It is nicknamed “little Marrakech”, and the name suits it: ochre ramparts among the best preserved in the country, two lively squares, craft souks and hardly any tourists. Taroudant is only an hour and a quarter from Agadir, in the heart of the Souss valley, yet most travellers staying on the coast never visit it. That is a shame. Here is how to get there, what to see in a day, how to combine it with the Tiout oasis and when to go.
Where Taroudant is
Taroudant lies about 85 kilometres east of Agadir, in the fertile Souss plain, between the High Atlas to the north and the Anti-Atlas to the south. The road runs through orange groves, vegetable fields and argan forests, with several argan oil cooperatives along the main road.
Allow an hour and a quarter from Agadir, an hour and a half from Taghazout or Tamraght. It is an easy trip with no mountain road, which suits families and those who do not cope well with bends.
A little history
In the sixteenth century Taroudant was the first capital of the Saadian dynasty, before it moved to Marrakech. The town has kept its layout, its souks and above all its walls from that time: more than seven kilometres of rammed-earth ramparts, reinforced with bastions and pierced by monumental gates. Unlike many towns, the modern city has grown little outside the walls, so they still dominate the scene.
What to see in Taroudant in a day
The ramparts by horse carriage
This is the best way to start. Carriages wait near the main gates, and a full circuit of the walls takes about an hour, at a horse’s pace, along the ramparts and gardens. Agree the price and the duration before getting in. In the late afternoon the light on the earthen walls is superb.
The squares and souks
The heart of the medina is organised around two squares, Assarag and Talmoklate, lined with cafés where you sit and watch the town go by. Around them, the souks are calmer and more authentic than in Marrakech: spices, slippers, pottery, and above all Berber jewellers working silver. Bargaining is relaxed, and people let you browse.
The tanneries
Outside the walls, Taroudant’s tanneries still treat hides in the traditional way. They are smaller than those of Fes, but you can see them up close, with fewer people and less hustling.
Gardens and palaces
Several old palaces and riads in the medina have become guesthouses, with large gardens planted with orange trees and bougainvillea. Some welcome visitors for lunch or tea: a lovely break in the middle of the day.
Combining Taroudant with the Tiout oasis
About forty kilometres to the south-east, at the foot of the Anti-Atlas, the Tiout oasis makes a fine addition to the day. A lush palm grove spreads below an old ruined kasbah perched on a rocky spur, which looks out over the palms, the gardens and the plain. You walk there or ride a donkey with a village guide, and you can have lunch at a guesthouse in the oasis.
A typical programme
| Time | Stop |
|---|---|
| 9.00 am | Leave Agadir, Taghazout or Tamraght |
| 10.00 am | Stop at an argan oil cooperative |
| 10.30 am | Arrive in Taroudant, carriage ride around the walls |
| 11.30 am | Assarag and Talmoklate squares, souks and jewellers |
| 1.00 pm | Lunch in a medina garden |
| 2.30 pm | Drive to the Tiout oasis, walk in the palm grove and kasbah |
| 4.30 pm | Head back to the coast |
| 6.00 pm | Arrive at your hotel |
Taroudant, Tafraout or Paradise Valley?
All three are day trips from Agadir, but they are not alike. Taroudant is a cultural outing: a walled town, souks, history. Tafraout and the Ammeln Valley offer the pink granite landscapes of the Anti-Atlas, with a longer mountain road. Paradise Valley is a day of nature and swimming. Our guide to day trips around Agadir and Taghazout compares them all.
When to go
From October to May the days are mild and ideal for walking in the medina. In summer Taroudant is much hotter than the coast, often above 40 degrees: leave early and head back before mid-afternoon. The orange trees blossom in spring, and the whole valley smells of orange blossom in March and April.
And on to Marrakech?
Taroudant is also the starting point of the Tizi n’Test road, the High Atlas’s other great pass, which climbs towards Ouirgane and Marrakech through very wild scenery. It is a beautiful way to reach Marrakech in a long day, with a possible stop in the Ouirgane valley. More direct, the motorway journey is described in our article Marrakech to Agadir or Taghazout.
Booking
We organise the day in Taroudant and Tiout in a private vehicle with a driver, from your hotel in Agadir, Taghazout or Tamraght, at the pace you choose. Ask for a quote from the contact page. For other outings in the area, see our Tafraout and Ammeln Valley trip and the Taghazout and Paradise Valley trip. And for your arrival, the Agadir airport transfer drops you straight at your accommodation.
