Travel Guide Tan-Tan

Legend has it that Tuaregs stopped at a well, fell under its spell and founded a town. Today home to some 80,000 inhabitants, it takes its name from the resonance of the metal bucket rubbing against the walls of the well... Tan-Tan marks the boundary between the Anti-Atlas mountains and the great Saharan plateaus. Only two mountain ranges, the Ouarkziz and the Zini, introduce a little relief into the region. It's from Tan-Tan onwards that you'll become aware of the region's climatic characteristics, such as sandstorms and stifling heat. The flora is mainly made up of short shrubs with resinous or slimy foliage. The town of Tan-Tan is not exceptional in itself. It is, however, a pleasant stopover and the starting point for many excursions. A stay here immerses you in southern Morocco, where the urban, sedentary culture is not always well integrated into local customs. The two camel statues that welcome you are a case in point. Here, you can observe Moroccan life in the Sahara in all its uniqueness, with its inhabitants wearing blue or black chèches that sometimes cover part of their faces to protect them from the sun. But also markets, cafés, the sound of muezzins, and sand and dust everywhere. The town is best known for its beach, 25 km from the center. Tan-Tan Plage, also known as Ouatia, boasts a fishing and cargo port, as well as several industrial facilities for fish processing.