Trek, drive or cycle through the concertinaed granite foothills of the Anti Atlas (Click
here )
Explore green palmeraies beneath ochre cliffs in the Afella-Ighir oasis (Click here )
Stay in a traditional Ameln Valley (Click here ) Berber house
Commune with Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s Little Prince at Tarfaya ( Click here )
Taste saffron and argan oil in Taliouine (Click here )
Hang loose in Mirleft (Click here ), the coolest spot in the south with fabulous beaches
and hotels
Find prehistoric rock carvings around Tata (Click here )
Meander up Paradise Valley (Click here ), an accessible part of the High Atlas
Ride killer waves or just enjoy the mix of locals and surfers at Taghazout ( Click here )Climate
The south divides into three distinct geographical areas, each with its own microclimate. The
semitropical, verdant Souss Valley is hot and humid, with temperatures ranging between 22°C
and a steamy 38°C, when water vapour rises like a mist from the huge citrus groves that fill the
valley. The valley is also prone to heavy winds in spring. The climate of the barren Anti Atlas
veers between freezing winters and hot, dry summers. The deep southern coast enjoys a more
constant year-round sunny climate.
Language
Arabic remains the lingua franca of major cities in the south. The Chleuh tribes who dominate
the Souss speak Tashelhit, a Berber dialect, most noticeable in the Anti Atlas. French is widely
spoken and Spanish is still heard in some of Spain’s former territories.
THE SOUSS VALLEY
Agadir
POP 679,000
Agadir feels unlike anywhere else in Morocco. A busy port and beach resort sprawling beneath
its kasbah, the city was completely rebuilt following a devastating earthquake in 1960. It is now
the country’s premier destination for sun, sand, televised soccer, pubs and pizza. Laid out as a
large grid of downtown streets, surrounded by spacious residential suburbs, Agadir’s concrete-
covered inland quarters are ugly and sterile. However, the city hits its stride on the beachfront
promenade, where Moroccan street life comes with a refreshing sense of space. Arching south
of the shiny white marina, the sandy beach is more sheltered than many stretches of the
Atlantic, offering clean water, safe swimming and 300 sunny days a year.
Agadir caters mainly to package-tour holidaymakers, and will appeal less to independent
travellers with an interest in Moroccan culture. Nonetheless, if you do pass through, relaxing on
the beach and wandering around the handful of sights is a pleasant way to spend a day or two.
The city spreads over a large area, both along the coast and inland from the huge swathe of