Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Assilah's main beach, flanked by campsites and hotels, stretches north from town. It's a
wide sweep of golden sand and although pleasant in low season, the crowds and noise
from the nearby road make it much less appealing in summer. For more peace and quiet
head 3km south to Paradise Beach at Rmilate, a gorgeous spot that really does live up to its
name, though it's not cleaned much out of season. It's a pleasant walk along the coast or,
alternatively, hop on one of the horse-drawn carriages that ply this route in summer. A
little further on is Rada Beach , with a good beach cafe and bamboo bungalows.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
MONOLITHS OF M'SOURA
The mysterious Monoliths of M'Soura make an interesting half-day trip from Assilah. This prehistoric
site consists of a large stone circle (actually an ellipse) of about 175 stones, thought to have originally
surrounded a burial mound. Although many of the stones have fallen or been broken, the circle is still
impressive, its strange presence heightened by the desolation of its location. The tallest stone reaches
about 5.5m in height and is known as El-Uted (The Pointer).
The stone circle is about 25km (by road) southeast of Assilah. To get there you'll need a sturdy
vehicle. Head for the village of Souq Tnine de Sidi el-Yamani, off highway R417, which branches east
off the main Tangier-Rabat road. Veer left in the village and follow a poorly maintained, unsealed
track 6km north to the site. It can be difficult to find so you may want to ask for directions or hire a
guide in the village.
Another interesting trip from Assilah is a visit to the lively Sunday market in the village of Had
Gharbia , 16km north of town off the road to Tangier.
Festivals & Events
Assilah Festival
( www.c-assilah.com ; Aug) The Centre de Hassan II Rencontres Internationales is the main
focus for this annual festival, when artists, musicians, performers and some 200,000 spec-
tators descend upon the town. More than 30 years old, the cultural festival features numer-
ous workshops, public art demonstrations, concerts, exhibitions and events with parti-
cipants from all over the world. A three-day horse festival, including a Moroccan fantasia
(musket-firing cavalry charge) takes place towards the end of the three-week festival.
CULTURAL
Sleeping
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