M'Hamid is a small village in Zagora region of Morocco, one of the two places in Morocco where Sahara begins (another is Merzouga). M'Hamid gets fewer visitors than Merzouga and is arguably more "authentic." It is about 7- 8 hours by car from Marrakech and 5 hours from Ourzazate......... The whole town seems to be working in desert-trips or related businesses, so don't expect anything special aside from local wedding celebrations, or local national holiday celebrations. M'hamid is also known as Bounou, once a thriving village made out of a mix of local Ait Atta berbers, Local drawa, and local Hassani tribes. .....By car an asphalt road came to M'Hamid so you can reach the village from Ouarzazate by virtually any car. The trip from Ouarzazate is memorable, passing through small villages, the regional center of Zagora, and over a pass into the open desert. .. There is a mosque in town, but as with the rest of Morocco, is not open to non muslims. A Kasbah is located about 2Km away on the road out of town (take a left at the mosque). The kasbah is inhabited by black Africans who came from Mali many years ago. Other than this, the main attraction are the Erg Chigagga dunes which are about 50Km from the town. Overnight trips can be arrainged by many outfitters in M'Hamid
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