Nkob is the only Moroccan village with more than forty kasbahs. The old part of the village still contains many old impressive kasbahs, all constructed in mud in front of the oasis and the Jbel (mountain) Saghro.
Setting at a height of 1050 meters, all kasbahs in N’kob are renovated and well maintained. Nkob serves as a crossroads between the valleys of Ziz and Drâa through the main road, Dades and Todgha gorges, and a new road recently opened to Tinghir. This road passes through the Jbel Saghro grassland through the Tizi N Tazazert pass.
N’Kob gets its name from a cave called N’Akb, located on a hill not far from the village. This cave used to be a stopover for nomads belonging to the great tribe of Ait Atta tribes.
Beautiful gardens with high-quality henna, numerous date palms, and a range of aromatic plants can be found in the village. Nkob is also known for its organically cultivated almonds and charming oasis.
Every Sunday, one of the province’s largest and most vibrant souks takes place in N’kob. All of the villagers in the area come to stock up on fruits and vegetables for the week or month. Idoukan, the popular handmade Amazigh leather babouches, cosmetics, and traditional clothing such as caftans and colorful Amazigh dresses are also available.
The capital of henna
N’kob is also known for its high-quality henna production, which is shared with Tazarine, a neighboring village 30 kilometers away. A total of 2000 tons are produced each year in the region.
Growing in Jbel Saghro, a semi-mountainous oasis, henna is a thorny tree belonging to the Lythraceous family. The fields are irrigated beginning of March, and harvest occurs twice a year, between May and the end of October. Before being completely cut with a sickle, the plants grow to around 20-30cm in height. The cut plants are then dried in the shade. The dry leaves are stripped from the stems and ground into a fine powder called “henna.”
Henna is a plant of paradise that was described by the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, as having many beneficial properties. When mixed with water, Henna powder is used to decorate women’s hands during traditional ceremonies, such as marriages engagement, weddings, baptisms, and circumcisions.
The most enjoyable hikes
If you want to get the most out of your visit to this village, consider hiking or mule riding. They are the best ways to visit the Ait Atta, a proud nomadic tribe with true integrity and pride.
A wide range of excursions is available in the areas that surround N’kob. This mystical land is ideal for planning hikes based on your preferences. Walking, mule or camel riding, bivouacs and circuits in VTT or 4×4 are some of the ways to explore golden sand dunes, oases strewn with Kasbahs or Ksours of vast panoramas implanted with acacia trees, diverse Neolithic rock engraving sites, rocky hills, waterfalls, and fossiliferous marble quarries and mines (of gold and silver).
When arriving from Tazarine, the mountain guides’ office is located at the town’s entrance to coordinate and provide information on the available hikes.
From the mountain “Jbel Amoum,” which dominates the oasis, you can also go hang gliding, parachuting, or paragliding. Small tourist planes and microlights can land safely in Nkoub.
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