Morocco’s Date Capital: Essential Travel Guide to Erfoud

Looking for the best things to do in Erfoud or highly recommended places to stay? Discover the ideal time to visit, tips for getting there and the best tours in this essential travel guide to Erfoud.

Famed as Morocco’s “Capital of Dates”, Erfoud is a Saharan oasis town that served as a film setting for “The Mummy” and “Prince of Persia,”. It lies along the enchanting “Route of 1000 Kasbahs” and has gained recognition in the realm of space research due to its Mars-like landscapes. 

Belonging to the Ait Atta peopld, Erfoud was settled by the French during the colonial years. In reality, it was an attempt to monitor the Amazigh people of the Tafilalet Valley.

Over time, it has blossomed into a thriving commercial centre. Its economy is fuelled by the lucrative trade of local marble and the celebrated date palm groves that blanket the surrounding countryside.

Erfoud is also a geological wonderland. Its ancient seabeds have yielded a treasure trove of remarkably well-preserved marine fossils dating back over 360 million years.

Among international travellers, Erfoud serves as the starting point for adventures into the surrounding desert wilderness. The town’s strategic location between the Ziz and Rheris Valleys provides easy access to four-wheel-drive excursions and multi-day camel treks into the undulating dunes.

Within the town itself, you can wander the dusty streets and shop at the Sunday market, sampling the sweet, sticky dates that have made this desert oasis famous.

In this Essential Travel Guide to Erfoud, I’ll share with you some of the top things to see and do in the area, as well as inspiring places to stay and the best time to visit.

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Best things to do in Erfoud

Visit the marble quarries

No visit to Erfoud is complete without a visit to the nearby marble quarries. They are renowned throughout the region for their specialised extraction and polishing of fossilised rock. Located 15 kilometres southeast of Erfoud’s centre are quarries featuring goniatite, the remnants of ancient sea creatures.

For anyone with even a passing interest in palaeontology or the natural world, a visit to Erfoud’s quarries is an absolute must. In the town itself, artisans can be seen polishing the fossilised finds into beautiful objects such as pendants and bowls.

Soak up the views from Borj East

From this imposing boulder, you’ll be treated to spectacular views across Erfoud and the surrounding date palm oases. As far as the eye can see, the Tizimi palm grove sprawls along the Ziz and Rheris rivers. In the distance, glimpses of the Saharan dunes come into view.

Borj East is around five minutes’ drive east of central Erfoud or can be reached in around 45 minutes on foot. 

Shop at the Rissani market

Located directly south of Erfoud, Rissani has long been the capital of the Tafilalet region. In the past, it served as the final outpost of civilisation for caravans travelling into the Sahara Desert. For centuries, the town was a crucial hub where caravans would resupply and prepare for the arduous journey ahead.

In 1640, the Alawite royal family, descendants of the first sultan and dynasty founder Moulay Ali-Cherif, established their seat of power in Rissani’s historic old quarter.

Today, Rissani remains an important commercial hub. It hosts a market three times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays), making it a great destination for experiencing an authentic slice of Moroccan life.

Just outside the market area stands the historic mausoleum of Moulay Ali-Cherif, a revered site that serves as a reminder of Rissani’s royal legacy. Nearby, the scattered ruins of ancient Sijilmassa and Ksar Abbar provide further glimpses into the town’s storied past. 

Drive through the spectacular Todra Gorge

Featuring towering limestone cliffs in various shades of ochre, the dramatic Todra Gorge can be accessed via the gateway town of Tinghir, which lies around two hours’ drive west of Erfoud. It can easily be visited en route to the Sahara Desert, together with nearby Dades Gorge.

As you follow the winding road that hugs the banks of the Todra River, you’ll pass by beautiful palm groves and agricultural fields dotted with a scattering of earthy-hued buildings. There are unmarked hiking trails to explore and some wonderful auberges and guesthouses if you want to spend a night.

Attend the annual Erfoud Date Festival

The Erfoud Date Festival takes place each October, celebrating the region’s cherished date palm crop. Held in Morocco’s leading date-producing town, this three-day celebration pays tribute to the date harvest through cultural events and trade show-like activities.

In addition to musical and dance performances, local vendors offer an assortment of date-based delicacies, such as delicious date pastries and date-infused tagines.

Overnight in the Erg Chebbi Dunes

Erfoud serves as a gateway to the Erg Chebbi dunes, the most visited of Morocco’s two Saharan dune systems. Stretching for over 20 kilometres, these towering sands rise up to 150 metres in height and seemingly stretch endlessly toward the horizon.

Dotting the landscape are Amazigh-style camps and bivouacs, ranging from basic yet comfortable accommodations to more luxurious glamping retreats. Here, you can spend the night under the star-studded Saharan sky after embarking on a sunset camel trek or 4×4 dune adventure. 

Looking for Sahara desert camp inspiration? Check out my detailed guide to Merzouga and Erg Chebbi here.

Best Sahara desert camps in Erg Chebbi

Erg Chebbi Camp

This romantic camp in Erg Chebbi is the epitome of desert luxury, with each of its sleeping tents exquisitely adorned with Moroccan decor.

Merzouga Spirit Luxury Camp 

This top-rated Sahara Desert camp near Merzouga offers affordable luxury, as well as multi-course Moroccan meals and quad-biking tours. 

Sahara Wellness Camp

Comprising just six black tents, this family-run Sahara Desert camp reflects the deep-rooted connection to the land of brothers Omar, Hamid and Aziz.

How to get to Erfoud

By car

Erfoud is located just over 500 kilometres drive from Marrakech and can be reached in around eight hours. Most opt to break up the journey partway in Ouarzazate or the oasis town of Skoura. Both offer an inspiring choice of kasbah-inspired accommodation.

It’s also possible to spend a night in one of the traditional auberges of the Dades or Todra Gorges before continuing to Erfoud the following day. 

From Fes, the journey to Erfoud is 440 kilometres, with a drive time of around 6.5 hours. If you want to break up the journey, Ifrane, Midelt and Errachidia all have accommodation available. 

The closest airport to Erfoud is Errachidia Moulay Ali Cherif Airport, which receives regular flights from Marrakech, Casablanca and Rabat. It’s an hour’s drive from Erfoud and private transfers are available. 

To learn more about driving in Morocco, check out my detailed article here. 

By bus

Supratours buses connect Marrakech and Erfoud, with the journey taking just under 12 hours. From Fes, the bus trip to Erfoud is around 8.5 hours. CTM also operates along this route and offers overnight buses.

Bus tickets can be purchased directly with the companies or you can compare options (and book tickets) at 12Go.

Best places to stay in Erfoud

La Rose du Desert $$

Best Erfoud hotel for families with a pool

With its sparkling swimming pool and beautiful gardens, this welcoming Erfoud hotel (located just north of the town centre) is an ideal spot to stay overnight. It offers doubles, twins and family-friendly bungalows, as well as an onsite restaurant serving authentic Moroccan cuisine. Camel rides and 4×4 desert tours can be arranged onsite. 

Kasbah Luna del Sur $$

Best kasbah-style Erfoud hotel for couples

Featuring beautifully appointed rooms (twins, doubles and triples), this kasbah-inspired hotel in Erfoud comes highly recommended. It centres around a sun-drenched courtyard with a small swimming pool and is creatively decorated with local objects. Breakfasts are included in the rates and the dinners are incredibly delicious.

Dar Marco Polo $

Best Erfoud hotel for a cultural experience

With rave reviews from previous guests, this affordable Erfoud hotel boasts a wonderful terrace overlooking the surrounding date palm grove. Its traditionally styled rooms include doubles, twins and a family studio that can accommodate parents with up to four children. Dar Marco Polo is a great place to stay if you want to learn about the cultural traditions of the local people, thanks to the welcome from Atman and his family. 

Best time to visit Erfoud

The best times to visit Erfoud are during the spring and autumn months. During these periods, the temperatures are perfect for exploring the area’s desert landscapes and cultural attractions. From March through May, as well as September through November, the weather hits a sweet spot. It’s not too hot, not too cold.

Ideally, coincide your visit to Erfoud with October when one of Morocco’s best cultural festivals takes place. 

During the summer months, temperatures in Erfoud regularly soar into the high 30s Celsius (100° Fahrenheit). This makes even the most basic outdoor activities a sweat-inducing endeavour.

Conversely, the winter months bring chilly nights, with temperatures dipping down to around 3°C (37°F). That being said, the winter daytime highs in the mid-teens are still quite pleasant and allow for comfortable exploration. 

About Me

I’m Malika, a global traveller who first visited Morocco in 2014 before marrying a local and settling down in a little village on the Atlantic coast. Over the years, I’ve developed an intense love for Morocco, its incredible landscapes, storied cities and the exceptionally generous hospitality of its people.

Malika in Morocco is a place to share my years of experience exploring the country, from north to south and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Sahara Desert. As a resource for travellers visiting Morocco, I want to encourage others to experience this captivating destination the way they desire, whether that’s independently or under the expert guidance of local tour operators.

I believe strongly in supporting responsible and sustainable tourism initiatives while inspiring travel experiences that are life-impacting and mutually beneficial for both travellers and locals.