M Hamid El Ghizlane (Morocco)

I found that M'Hamid El Ghizlane is a small very quiet douar or village; once a trading stopover on the Saharan caravan route. Walking through the douar, I noticed remains of this glorious past: the el Allouj kasbah dates from 15th century and was used to check caravans leaving for the mythical Timbuktu. But today, M'Hamid is visited above all because of its proximity to the Sahara.

M’Hamid El Ghizlane is particularly well situated for visiting the dunes in the area : erg Chegaga, 50 kilometres away, erg Ezahar, 65 kilometres away ; erg Esma 80 kilometres away and the dunes erg Lihoudi and el Mesouiria each 8 kilometres away from M’Hamid.

If erg Chegaga is the main attraction, I advise you to take the time to visit el Mesouiria: it marks itself out by its dunes of white sand dotted with tamarisks (small shrubs with spikes of pink flowers).