Shopping

Buying Local Products Direct from the Producer

We encourage our guests to purchase goods such as these on the excursions and from our shop. We do not take any profits from the sales – 100% goes to the suppliers:

• Olive oil and argan oil (cold pressed virgin oils- most are certified organic).
• Pure Raw Honey, lip balm and other bee products. From the project that we have supported since 2012 which has been successful in reintroducing the endangered Yellow Saharan Bee. NB thyme & euphorbia honey are very potent, being rich in antioxidants hence expensive. Both are excellent, the latter particularly for sore throats.

In our shop you will also find electrical adaptors, top quality saffron, spice mixes, postcards, silver jewellery, greeting cards and posters all at fair prices.

While shopping please do NOT offer money, sweets and pens to children because it promotes a begging mentality and causes visitors to be harassed. We hope that you will support us helping them in much more appropriate ways (see Donations section above).

On Sundays there is a fascinating market where livestock, fruit and vegetables and various other goods are sold. The market is held to the north east of the medina outside the town walls. It’s very busy and the only place we warn guests that pickpockets may operate.

In Taroudant there are two souks (markets) in the Medina (walled town) which are open daily: the Berber souk (which sadly burned down in Autumn 2025 but is being rebuilt), where everyday food and other household purchases are made, and the Prices are on the whole remarkably low, especially in the souks (markets) although imported goods can be expensive. Beware of Moroccans who want to help you with your shopping; they will often take you to places where they receive most commission from the vendors. There are a few of these “false guides” who usually make out that they are students and may try to gain entry into the ecolodge. We ask that, charming though they may appear, you do not invite them in. Better to ask one of the staff, whom you can trust, to accompany you to the souks – it should save you more than the moderate charge for being accompanied.

Most shops open early in the mornings, close for lunch sometime between noon and 3 pm (tends to be a longer lunch break on Fridays) and then finally close late in the evening.

When buying larger items, try your luck with haggling; this can be time-consuming but fun. It is not unusual for a ‘first price’ to be double the price that the vendor is seeking, but don’t start the haggling process unless you hope to make a purchase. The final price is usually when the seller announces “last price” – at this point, you can try one last offer just below that figure or walk away with no feelings hurt. If the seller does decide to come down to your last offer, however, you are custom bound to complete the sale. The best guideline is to suggest that you pay what the item is worth to you and to remember that in a society where many do not have social security paid on their behalf and where giving to the poor is expected, any extra profit made by vendors is no doubt very much needed. We have a list of guideline prices to pay in the rooms in the guest house.