Tafraoute. Red city,Pink Mountains

Tafraoute Red city :

The mountains around Tafraoute is the main attraction. They seem to avoid gravitation, as if they were held up by their sparkling colours alone. Everything is different here, people are less friendly than in most places in Morocco, but the rest stand out with excellence.Almost no other place in Morocco has inhabitants as proud of keeping their sorroundings proper. The windows of the red houses are framed by white painting, and holds a slight resembling to the monumental architecture of Sana’ in Yemen. But the architecture here is simpler, as the inhabitants are more conservative. Or the simplicity could come from the weak economy in this region, which is based upon revenues sent back home from foreign workers in Europe, and not too profitable agriculture.

Tafraoute Village :

Central in the village Tafraoute is the Place Mohammed al-Khamis. In the area around the place are the bank, the postoffice, an internetcafe. For shopping there is a fruit and vegetable market, a souq, an artisanat, slippershopsand carpetshops.Scattered in the village are some hotels and restaurants.So it's nice to walk around a bit, have your tea or lunch and do your shopping.

Citrus trees :

In the area of Tafraoute the soil is fertile.Except palmtrees, argan and almond trees you find also citrus trees.When you stand have a look at the tree beside the house at the former picture, you can see, that is was full of citrons.absolutely lovely to see so many fruit trees in the village.

Local customs in Tafraoute :

Near Tafraoute visit local house.
In this area the local people make oil of olives, but also of argan.
The argan tree grows only in the southern part of Morocco. The argan tree is the one the goats like to climb in, because they like eating its leaves.

Dressing :

women wear black clothes ,long sleevesand black scarves on their heads, this habit relates to their respect to Islamic religion and shows a great respect to their region .

Transportation In tafraoute :

By donkey :

The local people use their donkeys to ride themselves, but also for transportation of all kind of goods.So you will see women walking beside her donkeis. their donkey has to carry a load from the field, problably not very heavy, but huge in relation to the size of the donkey itself.

By bus from Agadir :

From Agadir you can organise one-day-excursion to Tafraoute. travel by a small bus. From Agadir take the eastern route passing Ait Baha to Tafraoute (143 KM).. On the way back you go to Tiznit (107 KM)and from there back to Agadir ( 91 KM).The biggest part of the route leads through the scenic Anti Atlas.From Agadit you can reach Tafraoute also by public bus and grand taxi.

Shopping in Tafraoute :

In the centre of Tafraoute are several big carpet shops, like Maison Berbere and Maison Touareg, selling Berber carpets. At the central square is an Artisanat for Berber jewellery. And there is also a souq, nice for looking and shopping.At the entrance of the carpetshop, no bargaining and buying today. Berber carpets and jewellery. Traditional leather Morrocan slippers.

General Tips in tafraoute :

Landscape around tafraoute :The area around Tafraoute is nice for walking. The forms of the pink granite rocks are very special. They look sometimes like a series of cascades, geysers solidifying as they fall. One formation looks like a lion and 3KM from Tafraoute is the village of Aguerd-Oudad with the formation known as the Hat of Napoleon. This is also the village where the blue painted rocks are .

Palmtrees and Rocks :

The rockformations and the palmtrees are a perfect ambiance for a walk or a picnic in the shade of the trees,you will likethe varied landscape at a large scale, but youneed  discovery here also a lot of variation at a small scale.And if you like, it's easy to climb the pink rocks.and get the top of the huge stones .