Situated between the Tafilalet river and the Draa valleys, Tinehir is a real architectural and environmental treasure. Built in terraces at the foot of a lush palm grove over which the windows of the earth-built houses open, this is a delightful town to visit both for the architecture and the local people. The casbah dominates the houses, palm grove and surrounding countryside. The picturesque and crowded weekly market is held on Mondays – a festive and lively occasion providing a chance to admire the attractive local crafts items displayed for sale. The Todghra Gorge is about 15 Km away and many small villages are situated along the course of the wadi, notable for the singular design of the houses. The walls are completely blind and light enters via an internal courtyard which has various functions. This is an ancient architectural arrangement intended to provide shelter from inclement weather and from the heat of the summer, and at the same time protects the privacy of family life from the curiosity of outsiders.
The Todghra Gorge
The barren and majestic Todghra Gorge is set amidst spectacular and fantastic scenery. The rugged, rocky walls that rise almost perpendicular to flank the bed of the gorge for over 100 metres, reach a height of 300 metres at some points. The Todra wadi runs through this deep crevice and traditionally the water is used to irrigate fields of almond trees. At the bottom of the rocky walls rises a spring that has always attracted numerous wisitors as it is claimed that it has excellent therapeutic properties, especially for women who may be sterile.