Oases & Valleys · Full day
Skoura Palmeraie & Kasbah Amridil
The great oasis of a thousand palms and its storybook kasbah
Duration
Full day
Group size
1–6 travellers
Difficulty
Easy
Languages
English, French
From / person
$380
Overview
A full day in the Skoura palmeraie east of Ouarzazate — a dense oasis of date palms threaded with old kasbahs — centred on Kasbah Amridil, one of Morocco's best-preserved earthen kasbahs and a former banknote subject.
Skoura is a true oasis: a sea of date palms and small irrigated plots, with mud-brick kasbahs rising among the fronds. The star is Kasbah Amridil, a 17th-century fortified home so emblematic it once featured on the 50-dirham note. Inside, the old tools, granary, hammam and oil press are still in place, and a family member walks you through how an oasis household worked.
We walk a stretch of the palmeraie's earthen paths, meet farmers tending the figs, almonds and dates, and stop for tea. It's a slow, green, photogenic day — the gentle counterpoint to the desert and the cinema.
Trip highlights
- Kasbah Amridil — one of Morocco's best-kept earthen kasbahs
- Walk the Skoura palmeraie among date palms and plots
- The old granary, hammam and olive press inside the kasbah
- Meet oasis farmers and share mint tea
- Quiet earthen lanes between mud-brick ksour
- An easy, green full day from Ouarzazate
Photo gallery
Inside the trip.
Day-by-day itinerary
Ouarzazate → Ouarzazate
- 1
Morning · Ouarzazate → Skoura
~40 km / ~45 minDrive east to the Skoura oasis and into the palmeraie on foot, with your guide explaining the irrigation (khettara/seguia) that keeps it alive.
— - 2
Midday · Kasbah Amridil
SkouraA full visit of Kasbah Amridil — rooms, granary, hammam and oil press — then lunch at an oasis guesthouse among the palms.
L - 3
Afternoon · Palmeraie walk & return
SkouraA final loop through the palm groves and a kasbah or two more before returning to Ouarzazate by late afternoon.
—
Cities & regions on this trip
You'll experience 4 destinations.
Each stop has its own deep-dive guide — geography, history, best season, things to see, and other tours that visit it. Tap any card to open its dedicated page.
Pre-Sahara · Southern Morocco
Ouarzazate & Aït Ben Haddou
The door of the desert and the Hollywood of Morocco — kasbahs, film studios and the start of every southern road.
Open guide
Pre-Sahara · Kasbah road
Dadès & Todra Gorges
Towering red canyons and switchback roads — the dramatic core of the kasbah route east of Ouarzazate.
Open guidePre-Sahara · Drâa-Tafilalet
Skoura
First palmery on the N10 kasbah road east of Ouarzazate — Amerdil, the banknote kasbah, on the way to the gorges.
Open guideTafilalt oasis · Drâa-Tafilalet
Rissani
Tafilalt gateway to Merzouga — the Alaouite cradle at the far eastern end of the kasbah road that begins in Ouarzazate.
Open guideThe route
Map of Skoura Palmeraie & Kasbah Amridil
4 stops across Oases & Valleys. Distances and timings are flexible — every itinerary is reshaped to your pace.
- 1
Ouarzazate
Start
- 2
Skoura
Oasis
- 3
Kasbah Amridil
- 4
Ouarzazate
End
What's included
- Private English-speaking driver-guide for the duration
- Vehicle (sedan, 4x4 or minivan) with fuel, tolls and parking
- All listed accommodation in hand-picked kasbahs, riads or desert camps
- Daily breakfast and meals as noted in the itinerary
- All listed entrance fees and guided activities
- Pickup and drop-off at your Ouarzazate (OZZ) hotel or the airport
- Bottled water and snacks on board
- 24/7 WhatsApp concierge based in Ouarzazate
Not included
- International flights to/from Morocco
- Travel insurance (we recommend a provider)
- Alcoholic drinks and personal shopping
- Optional activities marked “add-on” in your quote
- Tips for driver, guides and camp staff
What to bring
Pack light, pack smart.
- Comfortable walking shoes (kasbah steps and earthen lanes)
- Layers — pre-Saharan nights can drop sharply, even in summer
- Sun hat, sunglasses, SPF 30+ — the southern light is intense
- Modest cover-up for villages, mosques and shrines
- Reusable water bottle (we refill on the road)
- Adaptor for Type C/E plugs (220V)
Frequently asked
Questions about this tour.
Was Kasbah Amridil really on a banknote?
Yes — it featured on the Moroccan 50-dirham note, which is part of why it's so recognisable. It remains privately cared for and is one of the most complete kasbah interiors you can visit.
Can I change the dates or itinerary?
Yes. Every itinerary is a starting point. Add a day, swap a kasbah, change the start point — we'll re-quote in 24 hours and lock the price in writing before any deposit.
How fit do I need to be?
Easy. Light walking on kasbah steps and earthen lanes, plus optional activities you can opt in or out of on the day.
When should I book?
For high season (Oct–Apr) and any trip involving the Sahara or the Rose Valley harvest, book 6–10 weeks ahead. Last-minute (under 14 days) is usually still possible with a phone call.
