Guelmim: Oases, Coast and Sahrawi Handicrafts

A trip to Guelmim offers a range of themes: oasis landscapes and historic buildings, traditional crafts, and coastal and rock formations. For your planning, it is worth distinguishing between these highlights. That way, you can first decide whether cultural history, traditional skills or landscapes should shape your stay.

Oases, Buildings and History

Tighmert was the main settlement of Nul-Lamta, which is considered the medieval capital of the northwestern Sahara until the 16th century. Tighmert consists of palm groves and ksour that follow the Warg-n-Nun River downstream. Its historical context and river landscape give the place interconnected facets.

Tighmert and its Aït Bakou oasis, about 12 km east of Guelmim on the road to Assa, are associated with oasis tourism, which includes overnight stays with local residents and a visit to the ecomuseum. Confirm local arrangements before your trip.

Tigmi Ougalid, the Sultan’s House, is an Almohad kasbah overlooking the Taghjijt oasis. Dar Es Soultane is an old citadel on the heights of Taghjijt. The protohistoric site of Adrar Zerzem is in the commune of Taghjijt, dates to approximately 2,500 BC and is about 80 km northeast of Guelmim toward Tata. The Amtoudi Valley is about 120 km east of Guelmim toward Tata and includes a kasbah and agadirs.

Coast, Rock and Thermal Springs

The Abaynou thermal springs are in the rural commune of Abaynou, about 15 km north of Guelmim toward Sidi Ifni. The water temperature is 39 °C.

Foum Assaka is a coastal SIBE covering an area of 19,000 hectares; its features include cliffs, short beaches and diverse wildlife. Plage Blanche is about 65 km west of Guelmim toward Sidi Ifni and stretches for approximately 45 km. The Grottes aux Pigeons near Ait Boufouln consist of a cluster of dark, narrow rock formations and are about 50 km from Guelmim toward Agadir.

The units of measurement matter: Foum Assaka’s 19,000 hectares describe an area, while Plage Blanche’s approximately 45 km refers to the length of a stretch of coastline. So an area of coastline and a long coastline are presented side by side. When comparing them, note the different units.

Crafts and Textiles

In Guelmim Province, jewellery making is associated with ancient traditions and techniques that use precious metals. Traditional leatherwork produces and decorates items made from supple goat hides. The two crafts differ in material: precious metals on the one hand and goat hide on the other.

The Street of the Mauritanians, Zenkat Al Mauritans, represents a wide selection of traditional Sahrawi clothing and fabrics. This adds a distinct focus on textiles to the jewellery and leatherwork.

Discover more destinations: Amtoudi, Tata.

For the broader travel overview: Guelmim-Es Semara.