moroc-co

Grand Tour of the South Morocco ..holidays in morocco.

Marrakesh – Ouarzazate Morning departure from your hotel/riad in Marrakesh at 8 o'clock and driving across the High Atlas mountains. At panoramic viewpoints, there will opportunities to stop and take photos. The first scheduled stop is at the Kasbah of Telouet, which served as a palatial residence and the headquarters of the powerful Glaoui tribe. Here you will stop to have a leisurely lunch. Then the route crosses the Oumila Valley and leads to the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, the oldest and most famous Kasbah in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage site. After visiting the kasabh there is another 35 kilometres of road as far as Ouarzazate, where you spend the night in a riad.

Ouarzazate – Toudgha gorges Morning departure to the Toudgha Gorge, passing the Oasis of Skoura, 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, where we stop to see cosmetic articles made locally from the valley’s abundant blossoms. These products are well-known throughout Morocco and are highly valued. We drive off-road to the Dades Gorge for lunch, after which there is time for a stroll alongside the river before continuing to the Toudgha Gorge for the second night in a hotel or Kasbah there.

Toudgha Gorges – 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 Oasis of Tafilalet, Erfoud and Rissani. After a welcomeing glass of tea, 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 nomad tent at the foot of the dunes.

Merzouga – Agdez 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 drive back east to the Dra’a Valley takes us via the villages of Tazzarine (featured in the film ‘Babel’) and N’Qob, where we have lunch. In the afternoon we continue to Tanasikht, along the track of the ancient caravan route, reaching the Dra’a valley, abundant with large palm trees and ancient kasbahs, at Agdez, where we spend the night in a kasbah.

Agdez – Cheggaga After breakfast there is an opportunity to visit the Tamnougalte Kasbah, the oldest in the Dra'a Valley and which some consider to be the most interestng. Some of it is still inhabited and other parts crumbling away. The way follows the ancient track of the caravan route to Zagora. From here the trip continues along paved roads to the village of M’hamid, which marks the end of the paved road and the beginning of the Sahara. Here we pause for lunch in a riad set in a beautiful garden full of palm trees and with a swimming pool. In the afternoon, we leave for the Erg Cheggaga dunes (300m) with 60km off-road. This route passes different features of the desert; ‘erg’, ‘reg’, ‘hammada’ and 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 the night are in a bivouac there.

Cheggaga – Ouarzazate After breakfast, the track covers another 90km of desert with varying scenery; Lake Iriqui, the mountains and fossils. Lunch is in Foum Zguid, the first village after the desert, where it is also possible to freshen up with a shower. From here we drive back to Ouarzazate along paved roads via the village of Taznakht, famous for its Berber carpets and rugs, and we arrive in the course of the afternoon. Here you spend the night in a riad.

Ouarzazate – Marrakesh After breakfast, we visit Kasbah Taourirt in Ouarzazate, originally the sometime residence of the Pasha of Marrakech. We also visit the cinema studios and then drive cross-country to the Fint Oasis, tucked away in the mountains and once serving as a crossroads for the caravans traversing the south of Morocco. We then take the road back to Marrakech over the High Atlas, arriving by the early evening.

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All the Majestic Dunes in morocco..holidays morocco

All the Majestic Dunes in Morocco..holidays 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, 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 stunningly beautiful, newly asphalted connecting road. This is the most famous Kasbah in Morocco and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which we visit after lunch. The road continues 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.

Dades – 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, the Oasis of Tafilalet, 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 nomad tent at the foot of the dunes.

Merzouga – Zagora 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 drive continues to the Dra’a Valley via the village of Tazzarine (now featured in the film ‘Babel’) and on to N’Qob for lunch. After this break, the route continues to Zagora along the magic Dra’a Valley with all its kasbahs. (From time to time, off-road driving allows a closer impression of life in the villages.) The night is spent in a beautiful riad set in Zagora.

Zagora – Cheggaga After breakfast, the itinerary continues to the Erg Lihoudi dunes, where you have another camel ride of about two hours. Lunch is in M’Hamid, the last village, and right on the edge of the desert. In the afternoon, the trip continues by 4x4 to the Erg Cheggaga dunes (300m) with 60km of off-road driving, passing the varying features of the desert; ‘erg’, ‘reg’, ‘hammada’, and oases. These dunes are far away from civilization, in the desert proper …… and the silence and the expanse of the sand is overwhelming. We have dinner and spend the night in a bivouac here.

5th day: Cheggaga – Ouarzazate After breakfast, the route crosses another 90km of desert, following a track winding through unusual vegetation, and crossing the dried-up Lake Iriqui. Once across this vast expanse of lake, we stop for lunch in Foum Zguid, the first village on leaving the desert. The road back to Ouarzazate takes us through the village of Taznakht, well known for its Berber carpets, and we arrive in the course of the afternoon. The night will be spent in a riad in Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate – Marrakesh After breakfast, we visit the Kasbah of Taourirt in Ouarzazate, originally the residence of the Pasha of Marrakech. We also visit the cinema studios and then drive cross-country to the Fint Oasis, tucked away in the mountains and once serving as a crossroads for the caravans traversing the south of Morocco. We then take the road back to Marrakech over the High Atlas, arriving in the course of the afternoon.

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Telouet, Tata, Tafraoute, Taroudant ..holidays in morocco

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 there.

Agdez – Chagaga After breakfast there is time to visit the rest of the Kasbah, some of which is still inhabited and other parts crumbling away, 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 camel rideof up to two hours is scheduled. Later we continue to the Erg Chagaga 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.

Chagaga – Tata 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 turn west along the edge of the desert along the asphalted road to Tata which few people visit. This is the old Algeria to Zagora caravan route and passes oases and the Jebel Bani Mountains, which later give way to the Anti Atlas. In Tata is it worth visiting the Kasbah and the small museum!

Tata to Tafraoute From Tata you head north through a very long gorge following the Tata river and passing through Tiata Tagmoute, a small Berber town, to join the Tilouine to Tafraoute road, which you do at Ighrem . This turns south west towards Tafraoute in the Anti-Atlas. You pass through the Berber towns of Azoura, Idaoua, Tiguermine and Ait Abdellah. This is not at all a main route taken by tourists and so unspoiled country with stunning views! You spend the night here in this small town of about five thousand inhabitants.

Tafrouate to Taroudant First there will be the visit to the rock painting and then later you travel on to Taroudant, called the little Marrakesh because of the city walls surrounding it. Taroudant is also famous for its silver jewelry. It is here that you spend the night after crossing the mountain roads along slopes full of argane trees.

After breakfast and exploring you the town, you travel along the Souss river valley with all its argane groves and orange plantations as far as Agadir. From there you take the new motorway to arrive in Marrakesh at the end of the afternoon.

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Traditional dwellings in morocco..morocco holidays

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, 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. The road continues 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. These products are well-known throughout Morocco and are highly valued. An off-road route leads to the Dades Valley, where you will spend the night with a Berber family, or for the more intrepid, with Berber nomads in their caves. This is recommended more for the spring, summer and autumn, as the nights in winter can get very cold.

Dades – Agdez After breakfast, we travel south, across the Tizi-n-Tazzazert pass in the Saghro mountain range to the village of N’Qob for lunch. This road is spectacular and is mostly off–road. From N’Qob, we join the Dra’a Valley and travel as far as Agdez, the head of the Dra’a Valley, to spend the night in a Kasbah there. Here you can visit Kasbah Tamnougalte, built in the 16th century, which is the most famous Kasbah in the Dra’a Valley where you can visit the privately owned area too. It is typically built in mud and straw with interior court-yards.

3rd day: Agdez – M’hamid After breakfast the route continues to M’hamid following the ancient caravan route between the mountains and the river. We stop in a riad in Zagora for lunch before continuing the journey. M’Hamid marks the end of the paved road and the beginning of the Sahara. 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.

M’hamid – Cheggaga The return to M´hamid for lunch is on camel back and, in the afternoon, 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.

Cheggaga – Oasis Fint 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 north is along paved roads via the village of Taznakht, famous for its Berber carpets and rugs. Before we reach Ouarzazate, we turn off the main road and head for the mountains to the hidden oasis of Fint, which was once the head of the caravan route, where the caravans converged before their goods, slaves, gold and salt were distributed across Morocco. Here the night is spent in a traditional auberge.

6th day: Oasis Fint – Marrakesh After breakfast, we drive back to Ouarzazate to Kasbah Taourirt, once owned by the Pashas of Marrakesh, the Galoui family. From here the road goes north again to Marrakesh, stopping for lunch in the mountains and reaching Marrakesh by the early evening.

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Kasbahs, gorges, dunes in morocco .. holidays

Kasbahs, gorges, dunes in morocco .. holidays

Marrakesh – Ouarzazate Morning departure from your hotel/riad in Marrakesh at 8 o'clock and driving across the High Atlas mountains. At panoramic viewpoints, there will be opportunities to stop and take photos. The first scheduled stop is at the Kasbah of Telouet, which served as a palatial residence and the headquarters of the powerful Glaoui tribe. Here you will stop for lunch. Then the route crosses the Oumila Valley and leads along the stunning road to the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, the oldest and most famous Kasbah in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage site. In Ouarzazate you spend the night in a riad.

Ouarzazate – Toudgha gorges Morning departure to the Dades Gorge, passing the Oasis of Skoura, 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, where we stop to see the cosmetic articles made locally from the valley’s abundant roses. 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. You stop in 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 gorges – Merzouga After breakfast, there is time to walk by the river. 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, the Oasis of Tafilalet, 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 nomad tent at the foot of the dunes.

Merzouga – Agdez 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 the N’Qob for lunch. In the afternoon the journey takes us to Tanasikht to drive along the ancient caravan route and discover the real Dra’a Valley with its huge palm trees and ancient villages. At the end of the afternoon, we stop in Agdez for the night in a kasbah.

Agdez – Marrakesh After breakfast there will be a visit to Kasbah Tamnougalte before returning to Ouarzazate, via the mountain pass of Tizi-n-Tinfifte (1660m). Once in Ouarzazate, we visit the Kasbah of Taourirt, originally the residence of the Pasha of Marrakech and a symbol of the feudal period of the lords of Atlas. Afterwards, an unpaved track to the Fint Oasis nestling among the mountains, which once served as the crossroads of caravans, provides a hidden delight. The return to Marrakech will complete the trip by the early evening.

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The Majestic Dunes ..holidays of morocco

Marrakesh – Agdez 8 o'clock departure from your hotel / riad in Marrakesh to Ouarzazate, crossing the High Atlas and the pass of Tizi-n-Tichka (2260m). At panoramic viewpoints, there’ll be opportunities to stop to take pictures. After lunch in Ouarzazate, we visit the Kasbah of Taourirt in the town centre, once the residence of the Pasha of Marrakech and a symbol of the feudal period of the lords of the Atlas. In the afternoon we drive along the Dra’a Valley to reach the village of Agdez for the night in a kasbah.

Agdez – M’hamid After breakfast, a visit to the Kasbah is planned, before driving off-road further down the Dra’a Valley to Zagora for lunch. In the afternoon, the trip takes us to M’hamid which marks the end of the paved road and the beginning of the desert. A two-hour camel ride takes us to the bottom of the highest dune where the view of the sunset is magnificent. The night is spent in a nomadic tent close to the dunes of Erg Lihoudi.

M’hamid – Cheggaga After breakfast return to M’hamid, across the now usually dry Dra’a River, to visit the old village. In the afternoon, the 4x4 takes us to the Erg Cheggaga dunes, travelling some 60km off-road. This route passes different features of the desert: ‘erg’, ‘reg’, ‘hammada’, and the Sacred Oasis to dunes far away from civilization, in the desert proper where the silence and the expanse of sand is overwhelming. Dinner and the night are in a bivouac of nomadic tents.

Cheggaga – Ouarzazate After breakfast, the road takes us through another 90km of desert with varying scenery: Lake Iriqui, 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 Ouarzazate is along paved roads via the village of Taznakht, famous for its Berber carpets and rugs, and we arrive in the course of the afternoon. Here in Ouarzazate you stay in a riad for the night.

Ouarzazate – Marrakesh After breakfast we make a morning departure to the Kasbah of Tifoultoute and the cinema studios, continuing to the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, the backdrop to many Hollywood blockbusters and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch will be there at Ait Ben Haddou, before driving to Kasbah Telouet, the palatial residence of the former Pasha of Marrakesh, Thami Glaoui. From here we cross the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, the highest pass in Morocco, and reach the city at the end of the afternoon.

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Morocco Spanning The Imperial Cities

Morocco Spanning The Imperial Cities ...Morocco holidays

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 After breakfast, you take the camels, either riding or walking behind, as they carry everything needed to cook your lunch, which will be prepared out in the dunes by your camel man. You’ll walk about three hours in the morning, followed by another three in the afternoon returning to the bivouac for dinner and the night.

Merzouga – Fes 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. We cross the Tizi-n-Talremt pass and reach Azrou, where you can see Barbary apes looking out for tidbits. We reach Fes at the end of the afternoon.

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