"interesting gate to the sahara" Top 5 Page for this destination Rissani by angiebabe

Rissani Travel Guide: 81 reviews and 318 photos

Rissani souk

drive the circuit touristique

pretty views along the Circuit touristique

You will see the signs signposting the scenic circuit drive at the approach to Risanni - its a route i drove a few years ago and then again just this month and really enjoyed it even more - a lovely time of year though largely influenced by the amount of recent rainfalls with lush looking wheat fields and green palmeraies - takes you past interesting villages and ksars and remnants of the original city of Sijillimassa, which encompassed a wide area surrounding where Rissani is now, and the ksar town of Tinerhas with its lovely hilltop view over the area where movies have been made and over the palmeraie and through to the orange dunes of the Merzouga Sahara.

heading into town

Pros and Cons

Pros:fascinating souk - historic desert town of ancient Sijillimassa - various people groups live here, trade here in the souks

Last visit to Rissani: Jun 2012
Intro Updated Aug 14, 2012
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Reviews (17)

visit the Donkey parc Things to Do (10)

I always love seeing the donkeys that are parked here by the riders coming to market from around the area - especially... more travel advice

sunset trips to the dunes near the Yasmina auberge - Rissani

visit the Sahara dunes of Erg Chebbi Off The Beaten Path (3)

Its probably not really an off the beaten path tip as all sensible people who get to Rissani will automatically of... more travel advice

ksars and villages along the Circuit... Things to Do (10)

Famous fortified villages along the route named as such as its a pretty 21 km driving circuit from Rissani - include the... more travel advice

circuit touristique Off The Beaten Path (3)

Beautiful circuit de touristique - a tar sealed route though narrow in places but very scenic and where many local... more travel advice

Hotels (3)
See All hotel in grand traditional style

Tourist Traps (1)
faux guides

Travelogues (4)

1 - 4 of 4

Comments (26)

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toonsarah Jun 26, 2011 at 9:02 AM

Whenever I read your pages I wish so much we had been able to see more of Morocco. We will have to go back ...
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BruceDunning Nov 5, 2009 at 11:50 AM

The pizza sounds like a treat after a lot of work going into it for the day. Also souks must be a real experience of culture. I only saw once, and it was unique an d an adventure.
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MikeBird Oct 17, 2009 at 2:13 PM

The market looks as if it's just the same as when I went back in 1981. It was timeless then. Hope you're keeping well Angie, Best wishes, Mike
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hunterV Jul 27, 2009 at 11:12 PM

It's good you have managed to pay a visit and to take lots of photographs... Thanks for sharing here! ><><><
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Mikebb Jul 1, 2009 at 3:25 AM

Hi Angela, I like the Tourist Trap Carpet tip. I do not know how much we got "ripped off" but it would have been much worse if I had not travelled frequently to Asia and learnt to bargain.How is your carpet?
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mamafrica Jun 25, 2009 at 3:23 AM

hey angela how are you ? only please take this number off .because i know this person .take off pkease
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Nemorino Jun 15, 2009 at 1:29 AM

Happy Birthday! And thanks for these evocative tips on desert dreaming and travelling by camel. I think your warning tip about the faux guides was clear but also fair to them, since you point out that they have to make a living.
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jumpingnorman May 7, 2009 at 11:13 AM

Great donkey park (should watch where I step on, hehehe)...and I should have that Sahara pizza! Would love to stay in that hotel by the dunes!
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HORSCHECK Mar 17, 2009 at 2:18 PM

Angela, fabulous page with brilliant sandy photos. You really seem to be an expert on Marocco.
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tiabunna Feb 4, 2009 at 3:58 AM

Another of your thoroughly enjoyable North Africa pages. Some great photos in the dunes and your 'tourist traps' tip could stand as a model warning of how tourists can be 'set up'.