Dunes, lakes, waterfalls in morocco

Dunes, lakes, waterfalls in morocco


Marrakesh –Ouarzazate Morning departure at 8 o’clock from your hotel or riad in Marrakesh to cross the High Atlas Mountains. After the Tichka pass, you leave the main road and take a side road to the Telouet Kasbah, which belonged to the Lords of the Atlas, the Glaoui family, and which now stands in ruins after the last Pasha fled the country, following the departure of the French. From there you continue for lunch at Ait Ben Haddou along the newly asphalted connecting road. This is the most famous Kasbah in Morocco and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which we visit after lunch. After visiting the Kasbah, you continue to see another famous one of the area, Kasbah Tifoultoute. In Ouarzazate you spend the night in a riad.


 Ouarzazate – Toudgha Gorges After breakfast, you set out towards the Dades Gorge, passing the Skoura Oasis, where numerous ancient kasbahs, some sadly in ruins, stand amongst the palm trees. From here, our route takes us through Kela’a M’gouna, the Valley of Roses, famous for its Rose Festival in May,. Here we stop to see the cosmetic articles which are made locally from the valley’s abundant flowers. These products are well-known throughout Morocco and are highly valued. From here, you take an off-road route to have a better impression of the landscape. Along the way, you will stop at caves, used by whichever Berber nomads happen to pass and claim residence there. We will have a glass of tea with them before continuing to the Dades Gorge for lunch. The trip continues a short distance to Tinghir and the very different Toudgha gorges, where you spend the night in a hotel or Kasbah.


Toudgha – Merzouga After breakfast, there are opportunities to walk, either along the river through the gardens or up the road on the other side of the gorges. Lunch will either be here or later at the bivouac at the Erg Chebbi dunes. You drive there via the Oasis of Tafilalet near Erfoud, famous for its Date Festival, and Rissani, which is the seat of the Alaouite family of the present king of Morocco. At the bivouac you are welcomed with a glass of tea before taking a camel ride to watch the sunset from the top of the dunes. Later there is dinner and the night in a nomad tent at the foot of the dunes.


Merzouga – Kasba Tadla, founded by Sultan Moulay Ismaïl in 1687. After breakfast, departure for Rissani and Erfoud, where there will be a stop to see how locally found fossils are worked into furniture and artefacts. From there the road leads north to Er Rachidia and the Ziz Valley, remarkable for the extent of its palm trees. Lunch is in Midelt, which is called “the apple capital”, in the Middle Atlas and at the foot of the Ayachi Mountain. From Midelt we continue north as far as Zeïda and then turn west across the Middle Atlas until we join the Fes – Marrakesh road. In Kasba Tadla (Tadla meaning a bouquet of wheat in Amazigh) which lies on the left bank of the Oum Er Rabia river, we stay the night in a riad!


In Beni Mellal you visit the Ain Asserdoun waterfalls which provide drinking water and are a source of irrigation for the surrounding villages of Ouled Ayad, Ouled Drid, Mghi among others. Asserdoun means “mule” in Amazigh! Back in the High Atlas you visit the lovely lake of Ben El Ouidane where the mountains come down to the water! Here you can take a walk to enjoy the peace and the green of the area and watch any fiosherman trying his luck! Later you continue to the Ouzoud Waterfalls which constitute one of the most spectacular natural beauty spots in Morocco. The surrounding countryside offers red cliffs, oleander and doves. If you are lucky you will catch a glimpse of some Barbary apes. A short walk will bring you to the top of the falls from where you can see the river stretching away from the magnificent falls. Another three hours drive will bring you back to your riad in Marrakesh.



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holidays in Zagora and Erg Cheggag of morocco

holidays in  Zagora and Erg Cheggag of morocco

 Marrakesh – Dades Morning departure at 8 o’clock from your hotel or riad in Marrakesh to cross the High Atlas Mountains. After the Tichka pass, the highest pass in Africa, you reach Ouarzazate, the largest town in the area, and continue through the Skoura Oasis, where numerous ancient kasbahs, some sadly in ruins, stand amongst the palm trees. From here, the route takes us through Kela’a M’gouna, the Valley of Roses, with a stop to see cosmetic articles locally-made from the valley’s abundant roses. You stop in the Dades gorge in a guest house for the night.


 Dades Gorges – Zagora After breakfast, we go south, through the Saghro mountain range to the village of N’Qob for lunch. From here our route takes us to the Dra’a Valley, which we join at Tansikht and where we turn south to Zagora. The road follows the ancient caravan route between the Dra’a River and the mountains and gives a view of the gardens and kasbahs in the valley. In Zagora we stop for dinner and a night’s rest in a hotel/riad.


 Zagora – Cheggaga dunes The next morning we continue to M’hamid and Erg Lihoudi, where there is an opportunity for a camel ride of about one and a half hours. Lunch is in M’hamid itself after which we make our way across another 60km through the varying features of the desert; ‘erg’, ‘reg’, ‘hammada’, oases, to the Erg Cheggaga dunes. These are the greatest dunes in Morocco and are approximately 300m high and 35km long. These dunes afford a wonderful view of the setting sun, before returning to the bivouac at the foot of the dunes for dinner and a night’s rest.


Cheggaga dunes – Agdez After breakfast, the road crosses another 90km of desert, passing Lake Iriqui and the mountains as well as fossils, for enthusiasts. The first village beyond the desert, Foum Zguid, is the place for lunch and a refreshing shower. The return to the Dra’a Valley is off-road until we reach the valley itself. Here outside the town of Agdez stands the oldest local kasbah, “Kasbah Tamnougalte”. It is here in this historic setting that you spend the night.


Agdez – Marrakesh After breakfast, we leave for Ouarzazate across the mountain pass of Tizi-n-Tinfifite (1660m) and continue to visit the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. This site has frequently been used as the background for some memorable scenes in many film masterpieces, such as "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Gladiator". We visit the Kasbah and have lunch before driving on to Kasbah Telouet, the palatial residence of the one-time Pasha of Marrakesh, Thami Glaoui. It now stands in ruins after he fled the country following the departure of the French. After visiting the Kasbah, we drive across the Tizi-n-Tichka pass and back to Marrakesh, which we reach by the early evening.







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holidays from desert to sea in morocco

holidays from desert to sea in morocco


 Agdez Morning departure at 8 o’clock from your hotel or riad in Marrakesh to cross the High Atlas Mountains. After the Tichka pass, you leave the main road and take a side road to the Telouet Kasbah, which belonged to the Lords of the Atlas, the Glaoui family, and which now stands in ruins after the last Pasha fled the country following the departure of the French. From there you continue for lunch at Ait Ben Haddou along the newly asphalted connecting road. This is the most famous Kasbah in Morocco and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which we visit after lunch. Later we continue south to Agdez, where the Dra’a Valley starts. We spend the night in a Kasbah there.

Cheggaga After breakfast there is time to visit the rest of the Kasbah before taking the ancient caravan road between the river and the mountains. On the way, we pass many villages and gardens so that you can gain a better idea of the way of life along the oases. We drive to M’hamid, the gate to the desert, to the dunes of Erg Lihoudi, where we stop for lunch. Here a two-hour camel ride is scheduled. Later we continue to the Erg Cheggaga dunes (300m) with 60km of off-road driving. This route passes different features of the desert; ‘erg’, ‘reg’, ‘hammada’, oases. These dunes are far away from civilization, in the desert proper ……. and the silence and the expanse of the sand are overwhelming. Dinner and a night’s sleep are in a bivouac of nomad tents.

 Taroudannt After breakfast we drive another 90 km across the Sahara over the stony desert, “reg” and “hammada” and across the now dried-up Lake Iriqui. In the middle of this lake, we can search for fossils. At the edge of the desert at Foum Zguid, we drive north to Taznakht, famous for its Berber gelims and carpets, where we stop for lunch. After crossing the Tizi-n-Ikhsane and Tizi-n-Tighatine passes, we reach Tilouine, the heart of the saffron growing region. The road takes us on to Taroudannt, where we stop for the night in a riad.


Taroudannt – Essaouira In the morning there is a visit to the town known as “the little Marrakesh”. It is spectacular for its massive ramparts and beautiful medina. From here you travel along the Souss river valley with all its argane groves as far as Agadir. The road then travels up the coast along the Paradise Valley, driving through Taghazout and through the mountains. On arriving in Essaouira, you can explore the town, the Skala, the medina and all its innumerable shops as well as the sea front with its fresh fish restaurants. The night is spent in Essaouira.

 Essaouira – Marrakech After breakfast you can continue to wander round Essaouira, getting to know it better, perhaps enjoying more of the fresh fish. Return to Marrakesh, stopping in a forest of argane trees and the co-operative of argane oil producers. We pass many Berber villages on the way.




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morocco holidays ..Kasbahs, Dra'a

Kasbahs, Dra'a




, you leave the main road and take a side road to the Telouet Kasbah, which belonged to the Lords of the Atlas, the Glaoui family, and which now stands in ruins after the last Pasha fled the country following the departure of the French. From there you continue for lunch at Ait Ben Haddou along the newly asphalted connecting road. This is the most famous Kasbah in Morocco and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which we visit after lunch. Then we continue the short distance to Ouarzazate where you spend the night.
 MHamid After breakfast, the trip continues to Agdez, where you stop to visit Kasbah Tamnougalte, the oldest Kasbah in the Dra'a Valley, before taking the ancient caravan road between the river and the mountains. On the way, we pass many villages and gardens so that you can gain a better idea of the way of life along the oases. Once in Zagora we stop for lunch in a very pleasant riad. In the afternoon we drive to M’hamid, the gate to the desert. Here a two-hour camel ride leads to the highest dune to enjoy an unforgettable sunset and to spend the beauty of the night in a nomad tent close to the dunes of Erg Lihoudi.

Cheggaga After breakfast you return to M’hamid to visit the old village across the now frequently dry river Dra’a. In the afternoon, there is the departure for the Erg Cheggaga dunes (300m) with 60km of off-road. This route passes different features of the desert; ‘erg’, ‘reg’, ‘hammada’, oases. These dunes are far away from civilization, in the desert proper …… and the silence and the expanse of the sand are overwhelming. Dinner and a night’s sleep are in a bivouac of nomad tents.

the road takes us through another 90km of desert with varying scenery; Lake Iriqui, the mountains and fossils. Lunch will be in Foum Zguid, the first village after the desert, where it is also possible to freshen up with a shower. From here the drive back to Marrakesh is along paved roads via the village of Taznakht, famous for its Berber carpets and rugs. From there we cross the High Atlas again to reach Marrakesh by the early evening.









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Kasbahs, gorges, dunes .. holidays in morocco

Kasbahs, gorges, dunes





Cross the High Atlas Mountains. From these mountains, the views over the valleys and the Berber villages perched on the mountain sides, sometimes barely distinguishable from the mountains themselves, are spectacular.

Having crossed the pass, you continue to descend until you finally reach Ouarzazate where you stop for lunch. Later the road continues to the Skoura Oasis, where numerous ancient kasbahs, some sadly in ruins, stand amongst the palm trees. From here, the route takes us through Kela’a M’gouna, the Valley of Roses, with a stop to see cosmetic articles locally-made from the valley’s abundant roses. You stop in the Dades gorge in a very ethnic guest house.

Merzouga After breakfast, there is time to walk by the river before continuing to Toudgha to the very different gorges there. Lunch will either be here in the gorges or later at the bivouac at the Erg Chebbi dunes. You drive there via the Ziz Valley, and the towns of Erfoud and Rissani. In the afternoon you can take a two-hour camel ride in the Sahara. The sunset from the top of the dunes is spectacular (250m) and afterwards there is dinner and the night in a traditional nomad tent at the foot of the dunes.


3rd day: Merzouga – Ouarzazate If you wake up early enough, you can watch the spectacle of the sunrise, when the colour of the dunes and the play of shadows are an awesome sight. The itinerary continues to the Dra’a Valley via the village of Tazzarine (featured in the film ‘Babel’), and on to N’Qob for lunch. In the afternoon, we drive along the Dra’a Valley towards Agdez, passing oases and Kasbahs, beside the river. The oldest kasbah, Kasbah Tamnougalte, in the Dra'a Valley is situated near Agdez, and you will have some time to visit it. Some parts lie in ruins and some parts are still fully occupied. The last part of the day's journey is across the Tizi-n-Tinfifite pass to Ouarzazate. Here you will spend the night.


4th day: Ouarzazate – Marrakesh After breakfast we visit Kasbah Taourirt in the town and which belonged to the Glaoui family, the Pashas of Marrakesh. Driving north, you leave the main road and take a side road to Ait ben Haddou, which also belonged to the Lords of the Atlas, the Glaoui family. This is the most famous Kasbah in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also well-known as being the backdrop to many Hollywood blockbusters. The road then continues along the Ounila valley with beautiful and prosperous villages, stunning mountains and views to Telouet, where you will stop to visit the Kasbah and perhaps have lunch. Alternatively lunch will be in the mountains! We reach Marrakesh by the early evening








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Camels in Mhamid, stars in Cheggaga

Camels in Mhamid, stars in Cheggaga





Marrakesh – Agdez Morning departure at 8 o’clock from your hotel or riad in Marrakesh to cross the High Atlas Mountains. After the Tichka pass, you leave the main road and take a side road to the Telouet Kasbah, which belonged to the Lords of the Atlas, the Glaoui family, and which now stands in ruins after the last Pasha fled the country following the departure of the French. From there you continue for lunch at Ait Ben Haddou along the newly asphalted connecting road. This is the most famous Kasbah in Morocco and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which we visit after lunch. Later we continue south to Agdez, where the Dra’a Valley starts. We spend the night in a kasbah with swimming pool.


Agdez – Cheggaga After breakfast there is time to visit the rest of the Kasbah before taking the ancient caravan road between the river and the mountains. On the way, we pass many villages and gardens so that you can gain a better idea of the way of life along the oases. We drive to M’hamid, the gate to the desert, to Erg Lihoudi, where we stop for lunch. Here a two-hour camel ride is scheduled. Later we continue to the Erg Cheggaga dunes (300m) with 60km of off-road driving. This route passes different features of the desert; ‘erg’, ‘reg’, ‘hammada’, oases. These dunes are far away from civilization, in the desert proper ……. and the silence and the expanse of the sand are overwhelming. Dinner and a night’s sleep are in a bivouac of nomad tents.


3rd day: Cheggaga – Marrakesh After breakfast, the road takes us through another 90km of desert with varying scenery: Lake Iriqui, the mountains and fossils. Lunch will be in Foum Zguid, the first village after the desert, where it is also possible to freshen up with a shower. From here the drive back to Marrakesh is along paved roads via the village of Taznakht, famous for its Berber carpets and rugs. From there we cross the High Atlas again to reach Marrakesh in the early evening.





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Zagora holidays

 Zagora holidays

Departure in a 4x4 from your Marrakesh hotel or riad across the High Atlas Mountains and over the famous Tizi-n-Tichka (2260m) From these mountains, the views over the valleys and the Berber villages perched on the mountain sides, sometimes barely distinguishable from the mountains themselves, are spectacular.

Having crossed the pass, you continue to descend until you finally reach Ouarzazate where you stop for lunch. Afterwards, you will have a glass of tea with us at the office in the centre of town. From there you cross another smaller pass, Tizi-n-Tinfifite, before reaching the head of the Dra'a Valley at Agdez. We go off-road along the ancient caravan route between the mountains and the river, passing many villages and gardens so that you can gain a better idea of the way of life along the oases. You then reach Zagora and the dunes, where you will have a camel ride to watch the sunset and have dinner in the dunes at the bivouac of nomad tents where you spend the night.


 If you get up early enough to see the sunrise, you will be rewarded by the wonderful play of shadows across the sand. After breakfast you return north, taking another short off-road route. From Ouarzazate, you leave the main Marrakesh road to reach the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou. This Kasbah, the most famous in Morocco, has been used as a backdrop for many Hollywood blockbusters and was one of the most important fortress strongholds on the old Salt Road caravan routes, where traders brought slaves, gold, ivory and salt from sub-Saharan Africa to Marrakech and beyond. From there, you continue along the new and truly magnificent road to Telouet Kasbah, which belonged to the Lords of the Atlas, the Glaoui family, and which now stands in ruins after the last Pasha fled the country following the departure of the French. The return to Marrakesh is along the main road, passing many Berber villages along the river and through the mountains. At times you come down into the valleys to drive alongside the river bordered by oleander and fruit trees. The gardens are full of olives, walnuts, pomegranates, apples, pears and quinces. Berber women and children tend goats and sheep and climb even the steepest slopes in search of fodder and firewood. We reach Marrakesh in the early evening.


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