"ERFOUD: GATEWAY TO THE SOUTH" Top 5 Page for this destination Erfoud by TheLongTone

Erfoud Travel Guide: 24 reviews and 54 photos

Erfoud is largely a French colonial creation, the administrative centre fot the Tafilalt.

It borders the main road South from Er Rachidia , which proceeds on via Rissani/Sijilmassa to swing Eastwards to the Draa valley, running south of Djebel Sarhro.

The bus swings off the highway down the 300 metres of the town's Avenue Mohammed V and draws up in an arcaded square, on one side of which is the gated souq. There are cafes under the arcades, a handful of food vendors. In the middle of the square the drivers of the Grandes Taxis wait for trade by a tea stall.

That's about it. My guidebook is fairly dismissive about it, describing it as 'largely a staging-post for 4x4 trips into the desert'. I can't actually fault their assesment, but I rather liked the place.

Erfoud wasn't my destination: That was Sijilmassa, or it's sorry ghost, a few kilometres along the road. But I had started the day in Figuig, some 400 kilometres of road away, this was my third bus of the day and when it seemed that the bus didn't continue on to Rissani, we had to go in that bus, no that bus, I just thought 'sod it, I'm off the bus', shouldered my rucksack & swung off up Av Mohammed V in search of a bed for the night. The hotel was nice, the price was right and after Figuig Erfoud seemed a bustling metropolis, and I spent a pleasnt couple of days there.

Dawn breaks over Ave. Mohamed V

The street cleaner sweeps the pavements clear using a palm-frond broom.. Most of the Land-rovers have already left for today's run to Mergouza. Downstairs in the cafe the espresso machine is pressuring up for the breakfast cafe au lait.

Intro Updated Nov 4, 2006
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Reviews (6)

Walk up to Burj Est Things to Do (2)

Two or three kilometres southeast of town, thie fort is still used by the army so the very top of the hill is,... more travel advice

The dunes of Mergouza Things to Do (2)

The sand dunes of Merzouga are one of the stars of the Moroccan tourist circuit. Most tour groups use Erfoud rather... more travel advice

Fossils Shopping (1)

The main stores selling stone articles, fossils & decorative minerals are strung out along the main road from Er... more travel advice

In and out of Erfoud Transportation (1)

Erfoud is well served by long-distance buses. The private ones leave from the main sguare, where the ticket office can... more travel advice

Nightlife (1)
Only for dogs

Hotels (1)
Pleasant hotel, lively cafe

Comments (2)

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angiebabe Jan 27, 2008 at 2:17 AM

Ive been up the top of that hill though - and im sure you mean the same hill! Exlent view! Great reading your pages and seeing your pics!Thanks.Hi me again, having a memory lane morning!
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barryg23 Jan 6, 2007 at 1:48 PM

Nice page, I'm hoping to see Erfoud on my way to Merzouga.