This is a charming city and a veritable jewel of Moroccan tourism. In Berber Agadir means "common fortified grain store". Built on a magnificent bay of some 10 kilometres of fine sand, Agadir enjoys constant sunshine. In 1505 the Portuguese travelling to India built a fortress here which they called ''Santa Cruz du Cap de Gué''. In 1541 the founder of Saadian dynasty, Mohamed Echeikh El Mehdi, conquered the fortress. His son Moulay Abdellah El Ahalib decided to build a fort on the hill overlooking the port, the (Kasbah), designed to protect the town against European attacks.
The Kasbah dominates the entire city. It was built by Sultan Moulay Abdellah In 1572 and became prosperous thanks to the exports of sugar plantation. Then a visit to the port to seethe fleet and building industry.
1 Day Taroudant (80 KM from Agadir)
At only 1 Hour drive from Agadir ,Taroudant was an ancient capital of the Kingdom during the reign of the Saadian dynasty. This Berber town lies in the heart of the Souss Valley's fertile river plain. Surrounded by magnificent red mud walls, and with the snow-capped mountains of the High Atlas as its backdrop, Taroudant is often referred to as a 'miniature Marrakech'. With its majestic gold, pink and orange tinted circuit of high walls, Taroudant is half citadel and half oasis. It is a town of great charm and grace. The ruddy, clay houses, minarets and groves of hundreds of acres of orange, lemon, and argon trees. Sometimes, we even witness goats climbing trees. and pomegranates seem to drowse beneath the gaze of the frosted High Atlas to the north and the Anti-Atlas to the south.
Taroudant is known for its old trading centre with craftsmen and colourful market. Taroudant is a city of stone cutters.
1 Day Tafraout (200 KM from Agadir)
Tafraout Is a luxurious oasis situated at 200 km from Agadir. This picturesque Berber village is reached through the Anti Atlas Mountains. The village is well known for its remarkable setting of palm and almond trees amid the pink and red boulders. In the afternoon, return to Agadir via Tiznit
(100 kms away). It was founded in late 1882 when the sultan Moulay Hassan was travelling to the Sahara to appoint his representatives there.
1 Day Marrakech (273 KM from Agadir)
Called the pearl of the south, Marrakech is the second oldest of the four imperial cities in Morocco and surely one of the most exciting and interesting cities in the world. The city was founded by the Almoravide Dynasty at the end of the eleventh century. Many of the buildings you will see are of Almohades or Saadian origin (Dynasties who ruled Morocco from 11 to 13 century). Visit of the Koutoubia minaret, Saadian tombs, Bahia palace. And the colourful souks with their tempting hand-made crafts and the world famous Djemaa El Fna Square with acrobats, snake charmers and much more. Marrakech is also the town of seven saints and four colours: the red ocre of the houses, the green palm trees, bright blue sky and all set against the white majestic Atlas Mountains.
1 Day Essaouira (173 KM from Agadir)
North of Agadir, Essaouira is one of the most picturesque sea ports in southern Morocco. Behind its purple ramparts and inside its whitewashed medina with blue doors lies a city that has been influenced by various cultures (Berber, Carthaginian, Portuguese, Arabs, others).
. Optional Lunch at a sea food restaurant .
Tour of the medina, the Remparts, the Skala batter Remains of Tukswahbukli pirate era, the marquetry craftsmen carving thuja wood inlaid with ivory; the fishermen's port, the silver jewellers.
. Return to Agadir in the late afternoon
For more information, please contact:
hind@oujdavoyages.com
Phone number : +212 5 24 33 04 01
Fax : +212 5 24 33 04 08 |
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