Tineghir
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Tineghir

Tineghir

High Atlas edge town beside a great palmery, serving as the base for Todra Gorge.

Tineghir (sometimes written as Tinerhir) sits at the edge of the High Atlas, where the Todra River emerges from its canyon and fans out into one of Morocco’s great palmeries. The town is a comfortable base and more than just a stopover — the Tineghir palmery alone is worth a full day, and the Glaoui Kasbah ruin above town offers one of the finest sunset views in the south.

The Todra Gorge is the main event, about 15km northeast of town. The canyon narrows to barely 10 metres wide at its tightest point, with limestone walls rising 300 metres on either side. You may have to wade through the shallow stream at the narrowest section. The best time to visit is early morning, before the tour buses arrive.

Good quality Berber crafts can be found for a reasonable price at Maison Berbere in the town centre. The Monday market is the best day to visit, when produce from the palmery villages fills the stalls alongside the usual crafts.

Guide

Getting Around

The town of Tineghir is small enough to walk everywhere. Getting around the oasis is easy too — a main road leads up to the Todra Gorge via Taourirt, Aït Oujena and Aït Ouaghitine, but if you are on foot you might as well find your way through the palmery. A smaller road starting at Tidirini runs to Imarirene via Ihajamen and Aït Bujan — it does not reach the gorge, but it is a good walk. You can also follow the Oued Tineghir south to Aït Aissa ou Brahim via Aït Mohammed and el-Herat.

Guide

Getting There

Tineghir is on the N10 between Ouarzazate and Errachidia, and most visitors arrive from one of those two towns. Buses and grands taxis link Tineghir to both. The other, more adventurous route is crossing the High Atlas from Imilchil on the mountain roads to the north.

Guide

Shopping

Tineghir is a reasonable place to buy Berber crafts from the surrounding region, including carpets, silver jewellery, and leather goods. The Monday souk, held in the weekly market, is the best time to browse — you will find produce from the surrounding palmery villages alongside the usual range of crafts and household goods. Saturday has a smaller cattle market.

Guide

Things to Do

Tineghir's rewards are largely natural and historical. The Todra Gorge is the headline act, but the palmery and the ruined Glaoui Kasbah deserve equal attention. Allow at least two days here if you want to explore the oasis on foot and make the trip up the gorge at different times of day.