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Visitors and a camel rider walking beneath the red sandstone arch of Legzira Beach near Sidi Ifni

Region

Guelmim-Oued Noun

كلميم واد نونⴳⵓⵍⵎⵉⵎ-ⵡⴰⴷ ⵏⵓⵏ

Red cliffs and desert sand

Photo: Roy Egloff CC BY-SA 4.0 Original file

At a glance

Recommended stay
2 to 3 days
Best season
October to May
Elevation
300 m
Population
448,685 (2024)
Best for
Legzira red-sandstone sea arches · Sidi Ifni Art Deco coast · Amtoudi cliff granaries
Key landmarks
Legzira Beach and its red-sandstone natural archSidi Ifni 1930s Spanish Art Deco town and cliff esplanadeAmtoudi canyon and the hilltop stone granary of Agadir Id AïssaGuelmim Saturday camel souk (Souk Amhayrich) and Tighmert oasisMirleft coves and cliff pathsPlage Blanche (40 km wild Atlantic dune beach)

Gateway to the Saharan coast: Sidi Ifni and the red cliffs of Legzira.

Getting there

Route N1 and CTM coaches south from Agadir (2.5–3 hours via Tiznit)

The Historic Gateway to the Sahara

Guelmim-Oued Noun marks the legendary transition zone where the anti-Atlas mountain ranges flatten into the vast desert plains of the western Sahara. Historically, the town of Guelmim flourished as the northern terminus of the grand trans-Saharan trade routes, earning its enduring title as the Gateway to the Desert and host of Morocco’s largest camel market.

Ocean Arches and Desert Oases

Along the wild Atlantic coastline, nature has sculpted the breathtaking red-sandstone rock arches of Legzira Beach and the breezy surf coves of Mirleft. Inland, lush desert oases like Taghjijt and Asrir offer tranquil palm groves fed by ancient stone irrigation systems beneath barren mountain ridges.

Weather and climate

Switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit

Climate by month

Average low and highRainy daysFestivals & cultural events

  • Moussem of Tan-Tan(October, November)
Climate by month
MonthAverage low and highRainy daysEvent
Jan9°C – 21°C49°F – 70°F2—
Feb11°C – 22°C51°F – 71°F2—
Mar13°C – 24°C55°F – 75°F2—
Apr14°C – 25°C57°F – 77°F1—
May16°C – 27°C60°F – 80°F1—
Jun18°C – 29°C64°F – 84°F0—
Jul20°C – 32°C68°F – 90°F0—
Aug21°C – 33°C69°F – 91°F0—
Sep19°C – 31°C66°F – 87°F1—
Oct17°C – 28°C62°F – 82°F2Moussem of Tan-Tan
Nov13°C – 24°C55°F – 75°F2Moussem of Tan-Tan
Dec10°C – 21°C50°F – 71°F3—

Source: NOAA NCEI / WMO 1991-2020 climate normals for Sidi Ifni / Guelmim coast (station 60285). Updated November 7, 2026. www.ncei.noaa.gov

Suggested itinerary

Checked by Morocco Insider Tips on November 7, 2026

  1. Day 1 Mirleft coves, Legzira's red arch and Sidi Ifni

    Morning
    Drive south along the coastal road from Tiznit through Mirleft and time your walk on Legzira Beach for low tide to pass beneath its monumental red-sandstone sea arch.
    Afternoon
    Continue 10 km south to Sidi Ifni to see its 1930s Spanish Art Deco buildings around Plaza Hassan II — the former Governor's Palace, lighthouse and curved ship-house (Casa Barco).
    Evening
    Watch the Atlantic surf and abandoned offshore cable-car pillars from Sidi Ifni's clifftop terrace at sunset.

  2. Day 2 Guelmim camel market and the Tighmert oasis

    Morning
    Cross the coastal hills inland to Guelmim; on Saturday mornings, visit Souk Amhayrich outside town, the historic Saharan livestock and produce market.
    Afternoon
    Head 15 km east into the palm-shaded oasis of Tighmert and the Asrir valley to visit the local Saharan heritage museum housed in a traditional earthen home.
    Evening
    Spend the night in a palm-grove guesthouse in Tighmert or push east to the canyon oasis of Amtoudi.

  3. Day 3 Amtoudi canyon and the cliff granary of Agadir Id Aïssa

    Morning
    Climb the rocky mule path above Amtoudi village to Agadir Id Aïssa, one of Morocco's oldest and best-preserved dry-stone fortified collective granaries, perched on a rocky spur.
    Afternoon
    Walk upstream through the narrow palm-lined gorge of Amtoudi to the clear rock pools and natural springs at the head of the canyon.
    Evening
    Return toward Agadir along the N1 or continue south across the Oued Draa toward Tan-Tan and the Saharan coast.

Tips

  • Always check tide tables before visiting Legzira Beach: the walk to the main red-sandstone arch is safe and wide at low tide, but waves reach the cliff base at high tide.
  • Notice that Legzira's famous second arch collapsed naturally in September 2016; the remaining larger arch is still spectacular, especially in late afternoon light.
  • At Amtoudi, call or ask in the village café for the local guardian (amin) who holds the wooden key to unlock Agadir Id Aïssa.
  • Guelmim's camel market takes place on Saturday mornings — arrive before 09:30 before trading winds down.

Getting around

  • Guelmim lies on the N1 national highway about 200 km south of Agadir (2.5 to 3 hours by car or CTM/Supratours coach via Tiznit).
  • Guelmim Airport (GLN) has occasional domestic flights from Casablanca and Laâyoune.
  • Shared grand taxis link Tiznit, Mirleft, Legzira, Sidi Ifni and Guelmim regularly throughout the day.
  • To reach Amtoudi (off the N12 east of Bouizakarne), a rental car or chartered grand taxi from Bouizakarne or Guelmim is much easier than sparse local buses.

Etiquette

  • At Guelmim's Saturday livestock market, ask permission before photographing traders and keep clear of working animal pens.
  • Inside Agadir Id Aïssa at Amtoudi, do not climb on fragile dry-stone walls or disturb traditional earthen beehives and storage cells.
  • Sidi Ifni and Mirleft are relaxed coastal towns, but cover up once you leave the beach for town cafés and markets.
Sources, updated November 7, 2026

Festivals and events here

Annual cultural festivals, gatherings, and seasonal events in Guelmim-Oued Noun.

  • October · NovemberDates move between editions (2026: 30 October to 3 November, aligned with Unity Day)

    Moussem of Tan-Tan

    A UNESCO-listed gathering of Saharan nomadic tribes with camel races, tents, Hassani poetry and music, held in Tan-Tan in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region.

Places in Guelmim-Oued Noun