Tafraoute Guardian Parking
Tafraoute
Tiznit Province
Souss-Massa
Morocco
3 Nights
It was still blowing a gale this morning, the van rocking and sand everywhere. The sun was shining, and the temperatures were decent and rising.
We paid for our three-night stay, the longest so far, drove over the waste area and dumped our waste water and filled with fresh water to the brim. Where we were going, there were no services.
Our route was the R107, a well-known route through the Atlas Mountains to the town of Tafraoute. We stayed there in a campsite when we visited two years ago, and it stuck in our minds as one of our favourite places. There is just something about the place.
The scenery on this drive reminds us why we travel like this. The roads are quiet, the sun is shining, and the views are amazing. Some of the roads had been washed away by what looked like recent rain. It looks like it’s a constant battle to keep the roads in place.
Some of the roadworks were in progress as we passed. Half a road is missing with a sheer drop to the side, but they stop, let you pass, and you keep going.
As we approached Tafraoute , we headed off the main road to the painted rocks. We had missed these last time, so we wanted to make a point of seeing them.
The Blue Rocks of Tafraoute are supposedly an art installation. Apparently, a Belgian artist painted the large granite rocks bright blue as part of an outdoor art project. The blue stones contrast strongly with the pink and orange desert landscape of the Anti-Atlas Mountains, making the area unique and eye-catching. And have since become a bit of a tourist attraction. They seem to have grown in numbers and now cover a vast area. The only downside is that some have decided it is a good idea to graffiti them.
We had lunch by the rocks, walked around them and then made our way to the aire in the town. A huge area set just on the edge of town for motorhomes, vans and the like.
We walked into the town, had a quick nose around at some of the familiar places from our previous visit. Bought a chicken and some fresh cooked Moroccan doughnuts, then returned to cook the chicken.
