Located in the Ziz Valley and centre of the date-rich Tafilalt oasis, Erfoud lies in the Sahara Desert territory of Amazigh (Berber) nomads, some of whom settled permanently in the oasis area since at least the 14^th century.  These settlers constructed and maintained an extensive system of underground irrigation channels – ingeniously designed khettara, some still functioning today.   

During the French colonial period, Erfoud was firmly established as regional centre and today is the gateway to the spectacular Erg Chebbi sand dunes of the Sahara Desert and Morocco’s desert oasis villages of Merzouga and Rissani.   

Surrounded by Morocco’s rich fossil fields, Erfoud is renowned for thriving communal workshops where local artisans and specialists extract, carve and polish fossils.  Its annual date festival celebrates its famed Tafilate date harvest – renowned worldwide for the quality of the regions dates – and desert heritage.