Departure from Marrakech early in the morning.
Crossing the High Atlas Mountains.
After the Tizi n'Tichka pass, which peaks at 2,260 meters above sea level, we take a secondary road to the Telouet Kasbah, which notably belonged to Pasha Thami El Glaoui. After his death in 1956, the kasbah was looted and abandoned. Inside, the architecture and walls still bear witness to the refined decoration.
Discover the Ounila Valley, an ancient spice caravan trail. This winding valley is populated by ochre-colored villages and kasbahs, orchards, and troglodyte ksours. Visit the Telouet Kasbah, a former palace dating back to the 17th century.th century.
Almost at the end of the road, we arrive at Aït Ben Haddou. This ancient city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fortified village with its ochre walls is a fine example of southern Moroccan architecture. It is also famous for the many films that have been filmed there.
After passing through Ouarzazate, we continue south across the Tizi-n-Tinififft Pass to Agdz. The descent from the pass offers a view of the vast oasis and its palm trees, which mark the beginning of the Draa Valley.
We spend the night in a guesthouse in the Dadès Gorges.
After breakfast, visit the Tamnougalte Kasbah, the oldest in the Draa Valley. We once again take the old caravan route, which crosses many villages between the river and the mountains. This route provides a deeper insight into the Berber way of life in the oases.
In Tansikht, you can see dinosaur tracks (large sauropods) along the roadside. We pass through the village of Tinsouline before stopping for lunch in Zagora, the largest town in the region.
We continue our journey to Tamgroute, where you'll discover its traditional pottery, well-known for its green color. Visit the ancient Quranic library, which contains magnificent handwritten Arabic texts.
In the afternoon, we continue our journey south to M'hamid El Ghizlane, where the asphalt road ends, and for good reason: the door to the desert finally opens to you!
We head towards the famous dunes of Erg Chegaga (300 m). The route we follow allows us to discover different aspects of the desert: ergs (dune fields), a hammada (rocky plateau), and an oasis. You can take a camel ride.
After dinner, you will spend the night in Erg Chegaga camp.
After breakfast, we'll explore Lake Iriki, located in Iriki National Park near the Algerian border. The vegetation here consists of acacia savannah and wooded steppe. It's home to southern gazelles, Barbary sheep, hyenas, and numerous reptiles such as lizards, snakes, and chameleons.
Lunch will take place in Foum Zguid, the first village after the desert.
We will then head north to the village of Taznakht, which specializes in weaving Berber carpets.
To finish this beautiful tour, we will cross the High Atlas again to reach Marrakech at the end of the afternoon.