Book hostels in Tamesluht
Pottery and weaving village 16km south of Marrakech — easy half-day artisan escape.
Tamesluht (also spelled Tameslouht) is a small craft village 16km south of Marrakech on the road to the Atlas. It's known for two things: family-run pottery workshops where you can throw your own piece on a foot-powered wheel, and a beautiful old zaouia (sufi school). It's a calm, half-day escape from Marrakech's chaos — and most travellers either day-trip or stay one night in a riad-style guesthouse before heading into the mountains.
Highlights
- Pottery class with a local family — €10–15 for a 2h session
- Visit the 16th-c Zaouia of Sidi Mohammed Ben Slimane Al Jazouli
- Cooperative weaving workshop — buy directly from the weavers
- Olive groves and rural walks
- Sunset over Atlas foothills from a roof terrace
Best for
- Craft and pottery lovers
- Day-trippers from Marrakech
- Couples wanting one quiet night near the city
- Slow-tourism families
When to visit
Year-round but spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are best — 18–28°C and clear skies. Summer hits 38°C+ and pottery clay dries too fast.
Budget
No hostel dorms here — guesthouse rooms €25–45 with breakfast. Pottery workshop: €10–15. Lunch in the village: €4–6. A pottery + lunch + transport day from Marrakech: €25–35.
Getting there
From Marrakech: grand taxi from Bab er-Robb costs €0.80, takes 25 min. Bus 25 from Place de la Liberté also runs there, €0.40. Many Marrakech riads arrange a private day with driver for €25–35.
Safety
Very safe village — children walk alone everywhere. Some workshop touts will pressure you to buy after a class; agree the price beforehand. Pottery dust can irritate asthma — ask for a mask if you're sensitive.
Where to stay — neighborhoods
Not all hostels are in the same part of town. Here’s how each area compares.
Old village & zaouia
Best for: Workshops, history, atmosphere
Earthen-walled centre around the 16th-century zaouia. Most pottery and weaving workshops are here, plus the only two riad-style guesthouses.
Olive grove edge
Best for: Quiet retreats, families
A few rural maisons d'hôtes among the olive trees on the village outskirts. Bigger pools, more silence, 10-min walk to the workshops.
Tips from us
- Combine Tamesluht with a half-day at the nearby Lalla Takerkoust dam for a great half-day loop.
- Buy directly from the weaving co-op rather than tourist shops in Marrakech — same items at half the price.
- Most family pottery workshops will fire and ship your piece for an extra €15–20.
- Friday is the local souk day — bigger, more authentic than Marrakech tourist souks.
- Stay one night in a Tamesluht riad guesthouse before heading to Imlil or Ouirgane in the Atlas.