Ksar of Rissani — Drâa-Tafilalet Historic Fortified Village Viewpoint

Rissani is the real deal — a functioning market town that has been the commercial gateway to the Moroccan Sahara for centuries. The Alaouite dynasty was founded here, and the old ksar (fortified village) is still partially inhabited, its mudbrick walls and arched gates worn but intact. For overlanders on the Erfoud–Merzouga piste, this is your last reliable fuel stop and resupply before the sand starts. The Wednesday and Sunday souks are worth timing your run for — local produce, spices, livestock, and all the chaos of a genuine desert market.

The ksar itself is walkable in under an hour and has no entry fee. Fuel is available in the main town. The access road from Erfoud is paved. From Rissani eastward toward Merzouga the tarmac continues but the off-piste action begins at the dune margins. Don’t skip this stop — cold drinks and tagine before the sand is never a bad call.

Last ksar before the Sahara opens up.