Explore markets and sand-coloured kasbahs
Skoura is an oasis town that sits south of the Atlas Mountains at the gateway to the Sahara and beyond. Once an important trading post where camel trains would offload spices and gold to be hauled over to Fes, its illustrious past can be glimpsed in the sand coloured kasbahs that still stand here today. The most famous of these is the imposing yet ornate 17th century Kasbah Amridil, and there are others well worth exploring, set romantically as they are between groves of date palms and backdropped by snowy peaks.
Over the past 300 years, Kasbah Amridil has remained largely the same, and the Nassiri family which built it is still responsible for the living museum’s upkeep. The building houses a fascinating collection of artifacts and old tools which tell a little bit of the region’s history and give visitors a glimpse into rural life. The kasbah has also featured on the big screen in films like Lawrence of Arabia. You’ll also spot it on Morocco’s 50 dirham note.
Among the other notable sites in the area are Dar Ait Sidi el-Mati, Ben Amar and Ait Ben Abou kasbahs. There’s still a weekly market held on Mondays which draws people from the surrounding valleys, a beautiful area of almond and rose plantations, mud-brick villages and hidden rivers that are fascinating to discover on scenic hikes and drives.
Highlights
Visit Skoura Oasis, a large palm grove located about 40km away from Ouarzazate, with around 140,000 palm trees
Go shopping for gifts and keepsakes at Skoura market
Spend time at Skoura Mosque learning about the history of the area and exploring the gardens
Jack Beckford
Travel Designer
Nestled in an oasis of lush palm groves, Skoura offers you a variety of kasbahs to explore and interesting market stalls to browse.
Jack Beckford
Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in Skoura
Trip Inspiration
Discover more of Morocco
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The city of Fes, Morocco’s second largest, is considered to be its cultural and religious capital and often referred to as the Mecca of the West.
Discover moreHigh Atlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountains are a rugged chain that span North Africa from the Atlantic coast through Algeria and Tunisia, an imposing barrier between the fertile Mediterranean coast from the vast Sahara Desert.
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With its rich atmosphere, fascinating history and rich Berber culture, the city of Marrakesh encapsulates what draws people from around the world to Morocco.
Discover moreMoroccan Sahara
Morocco’s corner of the desert lies south of the High Atlas Mountains, a smattering of oasis towns becoming less frequent the further you venture, eventually reaching the golden dune seas that evokes the most romantic images of the Sahara.
Discover moreOualidia
200km north of Essaouira, between El Jadida and Safi, is the peaceful town of Oualidia. Overlooking a coastal lagoon frequented by migratory birds, beyond which is the vast expanse of the Atlantic ocean, its setting couldn’t be more idyllic.
Discover moreTangier
Morocco’s northernmost city, looking out across the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain, Tangier is a place with a fascinating history. Known as ‘The Door of Africa’, it has changed hands dozens of times.
Discover moreMeet your Middle East team
When to visit
Morocco’s varied landscapes mean that the best time to go to Morocco depends on where you want to go and what you want to do.
Spring and Autumn are warm and sunny across the country. This is a great time for exploring cities, climbing mountains or sleeping out in the desert.
Winters are mild and summer is extremely hot, but there are many pleasant retreats that can be found in both seasons.
Exploring souks
March–May
Go hiking
September–November
Sahara camping
October–May
Plan your trip to Skoura
Whatever you want from your adventure in Skoura, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
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Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
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We went to Marrakesh, Essaouira and Oualidia with Jacada. Our only regret was not having had more time to spend in Morocco. It was absolutely magical. James from Jacada must have been able to read our mind putting the perfect vacation together, which not only the adults but also our 6 and 10 year old boys enjoyed. Everybody we came…
Planning my daughter and my adventure with Berni and Jen was easy and fun. We outlined the key things we wanted to do and they put it all together. Throughout our holiday, we enjoyed ziplining, nature walks and sloth searches, traversed the hanging bridges, hiked to waterfalls, rafted into and out of our amazing lodge in the rainforest and were…
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