Toundoute: Palm Oasis and Kasbahs
Toundoute lies in an oasis with palm trees, near a wadi and at the foothills of the M’Goun. The village itself also has palm trees and kasbahs. The local landscape brings together the oasis and the village’s architecture. This is a specific focus for planning your trip if you are interested in an oasis village and its built heritage.
The M’goun Pass as a Route Reference
Toundoute is a starting point for reaching the M’goun Pass on the Great Crossing of the Central High Atlas. Before planning a specific trip, check the latest access information and conditions.
Regional Context: Ouarzazate Province
Across the wider destination of Ouarzazate Province, the landscape varies. The eastern foothills of the Anti-Atlas in Ouarzazate Province include vast rocky plains and valleys cut by significant gorges. The southern foothills of the Central High Atlas in the province feature high, sheer cliffs; Jbel Azourki reaches 3,685 metres. Around the Toundout Valley, ochre-coloured villages nestle among multicoloured mountains, alongside terraced orchards, cave ksour and kasbahs. This regional context broadens the view beyond Toundoute’s specific features. The waterways of Ouarzazate Province are also part of the regional context: the Dades, Ouarzazate and Ait Douchen rivers, together with their tributaries, form the upper Drâa Basin. Hydrology thus adds another regional perspective to the mountain ranges described above.
The historical themes of Ouarzazate Province also encompass architecture and film. The Kasbah of Taourirt in Ouarzazate has existed since the 12th century and was formerly the residence of Pasha el Glaoui. It has been recognised as national heritage since 1953; its features include crenellated towers and cedarwood ceilings. The Ouarzazate Film Museum officially opened on 30 July 2007. It includes film sets connected with biblical history and major films shot in the region.
Telouet offers another historical connection: for centuries, the village was an important transit point for caravans that had to pay a toll to the Glaoui tribe. The Kasbah of Telouet is a 19th-century citadel that combines a prestigious residence with military command functions along the regional caravan route.
Regional crafts use a variety of materials and come from different production centres. The Ouarzazate handicrafts complex houses six workshops producing items from alabaster, High Atlas stone, fossilised stone, wood, copper and jewellery. Ait-Ouaouzguit carpets are produced in Taznakht, Tamassin, At Semgane, Ait Ougharda, Ait Douchen, Znaga and Sektana. The Grand Bazaar of Taourirt offers Moroccan handicrafts such as carpets, ceramics, copperware and woodwork, antiques and various accessories.
Discover more destinations: Skoura, M'semrir.
Back to the main travel overview: Ouarzazate Province.
