5 Secret Spots in Morocco You Can Only Reach by Rental Car
Take a tour bus and you see Morocco through a window, alongside fifty other people. Take your own car and you can turn off on a whim down a small provincial road and find untouched scenery the organised circuits never reach. Here are five well-kept secrets that justify getting behind the wheel on their own — each one with a realistic starting city.
Contents
1. The Ounila Valley: the High Atlas's best-kept secret
2. Bin El Ouidane lake and the Ahansal gorges
3. Guelmim's White Beach: dunes falling into the Atlantic
4. The fortified granary of Aït Kine, in the Anti-Atlas
5. The cliffs and cove of Belyounech, facing the strait
1. The Ounila Valley: the High Atlas's best-kept secret
While most travellers charge along the N9 over the Tichka pass towards Ouarzazate, those in the know turn off just past the summit towards Telouet. That is where the Ounila Valley begins.
Once a salt caravan trail controlled by the Glaoui family, the road is now surfaced and winds between almond orchards, ochre cliffs and fortified villages of red pisé, all the way down to the ksar of Aït Ben Haddou. Traffic is close to non-existent.
Best starting point: Marrakech, around two and a half hours from the Tichka pass.
2. Bin El Ouidane lake and the Ahansal gorges
In the province of Azilal, at the foot of the central High Atlas, the Bin El Ouidane reservoir takes visitors by surprise with turquoise water held between red clay hills.
A car lets you follow the cornice road that hugs the lake, stop at the small guesthouses along the shore, then push on to the Ahansal gorges and the rock wall of Imsfrane. Perfect country for kayaking, quiet and photography.
Best starting point: Marrakech, allowing a good half-day via Demnate and Azilal.
3. Guelmim's White Beach: dunes falling into the Atlantic
South of Sidi Ifni, on the edge of the Sahara, the White Beach unrolls dozens of kilometres of wild coastline where blond sand dunes die straight into Atlantic surf.
No public transport serves this end of the world: a car is the only key. The surfaced road runs as far as the mouth of the wadi, where you can watch the sunset entirely alone.
Worth knowing before you set off: Loccor currently has no vehicles anywhere in southern Morocco. Reaching the White Beach means a long run down from Marrakech or Casablanca, over several days. Better to know that while planning the route than at the moment of booking.
4. The fortified granary of Aït Kine, in the Anti-Atlas
Deep in the stony landscapes of the Anti-Atlas, near Tata, the village of Aït Kine holds one of the last still-maintained "agadirs" in Morocco — collective fortified granaries. Built of stone and pisé, it kept the tribes' barley harvests, argan oil and silver jewellery safe.
The provincial road that leads there crosses desert plateaus dotted with acacias. The keeper opens the carved wooden doors for passing visitors.
The same caveat as for the White Beach: the region is not covered by our agencies, so this is a long-distance stage.
5. The cliffs and cove of Belyounech, facing the strait
At the foot of Jebel Musa — one of the two legendary Pillars of Hercules — the fishing village of Belyounech opens onto translucent, lagoon-blue water, just short of the Ceuta border.
The descent down a steep little road gives sweeping views over the Strait of Gibraltar and, on a clear day, the Spanish coast opposite. It is one of the finest unspoilt swimming spots in northern Morocco.
Best starting point: Tetouan or Tangier, about an hour's drive. The trip stays entirely inside Morocco — a Moroccan rental car does not cross the Ceuta border post.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a 4x4 to reach these five spots?
No. The Ounila Valley, Bin El Ouidane and Belyounech are all served by surfaced roads a city car handles fine. For the approaches to the White Beach and Aït Kine, an SUV with decent ground clearance is far more comfortable on the rough verges.
Is there mobile coverage in these regions?
The three Moroccan operators cover most of the country in 4G, but deep valleys and the Anti-Atlas plateaus have dead zones. Download your offline maps before you leave.
Which cities can I start from with Loccor?
Our agencies currently hand over vehicles in Casablanca, Marrakech, Al Hoceima, Tangier, Tetouan and Fez. The southern spots on this list are therefore reached by road, on an itinerary spread over several days.
Further reading
the SUVs available for exploring Morocco
rent a car in Marrakech and head into the Atlas
rent a car in Tetouan for the strait and the north
browse our Moroccan road trip ideas
Written by the Loccor editorial team, the platform connecting travellers with car rental agencies in Morocco.