Day 1: Marrakech – Ouarzazate – Dades Gorges
Our tour departs at 7:00 from your Riad or Hotel in Marrakech direction Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate by crossing the high Atlas Mountains. After the Tizi n’Tichka pass, you leave the main road and take a side road to the village of Telouet to visit the Kasbah which was a former residence of the Glaoui Family Residence. The valley we are driving through was an important road for the caravans of traders. We continue along the stunningly beautiful road to Ait Ben Haddou where we have lunch. This is the most famous fortified Kasbah in Southern Morocco and is listed by UNESCO world heritage site. This has been used as the backdrop for many Hollywood films. “the Hollywood of Africa”. After lunch, we visit the Kasbah. On, through the “Road of the thousand Kasbahs”- the fascinating “sand castles”, we will continue our journey to stop at Kalaat M’gouna, “the rose’s city” known for roses and its annual festival during the roses harvest in May, and then continue to our hotel, located in a beautiful kasbah. Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Day 2: Dades Gorges – Merzouga
After breakfast in the hotel drive back through the valley to see the amazing rock formation “the monkey toes”, and the still-standing 19th century Kasbah of Ait Yul. Leave the Dades valley towards Tinrghir and the Todra valley. Watch the panoramic views of the old mud Berber villages overlooking the valley. Get to the Gorge and walk under the 300m high red cliff, where many Rock-climbers come to enjoy their preferred sport. Continue our trip to Erfoud and Rissani where we have lunch; afterward, we leave for the village of Merzouga. Once we arrive in Merzouga, we get ready to go to the desert by camel to attend the sunset and sleep in Berber tents in the middle of the desert. Dinner and overnight in a desert camp.
Day 3: Merzouga – Nkoub – Agdez
Early morning departure to enjoy the sunrise in the Sahara Desert. Then we will ride the camels back to the hotel to have breakfast and take a comforting hot shower and we will leave for Rissani. This city was founded by the Alaouite dynasty. With most of the woman veiled, and men hooded, this is a very traditional Moroccan town. We’ll continue driving towards Agdez, via Alnif and Tazzarine, before we get to the fascinating Draa Valley, then we spend overnight in a guesthouse in Agdez.
Day 4: Agdez – Taroudant
After breakfast departure to Taroudant passing by Taznakht, known for its carpets with dominant color orange coming from the saffron. Continuation by Taliouine, located on a fertile plateau of argan trees. Stop at the small village of Ouled Berhil for lunch, then continue to Taroudant. We will visit this city, surrounded by its beautiful belt of the gilded walls and with its labyrinth of narrow streets with red houses. Spend overnight in a guest house.
Day 5: Taroudant – Essaouira
After breakfast, pick up and drive towards Essaouira, a small old city at the Atlantic coast, also called Mogador. It is located 275km from Taroudant and we will pass via Agadir, the modern city of Morocco where we have lunch. We follow the coastline towards the castle of Jimi Hendrix southeast of Essaouira.