On the road between Zagora and the dunes of the Sahara, most travelers treat Tamgroute as a bathroom break. It deserves slightly more attention than that: a working pottery cooperative and a centuries-old manuscript library, both worth the short stop.
Tap any photo to open it full-screen and order a print.
A small desert village on the road south from Zagora, known for its green-glazed pottery cooperative and a centuries-old Koranic library — a worthwhile half-hour stop, not a destination in itself.
Tamgroute sits a few dusty kilometers past Zagora, on the last stretch of paved road before the piste gives way to the Sahara proper. Most travelers pass through on the way to camp among the dunes of Erg Chigaga, and that's really the right way to treat it: a brief stop, not a base. The village itself is little more than a strip of low earthen buildings and a pottery cooperative baking in the heat, but it earns its place on the map for two specific reasons.
Rows of unfired clay bowls drying in the sun
The first is the pottery. Tamgroute's workshops still fire clay dug from the surrounding earth, and when it's mixed with local manganese-rich glaze and pushed through wood-fired kilns, it comes out that distinctive deep green — the color you'll see on tagines and bowls across southern Morocco, all tracing back to this one village. The second is the Zawiya Naciria, an old religious library housing hand-copied Korans and manuscripts on astronomy, mathematics, and Islamic law, some centuries old and written on gazelle skin. It's a quiet, unassuming building from the outside, easy to drive past without noticing.
Morning, before the midday desert heat sets in and before continuing on toward Erg Chigaga or M'Hamid — visit early enough that the workshops are active but the sun isn't yet punishing.
Not a place to stay overnight — base yourself in Zagora, or push on to a desert camp near Erg Chigaga if you're continuing into the Sahara.
No real food scene here — grab a mint tea or a quick snack at a roadside stall if the workshop offers one, but plan to eat properly in Zagora before or after.
This is a 20-30 minute stop, not a stay — pair it with the Zagora-to-Sahara drive rather than planning a dedicated trip. The pottery cooperative sells directly on site, so it's a legitimate place to buy (and ship) a piece rather than a staged tourist trap.
Explore regional routes with verified local fleets, zero hidden charges, and transparent insurance on Localrent.
Best deals on Tamgroute hotels this week — check Booking.com.
Transit cards, local customs, visa rules, and practical travel guides for this region.
Get our new Tamgroute guides and practical tips by email: where to stay, what to eat, what things cost and the rules that catch travelers out.
Free. No spam, only new guides and tips.
See every destination we've photographed:
Browse all destinationsCurious about the gear behind these photos? See the gear list.
