Taroudant is a charming little town in Morocco, Africa that is full of grace. With its grandiose gold, pink and orange high walls, it's like a mixture of an oasis and a fortress.

It's perfectly located beneath the gaze of the frosted High Atlas to the north and the Anti-Atlas to the south. The walls, the souks and the stark backdrop of the High Atlas are what people come here to see. The town is incredibly picturesque, with its ancient clay houses surrounded by minarets and colourful groves of oranges and pomegranates.

One of the best ways to see the town is by horse drawn carriage. At dusk it's stunning! The colours of the town come alive and contrast dynamically with the surrounding mountains and skyscape.

The actual souks themselves are not very large but they offer a wide range of locally produced traditional crafts and the quality is usually extremely good.

Taroudant is only around an hours drive from Agadir and about three hours drive from Marrakech. It's best to hire a car. Then you can also visit; the magnificent Glaoui Kasbah at Taliouine; the fantastic surf beaches at Sidi Moussa; the oasis town of Tata and the Anti Atlas Mountains. If you like walking, there are some spectacular passes in the High Atlas mountains, all within reach of Taroudant.