Guelmim

Guelmim, often called the “gate of the Moroccan Sahara”, is where the Anti-Atlas mountains give way to the desert. For centuries it was a caravan crossroads on the routes linking the Moroccan Sahara with the north, and it is now the capital of the Guelmim-Oued Noun region.

Why visit Guelmim

The town is best known for its weekly camel market, the Souk Amhayrich, held on the outskirts and busiest on Saturday mornings. Traders come from across the south. Even if you are not buying, it is one of the most memorable markets in Morocco.

The real draw is the countryside. The palm groves of Asrir and Tighmert, a few kilometres from the centre, have mud-brick kasbahs, gardens and guesthouses where you can slow down for a few days. Asrir is the site of Nul Lamta, an important medieval trading town. The hot springs at Abaynou are a short drive north. On the coast, Plage Blanche is a wild white-sand beach of more than 40 kilometres, best explored with a 4×4 and a local guide.

Getting there

Guelmim Airport (GLN) has flights to Casablanca. By road, Guelmim is about two and a half hours south of Agadir on the N1, and the start of the Tiznit–Dakhla expressway into the far south. Coaches connect it with Agadir, Marrakech, Laâyoune and Dakhla.

Where to stay

There are hotels in town, but the oasis guesthouses in Tighmert and Asrir make a more memorable base. Many are run by local families and can arrange meals, guides and trips to Plage Blanche.

Good to know

• Get to the camel market early; most trading is done by late morning.
• Plage Blanche has almost no services. Go with someone who knows the tides and tracks.