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"Timbuktu 52 days of camel": all the mythology and fascination of the desert on the famous panel ... signs the ancient vocation of Zagora, the last leg of the caravan route before the immense solitudes hamadas. Today the city is often the most southern end of a trip to Morocco. For those who dream of great adventure here Saharan near Zagora can perform few short trips and yet exotic.

Administrative Centre and a large village near Wadi Dra at the edge of the palm groves of Ternate and Ferzouata, Zagora offers no particular character, but is still very lively (souk on Wednesday and Thursday). Its main street, shopping, ends at the famous sign.

Jebel Zagora. To reach the site of this fortress of the Almoravids, at the foot of a rocky outcrop, turn left in front of the barracks at the end of Main Street.

Having crossed the Dra, take the left track Tamgrout 3 km further, turn right.

Runway, very narrow and winding, which leads to the summit offers a stunning panorama of the river, palm groves, the surrounding desert, with the distance, the bare mass of Jebel Saghro.

The tour is even more interesting when there is at sunrise or sunset from the top of the gazebo overlooking the entire region. From the fortress built in the XI, there remains in place only a few walls in ruins.

Amazrou is the goal of a superb ride, preferably be carried out in late afternoon and accompanied by a child who will guide you to the first dunes of the desert.

Maybe you will have the opportunity to be invited to take a mint tea in one of these wonderful enclosed gardens, close to the dunes. Children will also lead you to the kasbah of the Jews, remember a large community here, who established a tradition of handcrafted jewelry and silver work (but watch out for fake ...) continue with the Berbers. The palm is full of beautiful orchards hidden behind high walls due to high winds that blow at times.

Around Zagora.

1 - Tamgrout. (18 Km south-east). Tamgrout owes its fame to a major zaouïa whose influence was exerted over the entire valley Dra, the Dades, the Sub and even the Anti-Atlas.

The library was created at the zaouia XVII, Abu Abdallah Mohammed Bou Naceur, founder of the Koranic school, which brought the works of all Arab countries. One can see from the 4000 manuscripts, illuminated Korans, the oldest dated XI. It is possible, led by a guide, visit the tomb of the benefactor of this university that welcomes students always. In the courtyard of the mausoleum stay patients who hope to receive a miraculous healing. See also, the pottery workshops located in the open air, outside the enclosure the village.

In return, 1.5 km before Zagoura, we can follow a trail to the left to get to Amazrou.

2 - Mhamid (88 km to go after a day trip). The route follows the left bank of Dra. After passing Tamgrout, she runs through a landscape of dunes further, then crosses the river, beyond Anagam, goes down to $ Tagounit, large oasis of a dozen Ksour extending in the District Klaoua (souk Sunday and Thursday). From

Tagounit goes north-east track towards Nesrate oasis at the foot of Jebel Tadrart; beautiful dunes.

3 km further to the left just before the Tizi beni Selmane, a trail leads to the necropolis of Foum Rjam, overlooking the bend of Dra.

This cemetery is unique in Morocco, is composed of hundreds of conical mounds, some of them several meters in height. At the center of each, opening shows the location of the dead. Excavations have established that the necropolis dates from 800 BC Further south, one sees the old Jewish village Tidri.

It then crosses the Tizi Beni Selmane to 747 m above sea level in the chain of the same name. The road descends to a broad sandy plain before passing through a beautiful grove in the center of which stands the Ksar Oulad Driss. Further extends the palm of Mhamid (73 Km)

Mhamid (88 Km) is the administrative center of the last means Dra. The town is located near the elbow which is the wadi curving sharply to the west toward the Atlantic Ocean that reach, if ever. The weekly market on Mondays, traditionally frequented by men in blue, camel nomads of the desert, saw its reduced activity in response to the problems faced by Morocco on the border crossings.

In the oasis, Ksar ruined, known as el Allouj Kesbt of the height of the European Legion, still testifies activity in this region of Dra average at the end of the sixteenth, at the time of Saadi, at a time when trade with Sudan were very important. The name of this reminds Ksar of an expeditionary force, composed largely of Christians. succeeded in seizing Timbuktu during the reign of Ahmed el Mansour (1578-1602).

See also the small mausoleum of Sidi Allal Ben Jbira. According to local tradition, it would have happened one day during a flood Dra, floating on its waters.

to see again in the region.

The Dra valley