Skoura is the great oasis of the Dades valley, about 40 kilometres east of Ouarzazate on the road to the Todra gorges and Merzouga. Watered by the Oued Amerhidil, its 25 square kilometres of date, olive, almond and fig groves shelter dozens of earthen kasbahs — the mud-brick fortified family homes for which the whole region, the road of a thousand kasbahs, is named. The palm grove is one of the most photogenic in Morocco, a green ribbon set against bare red hills.
The centrepiece is Kasbah Amridil, a 17th-century kasbah that survives in exceptional condition and features on the back of the 50 dirham banknote. Restored and open to visitors, it lets you walk through original kitchens, olive-oil presses, granaries and living quarters, and climb to a rooftop with a full view over the palmery. Nearby lie other kasbahs — Ait Ben Moro, Dar Ahlam, Kasbah Ait Sidi Youssef — some still lived in, some restored as boutique guesthouses.
Because the oasis is spread over a wide area and the tracks between kasbahs are unpaved, a private driver is the natural way to explore. Skoura is a classic stop on the two- or three-day loop between Marrakech and the Sahara, and pairs well with an overnight so you can walk in the palm grove at the softer light of dawn or dusk when the swifts wheel above the palms.
Highlights
- Kasbah Amridil, the 17th-century kasbah pictured on the 50 dirham note
- A 25 km² oasis of date, olive, almond and fig trees
- Dozens of earthen kasbahs, some restored as guesthouses
- A signature stop on the road of a thousand kasbahs
- Dawn and dusk light over the palm grove and red hills
- A convenient overnight between Aït Benhaddou and the Todra gorges
Best Time to Visit
October to April for cool exploring; visit the palm grove at dawn or the golden hour before sunset for the best light on the kasbahs.