Agdz is a small town located in the Draa River valley in southeastern Morocco. The valley is known for its stunning palm groves and it is ideal for walking, hiking, and exploring the natural landscape.
Historically, Agdz was an important stop on the caravan route linking Marrakech to Timbuktu. This made it a key point for trade and cultural exchange. The town and its surroundings are dotted with old kasbahs (fortified houses) and ksars (fortified villages), which reflect traditional Berber architecture.
N’Kob is situated about 70 km to the east of Agdz, in the Jebel Saghro mountain range and is surrounded by similar rugged terrain and palm groves.
How to get there?
To get to Agdz in Morocco, you have several options depending on your starting point and preferred mode of transport:
By Car
To get to Agdz or N’Kob, the best option is to rent a car either in Marrakesh or Agadir. There are several interesting places to see around town so having a vehicle is essential. The distance to Agdz is 260 kilometres (5-6 hours) from Marrakesh and 360 km (6-7 hours) from Agadir. The distance between Agdz and N’Kob is 70 km and the drive takes about 1 hour, following route R108.
If you decide to start from Agadir, I recommend using the service of Click’n’Go Car Rental. Amiable guys and easy to contact on WhatsApp. I rented a Renault Clio for the whole month and got a nice price.
By Bus
Take a bus from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and then take a local bus or a shared taxi to Agdz or N’Kob. CTM and Supratours are the most popular bus companies.
By Shared Taxi
Shared taxis (called “grand taxis”) are available for longer distances. You can take a shared taxi from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and then another shared taxi from Ouarzazate to Agdz or N’Kob.
The best time to visit
The best time to visit Agdz and N’Kob is during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) months. The weather is pleasantly warm, with daytime temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C. This makes it comfortable for exploring towns, hiking, and enjoying outdoor activities.
Summers can be extremely hot, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C. While some travellers can handle the heat, it may be uncomfortable for extended outdoor activities. Winters are mild to cool, with daytime temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C.+. Nights can be quite cold, especially in the desert areas.
Where to stay?
I spent a night in Palm Grove Apart in Agdz and it was the best accommodation that I had during my entire trip in Morocco. It’s a fully furnished apartment with a living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. Wi-Fi was fast so I had no issues with online work. The host lives upstairs and he was a very friendly older man. There is a parking just right next to the house.
In N’Kob, I stayed at Berber Nomad Kasbah, which was excellent as well. I was welcomed with mint tea and cookies and I was the only guest in the entire house.
How long to stay there?
A minimum of one full day is needed to fully discover the area of Agdz and N’Kob. The best would be to have two days to do it at a comfortable pace without rushing in the heat.
What to see in and around Agdz?
Kasbahs
The surroundings of Agdz are dotted with old kasbahs, which reflect traditional Berber architecture. It is a type of traditional fortress or fortified house that serves both residential and defensive purposes and is found mostly in southern parts of Morocco.
Kasbahs are characterized by high walls, often made of mud bricks or stone, designed to protect against attacks. Many kasbahs feature corner towers, which enhance their defensive capabilities and offer vantage points for monitoring the surroundings. Many kasbahs have been restored and are now popular tourist attractions, while some other ones have been converted into hotels or guesthouses, providing unique lodging experiences for travellers.
Kasbah des Arts is well worth a stop and it’s the closest one to Agdz city centre. The current owner will walk you through the history of the place and his family and how he’s renovating the kasbah step by step maintaining its original architecture and atmosphere. You can spend a night there which must be a very unique experience. Not cheap but you will feel like you are at the Prince of Persia movie set 🙂
Another fascinating site is Kasbah des Caids which is a hotel, restaurant and museum – all in one. Unfortunately, the sightseeing experience was ruined by a rude guide who delivered a 10-minute tour basically without any commentary. The entrance is 20 MAD per person but then you are forced to pay more for a ‘guide service’. In my case, he asked for 50 MAD more but it depends on his mood so be careful. It’s not about the money but I really don’t like being scammed!
Kasbah Tamenougalt is abandoned but perfect for studying the architecture of such buildings. There are some elements of street art on the walls. Unfortunately, as it often happens in Morocco, the visit can be ruined by rude “guides” who insist on guiding you for an extortionate price.
Last but not least, Kasbah Timidarte is another treasure that brings you back in time and stimulates your imagination with what it’d be like to travel along the old caravan road and stay in Kasbahs along the way, The rooms have basic amenities but don’t expect a luxury stay in such places. The experience is authentic, the views are amazing and the people are friendly and welcoming. If you don’t want to stay overnight, you will still be able to have a look around and admire the beauty of this building.
Draa River Panorama
The viewpoint provides a magnificent panorama of one of the largest palm groves in Morocco, located at the feet of Jebel Kissane. It’s definitely worth a stop!
For hiking enthusiasts, Jebel Kissane can be summited but probably it makes sense to hire a guide or at least ensure that you have a good offline map of the trail. The small mountain range is 14 km long and 1.8 km wide at its widest point. There are two ridges on the summit of the mountain, divided in the middle by a ravine. There are multiple peaks but the highest one situated near the western extremity of the range is 1485 m a.s.l.
Tizi’n-Tinififft
If you drive out of Agdz towards Ouarzazate following road N9, you will once again come across a breathtaking landscape full of natural beauty where the man can feel very small. Tizi-n-Tinififft is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.693 m a.s.l and the road leading to it is paved. It looks like you are on a completely different planet!
What to see in and around N’Kob?
There is not much to do in N’Kob and it is the mountainous area that surrounds it that makes it worth coming here. The route connecting N’Kob with Boumalne Dades is simply amazing and passes through Tizi’n’Azazarte which is a part of Saghro Mountains Range. The distance is about 90 kilometres and it takes about 2 hours to get to Boumalne Dades but you must plan many stops en route! The rugged plateaus, deep valleys, and volcanic formations show how the force of nature carved the terrain over millennia.
Jebel Saghro Circuit sounds like an amazing, multiday hike in that area and one day I will certainly be back to do it!
