Tafraoute, Morocco - a Berber heartland in the Anti-Atlas Mountains

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Look deep into the nature, and then you will understand everything better. – Albert Einstein

The Valley of Ammeln

I’ve heard of Tafraoute and its breathtaking beauty a long time ago but I haven’t managed to get there, until Sunday. I woke up in the morning with this urge of visiting a new place to get mesmerized by nature, and since I get to see the ocean very often I wanted to be inspired by mountains.

So, off we go to Tafraoute.

Tafraoute is situated at 180 km South of Agadir, in the Valley of Ammeln, surrounded by red granite rocks, a color that gives the place a fairytale air. The town is located at 1200 meters altitude and the beauty of the sites and the diversity of the landscapes work as a magnet for the tourists interested in discovering the Morocco wonders.

There are 2 ways to get there, via Tiznit or via Ida Ougnidif.

We went through Tiznit and came back to Agadir via Ida Ougnidif, so we circled the area and got to see the diversity of the mountains. Our eyes have been bewitched by the color palette ranging from green, red, pink, light brown, dark brown, barren landscapes or green mountains coated with almond and argan trees.

Tafraoute is home to an oasis amidst spectacular shaped rocks and red granite landscape surrounding the village. As you drive in, a calming and relaxing heaven welcomes you in. The village prides itself in traditional values, home cooking, and folklore. Into the valley, picturesque small, pink houses with white windows are laid amidst palm trees, shepherds, goats and donkeys, all set across a bed of grassy landscape.

Almond Blossom Festival

Driving through the sinuous narrow roads in the mountains I saw lots of blossoming trees, as many more as we were approaching the valley. I didn’t have any clue of what kind of trees these could be, but as a real Moroccan knowing the area and the local plants, my husband told me they are almond trees.

I came to know that Tafraoute is also the home of the annual Almond Blossom Festival. The festival is held usually in the second week of February when the trees of almond are at their blossoming peak. The travelers can expect traditional dance, Berber folklore, delicious food and of course the blossomed almonds.

Tafraoute is the largest producer of almonds in Morocco and the festival was, traditionally, celebrated each year by the village during the harvest time as a way to celebrate the prosperity and the new harvest. The blossoming trees, however, attracted so many visitors that the festival got to be celebrated in February. A local seller told us that the festival dates are known to change last-minute due to the changing of the seasons and the peak time of the trees to be blossoming.

What to do in the area?

If going for more days into the valley, than hiking in the nearby mountains, rock climbing or off-roading is an inspired way of spending the time. Partaking in a traditional Berber cooking class could be another option for those that enjoy cooking and experimenting with the traditional foods.

We arrived in the town in the late afternoon and the streets were animated by only a few women walking in small groups, men sitting on the benches to grab some sun or sitting in the cafeterias and lots of cats playing around. Serene streets, relaxed atmosphere, very few cars, and only a few tourists in a camping for caravans. So different than the noisy and crowded cities of Morocco we are used to.

We went through the stalls from the traditional market where the artisans were working on making traditional Moroccan shoes, called babuci. Impressed by their meticulousness and patience we decided to buy a pair of shoes for each of us and we proudly made a city tour in our new matching shoes.

The sun was rushing to hide behind the mountains and we had to hit the road again. Driving in the late evening on the narrow streets through the mountains isn’t a bright idea unless you are an experienced driver, which was not quite the case.

The way back to Agadir was even more spectacular. A few kilometers out of Tafraoute, the mountains became more smooth, lower, and greener to only drive other dozens of kilometers to go up again through rocky mountains. Kasbah of Tizourgane, some houses up on a hill in the middle of a valley, made us stop the car and take a few pictures.

Nearing Agadir the settlements increase in dimensions and number of inhabitants. The noise becomes more intense and the horn of the cars becomes annoying after a day spent in a tranquil paradise.