6-DAYS MARRAKECH TO THE SOUTH

Marrakech to the South

Beyond The peaks of the High Atlas Mountain range lays a mysterious, surreal and stunning landscape. This is the heart of old Morocco – the pre Sahara desert. It’s like stepping back in time into an all forgotten world; a world of fortified villages, Berber castles (Kasbahs) and abandoned Foreign Legion outposts. The Sahara region is where you’ll find one of the most diverse and dramatic landscapes in Morocco.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive in Marrakech

Transfer to a Riad in the centre of the city. Free afternoon visiting Marrakech.

Day 2: Marrakech – Ouarzazate (208 Km)

Departure from your hotel at 9 o'clock, we take the Quarzazate road up to the Tichka pass (2260m), one of the great Atlas Mountain passes then drive along the high Atlas to Telouet. We will visit Telouet Kasbah, the former residence of the Glaoui who were the Marrakech Pacha from 1912-1956. Lunch is at a nice restaurant near the river. After lunch we continue to drive along the Onilla valley following the old caravan track and crossing barbarian villages. Arrival in Ait Ben Haddou, the most beautiful fortified village (Ksar) in Morocco. It is a beautiful example of traditional Berber architecture and with its red mudbrick buildings has been the location of many famous movies, such as Jewel of the Nil, Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, The Mummy, Game of Throne, James Bond (Diamonds are forever)

Ouarzazate, is the "Gateway to the Desert" . The region around Quarzazate offers lush landscape, mud brick built kasbah's and hidden oases covered in palmtrees

Overnight: Hotel les Jaredin or similar.

Day 3: Ouarzazate – Merzouga (360 Km)

After breakfast departure around 8 o’clock to the Skoura palms fields, visit the Emridil Kasbah with its stuning architecture, before continuing to the Valley of the Roses and The Thousand Kasbahs Road up to El Kella the city of rose flowers and perfume. Arrival at The Todra Gorge for lunch followed by a short walk through the gorge. We will continue on the road to Erfoud, a city famous for its fossils and visit a fossil museum. We take the road to Rissani, which in the middle ages was known as the city of Sijilmassa. Rissani was the halt for the caravans coming from the black Africa. Rissani is known for the birth of the actual royal dynasty.

Overnight: in a Nomadic Bivouac.

Day 4: Merzouga – Zagora (250km)

Passing through Alnif known for its Trilobites which have not been found anywhere else then Morocco dating back from between 570-245 million years ago. after we continue to Tazzarine, visit the Tamlet drawings, which clearly depicting images of elephants, giraffes, buffalos and antelopes.

Overnight: in a Hotel in Zagora.

Day 5: Zagora – Marrakech (350 km)

Starting time at 9 o’clock. We drive along the Draa river crossing villages and rich palm fields . Lunch in a beautiful Kasbah in the village of Tamnougalt. In the afternoon, we drive back to Marrakech via Ouarzazate. We arrive in Marrakech around 7 p.m.

Overnight: Riad

Tours