The annual moussem of Guelmim, held in June, is one of the most spectacular regional festivals in southern Morocco. A moussem is a traditional gathering combining religious devotion, horse fantasia, music, and trade — this one draws nomadic people from across the Western Sahara and the Draa Valley, and for a few days the town fills with blue-robed figures who are otherwise rarely seen.
The centrepiece is the fantasia: mounted horsemen in full traditional dress galloping in tight formation and firing their muskets simultaneously into the air. The timing — a cloudless burst of smoke and sound — takes years of practice to perfect. Add the music, the markets, and the mix of cultures, and the moussem offers a concentrated version of everything that makes this corner of Morocco distinctive. Accommodation books up in advance, so plan accordingly.