As one of the last bastions of Moroccan civilisation before the great swathes of Sahara sand dunes in the south, Zagora is a town entirely enveloped by the raw nature of northern Africa. A now legendary signpost in the town stands as testimony to its remoteness. Reading “Tombouctou:52 days”, it’s the last spot the more intrepid traveller will pose for a photograph before entering the desert.

Zagora’s multifarious roles as weekend venue for local food bazaars, annual Sufi pilgrimage destination and overnight stop-off for traders on the cross-desert trail have given it a curiously dynamic character. So, while visitors coming here to catch a glimpse of authentic Moroccan country life won’t be disappointed, the myriad of other cultural and religious influences at play are truly alluring in their diversity.

So close to the desert, a Zagora tour guide will advise those looking to make the ubiquitous Moroccan camel ride over the dunes that the town is the perfect place for such an adventure. The imposing plateau of Jebel Zagora Mountain that looms nearby has ample hiking opportunities and an impressive ruined Almoravid castle that makes braving the heat entirely worth it.