Tifilalt Oasis, Rissani and Er-Rachidia

Edged by Saharan sands and the small 7th century town of Rissani, the Tafilalt oasis stretches along the twists of Wadi Rheris and Wadi Ziz. Rissani contains the region most lively and colorful souk, where everything from livestock and jewelry to textiles and spices is out for sale. Er-Rachidia, a less picturesque 20th century French ville and provincial capital of the Tafilalt region, also boasts a bustling outdoor market on its main square, a craft center of locally produced pottery and wood carvings. On the road between Er-Rachidia and Erfoud, the Source Bleue de Meski, or the ‘Blue Spring of Meski,” flow from a cave into a natural swimming pool surrounded by a palm grove. The whole of the Ziz valley is Ksar country and the ruined desert dwellings make for fascinating exploration