Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Aïtman that lead past
Kasbah Said Arabi
and the
Tinzouline kasbah
. At Tansikht, about 29km
before Zagora, look out for the old
watchtower
guarding the
palmeraie,
signposted 'Oasis
Du Drâa'.
THE IDEAL DATE
For prime date selection, head to
Tinzouline
, about 56km south of Agdz during the September to
November date season. You're getting close when you spot vendors with dates overflowing from
palm-frond baskets along the Zagora road. You may run into traffic for the Monday souq, where you'll
be elbow to elbow with local grandmothers vying for the best local-speciality boufeggou dates. This is
a date to remember: nicely caramelised outside by the desert sun, and tender and savoury-sweet in-
side.
If you're not visiting the valley in autumn, you still have a standing dessert date in Timidarte, where
local dates become Slow Food sensations at
Timarine Tijara
( 0661 91 32 25; by appoint-
ment) , 18km south of Agdz. Head past historic mudbrick kasbahs, through the garden of a traditional
family home, and into a spotless white-tiled kitchen with a single industrial cauldron bubbling merrily
away and dozens of jars of Timarine Tijara's signature date jam and
tahalout
(date syrup). 'Try drizz-
ling some on warm goat cheese - it brings out the nutty, fruity flavours in our dates', advises owner
and date gourmet innovator Abderrahim Ouagarane.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Timidarte
If you want to (all together now) rock the kasbahs, turn west off N9 to check out prime
specimens in Timidarte village. The finest example dates from the 17th century; it was re-
cently converted by Timidarte's tourism association into an authentic kasbah guesthouse,
Kasbah Timidarte.
