction potential a not inconsiderable one which arouses the investors interest from the tourist sector. It is the case, notably, of a french property developer who has built a hotel unity at Fort Boujrif (rural commune of Targawassay- commune of Guelmim) who knows an important success by attractring more than 400 tourists from different nationalities by month. Same thing for the Ksar of Tafnidilt located along the Draâ wadi and which knows the same success, the station Abaynou, eco Musée of Tighmerte. 2 other implementations Dar Infiane at Tata and the Akka Nait Sidi VIP bivouac (rural commune of Tissint) are to be mentioned for the same original concept and for its success.
Plage Blanche, this unity would be developed at 50 kms from the south of Ifni and at 60 kms from the south-east of Guelmim. Its particularity will be of being the first eco tourist seaside resort with 30 000 beds capacity.

Hotel units ( 5* and 4* hotels and villages for tourist holidays) for about 5 300 beds capacity. An 18 holes golf, an commercial and craft center, a SPA and leisure implementations.
Residential unities for a total 10 500 beds capacity, about 2 200 flats and villas. The Fades group estimated that the works would last 8 years, the first hotel is planned to open its doors on 2012.

The National Park “Bas Draâ” is one of the most important national park, with a desert landscape and low human density. It constitutes an ideal biotope for a diversified and rich fauna nearly dying out (gazelles, dorcas, cuffed wild sheeps, carnivores including the striped hyena, jackal, red fox, fennec, porcupine, as well as birds as bustard, lancer falcon, the royal eagle, adding on reptiles). It is a biodiversity of high interest potential.
Chbika wadi, Foum Chbika site, at about 30 kms from the south of El Ouatia The convention on the installation of the tourist station «oued chbika «in tan tan,entrusted to the Egyptian group»orascom»has required an amount of 6 billions dirhams.the project which will contribute to the creation of 2.500 jobs,consists of the realization of hoteliary units with a capacity of 5.000beds,of residences(1.851units),ludic and sporting infrastructures(centre of congress,museum,and a sport center).

The cave engravings from the Tata district to the Es-Smara district, the first discoveries of cave art date back the 19th century.
At present, we number more than 300 sites spread over the whole territory.

This sites, in which prehistoric men used to engrave, are often on the open-air and in general, located on the wadis side.
As per its geographical location, they can be classified into three concentrations :

the Haut-Atlas plateau, along the Draâ valley and next to the dried-up wadis of the saharan districts. The cultural heritage of Morocco is represented through all of these periods from prehistory (from ancient Palaeolithic to Neolithic) to history, going by protohistory.

Some sites are the subject of active archeological researches. It allows us to distinguish the different stages of Morocco history over about one million years period. Cave art is one of the component of Moroccan historic heritage. During almost 8 000 years, men used to engrave magnificent “paintings” onto sandstones to illustrate the activities of day-to day life and its beliefs
The pigeons grotto, (going to Agadir), some researchers discovered perforated sea molluscs Nassirius type, in the pigeons grotto at Tafoghalt, an area known for its magnificent grottos, human heritage treasures lying hidden.
Dated from 82 000 years, these are pieces numbered among the eldest, representing ornaments in the world and putting Morocco as a country where civilization aroused long ago before other parts of the world.
They indicate very clearly, as per great specialists who have received this discovery, that humans have used symbols in Africa, 40 000 years before Europe.
As per one of the scientifics : “such a discovery allows to close the meeting on the african origines about the items of ornaments and put North Africa, and notably Morocco, as one of the eldest centers of distribution of ornaments items in the world”.
The pigeons grotto ornament is elder than what has been discovered before in Algeria, in South Africa and in Palestine.

HOSPITALITY :

The savoir-vivre begins by different ways to welcome vistors with what is immediately available and presentable :

Milk, symbol of the purity of the intentions, peace desire; refreshing drink, tasty and nutritive. The most important is goat, camel or cow milk

Dates (local palm grove products) go usually with the milk. Sweet, they equilibrate the blandness of the milk, scrape out the dust of the road which lay in the throat, perfumes nicely the breath and prepare to word exchanges. Tea, usually made with mint, national drink, is the first constant in welcoming tradition, from the most humble to the richest.

There is no home where a visitor won’t be served one, indeed several, glass of tea. It’s a meeting factor, a catalyst, communing symbol, rarely offered on
its own: it is served with batbout (small bread slightly risen), msemen (pancake with fat and baked in a terracotta dish).It can also go with
different types of cakes or biscuits, indeed, extreme pleasure, fresh bakedbarley or wheat bead. Lamriss, very well known drink in the sahara area, is a mix between cooked floor and water adding a bit of sugar; very refreshing drink, moreover in summer and when there is no milk.

Zrig, very well known in the area. It is a mix of milk, water and a bit of sugar, with sometimes some yogurt.
How can we talk about welcoming and hospitality without making reference to its corollaries : savoir-vivre and art of cooking ?

CRAFT :

Craft in the area is the reflect of a spiritual and material civilization past. Between tradition and modernity, craft of the area opens itself onto new technologies and take the place which its own in the regional economy as factor of social-economic balance.
Priviledged micro-company field, craft is an important sector of economy by the turnover that it generates and by the employement it procures (more than 11 000 craftmen in the different art and service craft channels).
In all the provinces, you will discover : jewellery, traditional leather working,wood, traditional sewing, carpet weaving, fossilized stones, basketry (Assa-Zag and Tata provinces), pottery (Tata province).

Environment association artisans-associations-cooperatives

Afra Cooperative

The cooperative is composed of twelve (12) members seven (7 women and five (5) men) ...

AJIAL Cooperative

7 women compose it, it is presided by Mrs. Mariam Ait Said ...

Circuit 9 : Montagnes, Palmeraies et Désert

6 jours / 5 nuits pour tout type de voiture au départ d’Agadir: (973 Km)

Agadir - Tiznit - Tafraout - Igherm - Imitek - Akka - Tata (& Tagmout) -Tissint - Foum Zguid - Taznakht - Taroudant – Agadir

Programme:

Jour 1 : Arrivée à Agadir « Aéroport Al Massira »Nuit dans un hôtel ou Riad de votre choix.

Jour 2: Agadir – Tiznit (95 km) - Tafraout (107 km) Après le petit déjeuner direction vers le sud le long de la côte atlantique avec passage sur la réserve naturelle de Souss Massa, pour arriver à la ville de Tiznit connue de haute réputation pour ses bijoux en argent, puis continuation sur ville de Tafraout, située au cœur de la vallée d'Ammelne entourée par un cercle montagneux de Granit rose, est connue par ses amandiers et ses magnifiques paysages faits de regroupements de rochers de granit rose, arrondis et suspendus aux pieds et aux sommets des montagnes ! Diner et nuit à Tafraout

Jour 3 : Tata – Tissint (72 km) Après le petit déjeuner, route pour Tissint l’un des plus beaux villages de Sud Maroc avec balade en palmeraie et découverte des cascades d’eau salée d’El Aatiq, visite du vieux village de Tissint où Charles de Foucauld séjourna. Pour Diner et nuit : Choix entre la Maison Chez Lahcen Akka Nait Sidi ou sous les étoiles au Campement VIP d’Akka Nait Sidi.

Jour 4 : Tissint – Foum Zguid (67 km) Dans la matinée route pour Foum Zguid, petite ville à la porte du Sahara, un paysage désertique avec des anciennes kasbahs, qui offrent un panorama unique. Diner et nuit à Foum Zguid.

Jour 5 : Foum Zguid – Taznakht (86 km) – Taliouine (84Km) Après le petit déjeuner, départ pour Taliouine, capitale du safran, en passant par Taznakht grand centre de tissage de tapis berbères. Dîner et nuit dans un hôtel de Taliouine.

Jour 6 : Taliouine – Taroudant (104 km) - Agadir (82 Km) Après le petit déjeuner continuation sur Aéroport d’Agadir. Avec petite balade dans les ruelles de Taroudant nommée aussi « Petite Marrakech »

Taliouine	Taroudante
Jolie petite ville berbère située dans une région d'une beauté impressionnante, où l'on retrouve l’un des plus beaux plissements géologiques du Maroc. Ce petit village de l'Anti-Atlas contient l’une des épices les plus chères au monde : c’est la capitale du Safran au Maroc.	Idéalement située entre la mer et la montagne. Taroudant ressemble à s’y méprendre à ce qu’était Marrakech il y a 40 ans. On la surnomme d’ailleurs “La Petite Marrakech». Vous y retrouverez ses remparts de fortification, sa médina, sa kasbah, son artisanat local (tannerie, souk,) et sa vue imprenable sur l’Atlas et l’Anti-Atlas.
Taznakht	Agadir
Taznakht : est une ville du Maroc située dans la région de Drâa-Tafilalet Elle faisait partie de la confédération des Ait-Ouaouzguit. Elle est actuellement un grand centre de tissage de tapis berbères.	Le soleil y déverse ses rayons et la ville, profitant d'un climat agréable que les alizés adoucissent encore, fourmille d'activités. Au bord de l'eau, cafés et restaurants vous ouvrent leurs portes, vous initient à la gastronomie locale et soumettent leurs spécialités aux jugements éclairés de vos papilles !
TIZNIT	Tafraout
Ayant conservé son authenticité berbère, Tiznit exprime la richesse de sa diversité régionale et de son patrimoine multimillénaire. Entre arganiers, oliviers et palmiers, la région de Tiznit se présente comme le lieu de rendez-vous de la mer et du désert.	Tafraout une petite ville berbère entouré d'une myriade de rochers de formes diverses, se dressant au-dessus d'une palmeraie qui abrite des arganiers, et des plantations d'amandiers et d'oliviers et des paysages urbanistiques très colorés. Au printemps, la vallée de Tafraout offre un spectacle magnifique lorsque les amandiers sont en fleur.
Akka	Tata
Akka : A 63 Km à l’Ouest de Tata, dans ces contrées là où les paysages sont plutôt désertiques, on trouve quelques vestiges en témoignages du passé glorieux, notamment la Kasbah de Sidi Abdellah Benmbarek, un site historique dominé par Agadir Amghar, un minaret datant du 12ème siècle, qui architecturalement sera repris pour la construction de la tour Hassan à Rabat ; puis l’Agadir Ouzrou, un Ksar vieux de plus de 4 siècles !	Tata : Se situe au sein d’une Oasis, elle est entourée par : Assa, Taroudant, Tiznit, Guelmim et Ouarzazate. La région de Tata renferme un patrimoine archéologique, culturel et géologique très riche témoignant d’une civilisation prodigieuse, qui a rayonné pendant des millénaires, caractérisée par la richesse et la diversité de son artisanat dans les centres urbains ainsi que dans les communes rurales.
Tissint	Foum Zguid :
Tissint : Tissint : l’un des plus beaux villages de Sud Maroc, situé dans une palmeraie à 69 Kilomètres à l’Est de Tata, sur la route de Foum-Zguid au Sud de Ouarzazate. Le village appartient administrativement à la Province de Tata.	Foum Zguid : Un village typique dominé par le Jbel Bani. Cette destination du sud du Maroc est réputée pour son immense oasis et son ancienne kasbah, qui offrent un panorama unique. Foum Zguid est surtout célèbre pour ses excursions en famille, en amoureux, entre amis, à la découverte des grandes dunes du Sud marocain.