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Voykit pocket guide · Morocco
Guelmim
كلميم
Use Guelmim as a half-day stop on the way to the Sahara or as a base for the camel market: one night if you want the market, otherwise pass through.
Guelmim, the 'Gateway to the Desert', is the largest city in the Anti Atlas region and a former caravan hub. Its main draw is the weekly camel market (Amhayrich), the largest in Morocco. The town itself is a practical stop for fuel and supplies rather than a sightseeing destination, but the nearby Asrir Oasis and Abaynou village offer short excursions.
- Country
- Morocco
- Local name
- كلميم
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (chergui wind can push temps above 40°C (104°F))Jul–Aug (chergui wind can push temps above 104°F (40°C))
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MAD
- Money
- Currency is the Moroccan dirham (MAD). Hotels, larger restaurants and chain shops take cards; souks, taxis, small cafés, guides and tips are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget MAD 200–350 excl. bed · Mid MAD 350–600 excl. bed · High MAD 600+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Maroc Telecom, Orange and inwi sell tourist SIMs at airports and shops with a passport; 20–50 GB costs about MAD 100–200.
- Emergency
- Police 19 · Gendarmerie 177 · Ambulance and fire 15 · Mobile emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 220 V · 50 Hz · European round-pin plugs; bring an adapter for UK or US devices.
- Tipping
- Café: Round up or leave MAD 2–5.; Restaurant: 5–10%.; Porter or bag carrier: MAD 10–20.; Guide, full day: MAD 100–200.; Desert camp staff and driver: MAD 100–200 per day shared.
- Water
- Tap water is treated in cities but most visitors drink bottled; carry water in the south.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and restaurants; squat toilets in older cafés and on the road. Carry tissue and MAD 2–5 for attendants.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Mint tea at a café | MAD 5–10 |
| Couscous or tagine in a local restaurant | MAD 30–60 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | MAD 5–8 |
| Grand taxi within town | MAD 10–20 per person |
| Camel at the market | MAD 3,000–8,000 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GLN · Guelmim Airport
- Direct flights from Tan-Tan, Casablanca and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (check current schedule)
Typical fares
- Guelmim → Agadir by bus
- about MAD 80, 3 h (check)
- Guelmim → Tiznit by grand taxi
- about MAD 40 per person, 1.5 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable. For Asrir Oasis or Abaynou, take a grand taxi or hire a driver from the station near the souk.
See and do
Known for
- Amhayrich camel market (largest in Morocco)
- Gateway to the Sahara
- Asrir Oasis
- Weekly souk
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Asrir Oasis | Grand taxi from Guelmim, about 15 min | 30 min |
| Abaynou village | Grand taxi from Guelmim, about 20 min | 40 min |
| Sidi Ifni | Bus or grand taxi via N1, about 1 h | 1.5 h |
| Tiznit | Bus or grand taxi via N1, about 1.5 h | 2 h |
Sleep
- City centre near the souk
- Closest to the market and bus stops; basic hotels and guesthouses.
- N1 highway edge
- Easier for drivers continuing south; a few roadside hotels.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | السلام عليكمas-salamu alaykum |
| Thank you | شكراًshukran |
| How much? | بشحال؟bshhal? |
| Where is the market? | فين السوق؟fin as-souq? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Salam alaykum' and a handshake; hand on heart after; avoid: Offering a hand to a woman first unless she does
- Eating: Right hand, bread as your spoon; avoid: Refusing all food at a home
- Bargaining: Smile, take your time, walk away kindly; avoid: Naming a price you will not pay
- Dress: Shoulders and knees covered in medinas and villages; avoid: Beachwear away from the beach
- Photos: Ask and accept no; avoid: Photographing women or children without consent
- Ramadan: Eat discreetly indoors in daytime; avoid: Snacking on the street
Scams and watch-outs
- Camel market is weekly on a specific day (check locally); arrive early.
- Chergui wind can make it hotter than the Sahara; carry water.
- Last buses to Agadir and Tiznit leave in the late afternoon; confirm times at the station.
Guelmim is generally safe. Watch for traffic on the N1 and keep valuables secure in the souk. The main risk is heat and dehydration in summer.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Guelmim yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Amhayrich camel market (largest in Morocco)
- Gateway to the Sahara
- Asrir Oasis
- Weekly souk
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Guelmim, revision 4695277 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4695277
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Guelmimكلميم
لهذا العنوان، من فضلك
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US has an embassy in Rabat; most other countries have embassies in Rabat or consulates in Casablanca.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/guelmim). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.