Foum Zguid: Palm Oasis, Souk and Crafts

Foum Zguid offers several distinct points of interest when choosing a travel destination: the palm oasis by the old kasbah, the large Thursday souk, and local crafts, including carpets and woven items. The surrounding area also offers off-road excursions and the option of crossing Iriqui National Park. This makes it easier to decide whether to focus on the town itself or on an activity in the surrounding area.

Palm Oasis and Ksour Village

The palm oasis of Foum Zguid lies by the old kasbah and includes small cultivated gardens irrigated using a traditional system. The location by the old kasbah and the use of the oasis for cultivation are two distinct features of the town. Foum Zguid is also considered a village of ksour. This classification adds a cultural connection to the town alongside the palm oasis.

Souk and Crafts

A large souk is held in Foum Zguid on Thursdays. The town is especially lively in the morning and late afternoon on that day. The day of the week and these two lively periods give the market activity a clear timeframe. Another cultural point of interest is the local crafts: Foum Zguid has two cooperatives for carpets and woven items. The carpet from Foum Zguid is called “Zguidi” and features motifs with Amazigh symbolism as well as modern geometric patterns. The Zguidi thus combines two types of motifs; carpets and woven items are distinct craft categories. Foum Zguid is also one of the artisan villages in Tata Province. The souk and local crafts offer different points of interest: the weekly market day on the one hand, and carpets, woven items and the Zguidi on the other. Foum Zguid can be viewed from two cultural perspectives: the cooperatives and the Zguidi reflect local crafts, while the town’s classification as an artisan village also places it within the regional context of Tata Province.

Excursions and Crossing Iriqui

Nearby excursions include off-road trips to remote places, dunes, archaeological sites and historical monuments. It is recommended that you hire a local guide for these excursions. Crossing Iriqui National Park is a different kind of activity and requires a four-wheel-drive vehicle. The route follows a rocky track, crosses a dune area and passes over a dry lake. Excursions focus on destinations, while the park crossing focuses on the route and terrain. The practical advice also applies to different activities: the recommendation to hire a guide is for the excursions, while the four-wheel-drive requirement applies to crossing the park. A GPX file is available to download for the crossing from Foum Zguid to M’hamid. This gives you a dedicated route reference for this journey, in addition to the excursion options described in the surrounding area.

For the broader travel overview: Tata.