Off the Beaten Path in Morocco: 14 Places Away From the Crowds
Marrakech, Fes and Chefchaouen draw most visitors. Yet one or two hours' drive away, Morocco offers walled towns, oases, lagoons and fishing villages with hardly any tourists. Here are 14 places grouped by departure city, so you can easily add them to your itinerary.
To see Morocco off the beaten path, head out from the big cities to stops that still see few visitors. From Agadir: Taroudant, the "little Marrakech" enclosed by ramparts about 7.5 km long (1 to 1.5 hours' drive), Tafraoute with its painted rocks among the pink granite of the Anti-Atlas (3 to 3.5 hours), the former Spanish enclave of Sidi Ifni and its Art Deco heritage (2.5 to 3 hours), and the surf village of Imsouane (1.5 hours). From Ouarzazate: the Skoura oasis and its kasbahs (30 to 45 minutes) and the Valley of Roses at Kelaat M'Gouna (about 90 km). From Casablanca: the Oualidia lagoon and its oysters, and the Portuguese town of Azemmour. In the north: Tetouan, whose medina is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the gallery town of Asilah. These stops are calm, cheaper and more authentic, but often less well served: plan a car, a shared grand taxi or a private tour.
The 14 Places at a Glance
| Place | From | Distance / time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taroudant | Agadir | 1 to 1.5 h | Quiet medina, ramparts |
| Tafraoute | Agadir | 3 to 3.5 h | Hiking, landscapes |
| Sidi Ifni | Agadir | 2.5 to 3 h | Art Deco, ocean |
| Legzira | Sidi Ifni | ≈ 10 km | Arch, sunset |
| Imsouane | Agadir | ≈ 1.5 h | Beginner surfing |
| Tiznit | Agadir | ≈ 1.5 h | Silver jewellery |
| Skoura | Ouarzazate | 30 to 45 min | Oasis, kasbahs |
| Valley of Roses | Ouarzazate | ≈ 90 km | Roses, hiking |
| Zagora and Tamegroute | Ouarzazate | ≈ 3 h | Desert, green pottery |
| Oualidia | Casablanca | ≈ 180 km | Lagoon, oysters |
| Azemmour | Casablanca | ≈ 1 h | Portuguese ramparts |
| Tetouan | Tangier | ≈ 1 h | UNESCO medina |
| Asilah | Tangier | ≈ 45 min | Murals, beach |
| Sefrou | Fes | ≈ 30 min | Mellah, cherries |
Indicative drive times, depending on traffic and road conditions.
From Agadir: Souss and Anti-Atlas
Taroudant feels like Marrakech before mass tourism: authentic souks, ochre ramparts and horse carriages. Tafraoute is a hiking paradise, with rocks painted by Belgian artist Jean Vérame in 1984. Sidi Ifni, returned to Morocco in 1969, keeps unique Art Deco buildings, with Legzira beach nearby. Imsouane and its long right-hand wave are ideal for learning to surf.
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From Ouarzazate: Oases and Roses
The Skoura oasis, on the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, is best explored on foot among palm trees and mud-brick kasbahs. Further on, the Valley of Roses around Kelaat M'Gouna celebrates the Damask rose every spring. To the south, Zagora and the library of Tamegroute offer a quieter desert than Merzouga. See also things to do in Ouarzazate.
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From Casablanca and Rabat: the Atlantic Coast
The Oualidia lagoon offers calm water, rare on this rough Atlantic coast, and some of the country's most renowned oysters. Azemmour, a former Portuguese stronghold on the Oum Er-Rbia river, is perfect for a quiet half-day.
In the North: Tetouan, Asilah and the Rif
Tetouan has one of Morocco's best-preserved medinas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, and far fewer visitors than Fes. Asilah is covered in murals every summer during its cultural festival. From Fes, Sefrou and its old mellah make a half-day escape.
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FAQ — Morocco Off the Beaten Path
Which Moroccan town is like Marrakech without the tourists?
Which medina can you visit instead of Fes to avoid crowds?
Do you need a car to get off the beaten path?
Are these places safe?
Which hidden spot for a beach?
In Short
- 14 calm places, 30 minutes to 3 hours from the big cities.
- More authentic and cheaper, but less well connected.
- See also Morocco's must-sees and the best photo spots.
