A river, palms and earthen villages below the cliffs, about 12 km south of Ouarzazate at the end of a rocky track. How to get there, and how to visit it well.
Fint is often translated from Tamazight as hidden, and the name fits. After a stretch of rough track across bare rock, a river and a band of palms appear below the cliffs. The oasis is only about 12 km south of Ouarzazate, but the track makes it a drive of around 45 minutes. Its appeal is the contrast between the green valley floor and the dry rock around it.
A lived-in oasis
Fint is not a park. Irrigation channels, small plots and village paths belong to the families who farm them. In the early hours children walk to school, bread bakes in outdoor ovens and people head to the gardens. Approach it as you would any working place: keep to the agreed paths through the farmland, and ask before photographing people.
Getting there
- By car: the tarmac soon turns into a rocky track. A small car can make it if you drive slowly; a four wheel drive is easier. Arrange the last part of the approach locally rather than treating every track as a public road.
- By grand taxi: from town, and the driver can wait while you visit; agree it before you leave.
- By quad or buggy: rides to Fint are listed by the operator at three hours and follow the plateau to the river (see quad and buggy rides in Ouarzazate).
- On horseback: the same three hour route, with river crossings under the palms.
What to do
- Walk through the oasis along the irrigated gardens, ideally with a local guide.
- Follow the river upstream between the villages.
- Have mint tea or lunch in one of the small guest houses, or picnic in the shade of the palms.
When to go
Morning and late afternoon are the gentlest times of day, especially in summer. After rain, ask about the state of the track before you set off.
On the way back
Stop at the Kasbah of Tifoultoute, on its hill above the river, five minutes on foot from Riad Chay, then watch the sunset from our roof. If you would rather not drive, see the quad, buggy and horse routes on our experiences page, and for more ideas, the best day trips from Ouarzazate.
Good to know
Can I drive to Fint in a normal car?
Usually, if you drive slowly on the track; a four wheel drive is more comfortable. Ask about the track after rain.
Do I need a guide in Fint?
It is not required, but a local guide keeps you on the right paths through the farmland and explains village life.
The best day trips from Ouarzazate
East to Skoura and the roses, north west up the Ounila to Telouet, south down the Drâa: four day trips from Ouarzazate, and how to choose between them.
The best things to do in Ouarzazate
Earthen kasbahs, working film studios, an oasis hidden behind the rock and a UNESCO ksar half an hour away: where to start, and how to fit it into a few days.
From Ouarzazate to Aït Ben Haddou: how to get there and when to go
The UNESCO ksar is about 30 km from Ouarzazate. Car, grand taxi, bus or a ride across the plateau: how to get there, and the hours when the walls are at their best.
