Sidi Yahya is a small oasis village about 6 km south-east of Oujda, set around natural springs and a marabout said to mark the tomb of Sidi Yahya Ben Younes — identified by local tradition with John the Baptist. The oasis has gardens, mature palms, and a quiet, slightly faded atmosphere. The pilgrimage on the saint's day in September fills it with visitors from across the eastern region; the rest of the year it makes a low-key half-day excursion from the city.
Sidi Yahya Oasis
A story
Sidi Yahya is venerated by Moroccan Muslims, Jews and a tradition of local Christians as the resting place of John the Baptist — one of the few sites in North Africa with a continuous tri-confessional pilgrimage tradition until the mid-twentieth century. Pilgrims still visit; the annual moussem in September is the busiest moment.