The Ziz Valley carries the N13 south from the mountains towards the Sahara: through the Ziz gorges, past the regional capital Errachidia and down the palm groves of the Tafilalet to Erfoud, Rissani and the dunes of Merzouga. It is the road most travellers take between Fes and the desert. This guide covers the sights, the distances and the best time to go.
Where is the Ziz Valley?
The Ziz River rises in the High Atlas near the town of Rich and flows south for about 280 km into the Sahara. Rich lies about 65 km north of Errachidia on the N13, about an hour and a quarter by road.
Between Rich and Errachidia the river cuts the Ziz gorges. South of Errachidia the valley opens into long bands of date palms that run down to the Tafilalet oasis around Erfoud and Rissani.
Our 4-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour drives this road on day three, from the Erg Chebbi dunes north through Erfoud, Errachidia and the Ziz Valley to a night in Midelt.
What will you see in the Ziz gorges?
North of Errachidia, the N13 follows the river through a narrow rock canyon, with palm groves squeezed between the cliffs. There are viewpoints and places to pull over along the way.
In the gorges, the road passes through the Tunnel du Légionnaire. French Foreign Legion troops cut it through the rock in 1927 and 1928 to open the road south.
At the southern end of the gorges, the Hassan Addakhil dam, completed in 1971, holds back the Ziz about 10 km north of Errachidia. Its reservoir can store about 312 million cubic metres and supplies drinking and irrigation water to the region.
Morning and late afternoon give the best light in the canyon. In the middle of the day, the cliffs flatten out and the heat builds.
What is Errachidia like?
Errachidia is the capital of the Drâa-Tafilalet region and stands at a little over 1,000 metres on the Ziz. It was called Ksar es-Souk until it was renamed in the 1970s, and today it is mainly an administrative town and a convenient stop on the N13.
Moulay Ali Cherif Airport (ERH) lies 3 to 4 km from the town centre. It is the closest airport to Merzouga, about 130 km north of the dunes by road via Erfoud and Rissani.
The Meski Blue Spring lies about 15 to 20 km south-east of the town: a palm-shaded pool beside the ruins of an old ksar. Its flow varies with the season, so ask before you plan a swim.
Why is Erfoud famous for fossils?
Erfoud lies about 75 km south of Errachidia on the N13, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes’ drive, at about 800 metres. It stands at the northern end of the Tafilalet palm groves, beside the Ziz.
The stone around the town is packed with marine fossils hundreds of millions of years old, above all trilobites and ammonites. Quarries on the outskirts supply the blocks.
Workshops on the edge of town cut and polish the fossil-bearing stone into tables, basins, fountains and smaller decorative pieces. A visit shows how a raw block becomes a polished slab.
Buy from an established workshop, ask what each piece is and keep the receipt.
When is the Erfoud date festival?
Erfoud is known as Morocco’s date capital, and the harvest is celebrated every autumn. The International Date Fair is held in Erfoud at the turn of October and November, after the harvest.
The fair runs for about five days. The 2025 edition, the 14th, ran from 29 October to 2 November, with exhibitors from Morocco and abroad.
The dates change each year, so check them before you plan your route around the fair.
How far are Errachidia, Erfoud, Rissani and Merzouga from each other?
These are the distances by road along the Ziz and the Tafilalet, from north to south:
- Fes to Errachidia: about 340 km via Midelt on the N13, around 6 hours.
- Midelt to Errachidia: about 140 km on the N13, around 2 hours 30 minutes.
- Errachidia to Erfoud: about 75 km south on the N13, around 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Erfoud to Rissani: about 22 km south, around 25 minutes.
- Rissani to Merzouga: about 35 km south-east, around 40 minutes.
- Errachidia airport to Merzouga: about 130 km via Erfoud and Rissani, around 2 hours.
Rissani, the old gateway of the Tafilalet oasis, is the last town before the dunes. From there the road leaves the palms and crosses the stony plain to Merzouga and Erg Chebbi.
How does the Ziz Valley fit a Fes to Merzouga trip?
The drive from Fes to Merzouga is about 470 km, or 7 to 9 hours of driving. The Ziz gorges and Errachidia fall in the second half of the drive, about 340 km from Fes and 130 km from Merzouga, which makes the valley the natural place for a late lunch and a walk among the palms.
Many trips break the journey with a night in Midelt, or travel the valley northbound after a night in the dunes. Our Fes to Merzouga desert tour guide compares the ways to cross between the two, and the 4-day Marrakech to Fes itinerary shows the valley on the way north.
At the end of the road, our guide to a night in a luxury Sahara desert camp explains what to expect at Merzouga.
What is the best time to visit the Ziz Valley and Erfoud?
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, roughly March to May and September to November. October and early November add the date harvest and the fair in Erfoud.
Summer heat can pass 40 °C around Erfoud and Merzouga, so plan stops for the early morning. Winter is fine by day in the valley, but nights are cold and snow can reach the Middle Atlas passes north of Midelt.
What are the key facts about the Ziz Valley and Erfoud?
This table gathers the practical figures in one place.
| Topic | Key fact |
|---|---|
| Main road | N13, Midelt to Errachidia and Erfoud |
| Ziz River | About 280 km long, from the High Atlas near Rich to the Sahara |
| Rich to Errachidia | About 65 km on the N13 |
| Hassan Addakhil dam | Completed in 1971, about 10 km north of Errachidia |
| Tunnel du Légionnaire | Cut in 1927 and 1928, between Rich and Errachidia |
| Errachidia | Capital of the Drâa-Tafilalet region, a little over 1,000 m |
| Errachidia to Erfoud | About 75 km, around 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Erfoud to Rissani | About 22 km, around 25 minutes |
| Rissani to Merzouga | About 35 km south-east |
| Nearest airport to Merzouga | Errachidia (ERH), about 130 km by road |
| Erfoud date fair | Late October to early November |
The Ziz Valley is the quiet northern door to the Sahara: a canyon, a long green ribbon of palms, a fossil town and a date harvest, before the first dunes rise beyond Rissani. It deserves more than a glance through the window. You can browse all our Morocco desert tours, or ask us anything — we answer for free, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Ziz Valley in Morocco?
The Ziz Valley runs south from the High Atlas near Rich, through Errachidia, to the Tafilalet oasis around Erfoud and Rissani in south-eastern Morocco. The N13 follows it for most of the way.
How far is Erfoud from Errachidia?
Erfoud is about 75 km south of Errachidia on the N13, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes’ drive. From Erfoud, Rissani is about 22 km further south and Merzouga about 35 km beyond Rissani.
Which airport is closest to Merzouga?
Moulay Ali Cherif Airport in Errachidia (ERH) is the closest. It lies about 130 km north of Merzouga by road via Erfoud and Rissani, a drive of around 2 hours.
When is the date festival in Erfoud?
The International Date Fair is held in Erfoud every autumn, at the turn of October and November. The 2025 edition ran from 29 October to 2 November; the dates change each year.
Is the Ziz Valley worth a stop between Fes and Merzouga?
Yes. The gorges, the dam and the palm groves lie on the second half of the 470 km drive, so a stop breaks the journey well. Allow at least an hour for viewpoints and a short walk.
