Major city · Morocco
Alnif
Stop for a few hours to buy fossils or join a trilobite dig; one night if you want to prospect the beds. Not a base.
Alnif is a small desert town on the N12 between Rissani and Zagora, known for its trilobite fossils. Most travellers pass through to buy fossils or arrange a short tour of the fossil beds. The town itself has a couple of cafés and basic hotels, but no major sights beyond the fossil trade.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- MAD
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- avoid Jun–Aug (extreme heat)
- Airport
- ERH
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- North Africa ↗Plan links between North African countries by air or by ferry via Europe; the only regularly usable land borders for visitors are Tunisia–Algeria and Morocco–Mauritania via Western Sahara.
- North Africa ↗Book Saharan nights (dunes, desert camps, oasis tours) between October and April; from May to September desert day temperatures regularly exceed 40 °C and many tours stop.
- Morocco ↗Check entry rules for your passport with the Moroccan consulate or official government sources before booking; visa exemptions depend on nationality.
- Morocco ↗The Moroccan dirham is a closed currency: you normally obtain it on arrival (ATMs, exchange desks) and change leftovers back before departure, keeping exchange receipts.
- Morocco ↗Do not bring a drone without prior authorisation: drones are routinely confiscated at customs.
- Morocco ↗During Ramadan, do not eat, drink or smoke in the street in daylight; tourist restaurants and hotels still serve.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Alnif19 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Alnif, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Moroccan dirham (MAD).Morocco-wide
- SIM or eSIMMaroc Telecom, Orange and inwi sell tourist SIMs at airports and shops with a passport; 20–50 GB costs about MAD 100–200.Morocco-wide
- Tap waterTap water is treated in cities but most visitors drink bottled; carry water in the south.Morocco-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 5–10%.Morocco-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/E. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Morocco-wide
- SafetyAlnif is safe for tourists; the main risks are heat and the occasional aggressive fossil seller.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels and restaurants; squat toilets in older cafés and on the road.Morocco-wide
- Emergency numbers19 police · 177 Gendarmerie · 15 ambulance and fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidayscheckFriday midday prayers slow business; many shops shut on Eid holidays; museums often close one day a week (usually Tuesday — check).Morocco-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportERH Moulay Ali Cherif Airport (Errachidia) (About 90 km (56 mi) north; taxi or grand taxi to Alnif, about 1.5 h).ERH Moulay Ali Cherif Airport (Errachidia) (About 56 mi (90 km) north; taxi or grand taxi to Alnif, about 1.5 h).
- Getting aroundThe town is walkable; it stretches along the highway.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCafé tea or coffeeMAD 5–10
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Grand taxi Rissani–AlnifcheckMAD 25
- Metro or bus rideLocal bus Rissani–AlnifcheckMAD 20
- Budget bedBasic hotel room, a night, per roomMAD 150
- Mid-range bedBasic hotel room, a night, per roomMAD 250
- High-end bedBasic hotel room, a night, per roomMAD 400
A day, not counting the bed: Budget MAD 300 · Mid MAD 500 · High MAD 800
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- ERH Moulay Ali Cherif Airport (Errachidia) (About 90 km (56 mi) north; taxi or grand taxi to Alnif, about 1.5 h)ERH Moulay Ali Cherif Airport (Errachidia) (About 56 mi (90 km) north; taxi or grand taxi to Alnif, about 1.5 h)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Feb
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Mar
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Apr
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
May
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jun
Avoid
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
Jul
Avoid
42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)
Aug
Avoid
41°C (106°F)106°F (41°C)
Sep
not flagged
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Oct
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Nov
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Dec
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Best: Oct–Apr. Avoid: Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)), coolest Jan (4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C) low), wettest Mar (3 rain days), driest Jul (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Alnif: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
2 rd
Feb
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
2 rd
Mar
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
3 rd
Apr
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
2 rd
May
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
2 rd
Jun
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
1 rd
Jul
42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
0 rd
Aug
41°C (106°F)106°F (41°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
1 rd
Sep
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
2 rd
Oct
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
2 rd
Nov
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
2 rd
Dec
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
2 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town is walkable; it stretches along the highway.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Rissani
goDoor to door: About 2 h
Local bus or grand taxi, about 2 h
Market town and gateway to Merzouga.
Door to door: About 2 h
Local bus or grand taxi, about 2 h
Desert town with palm groves and camel treks.
Door to door: About 1.5 h
Local bus or grand taxi north on the R113, about 1.5 h
Todra Gorge is a short detour.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Along the N12 highway
2–3 basic hotels; fine for one night after a day of prospecting.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- MAD 200–400 excl. bed
- Mid
- MAD 400–700 excl. bed
- High
- MAD 700+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Basic hotel room1 × 1 night × MAD 250 | MAD 250 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × MAD 500 | MAD 1,000 |
| Local bus Rissani–Alnif2 × MAD 20 · check | MAD 40 |
| Grand taxi Rissani–Alnif2 × MAD 25 · check | MAD 50 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | MAD 134 |
| Trip total≈ MAD 737 per person per day, bed included | MAD 1,474 |
2026 estimate in dirham; transport and tours excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Local bus Rissani–Alnifcheck | MAD 20 |
| Grand taxi Rissani–Alnifcheck | MAD 25 |
| Café tea or coffee | MAD 5–10 |
| Simple meal (tagine or couscous) | MAD 30–60 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Heat: carry water and a hat even in cooler months.
- Fossil prices vary; Ihmadi Fossils has fixed, labelled prices if you prefer not to haggle.
- Buses are infrequent; check departure times in advance.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 19
- Gendarmerie
- 177
- Ambulance and fire
- 15
- From mobiles
- 112
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
AlnifAlnif
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
لهذا العنوان، من فضلكTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police19
- Gendarmerie177
- Ambulance and fire15
- From mobiles112
Embassy
Most embassies are in Rabat; the US has a consulate in Casablanca. In an emergency, contact your embassy in Rabat.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Local bus Rissani–Alnif: MAD 20, about 2 h (check)
- Grand taxi Rissani–Alnif: MAD 25, about 2 h (check)
Say or show
- السلام عليكم — Hello (as-salamu alaykum)
- شكراً — Thank you (shukran)
- بقداش؟ — How much? (bqaddash?)
- غالي بزاف — Too expensive (ghali bzaf)
- فين الطواليط؟ — Where is the toilet? (fin al-twaleet?)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Alnif. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Apr · avoid Jun–Aug (extreme heat) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Alnif
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