Greater Southern Morocco

Greater Southern Morocco (8 days)

Day 1: Marrakech – Ouarzazate

Depart early morning for Ouarzazate through the High Atlas Mountain pass of Tizi-n-Tichka and the beautiful Ounila Valley, a part of the main caravan route from sub-Saharan Africa to Marrakech, and the narrow river valley connecting Telouet and Ait Ben Haddou.  Visit one of the most extraordinary sights of the High Atlas Mountains, the famous Kasbah Telouet. Built in 1860, it is one of the former residences of Pacha Glaoui and perhaps with the best examples of Islamic architecture in Morocco. Stop for lunch and continue to the stunning Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a photo. Continue to your guesthouse in Ouarzazate, arriving in the late afternoon and relax before dinner and the night.

Day 2: Ouarzazate – Dades Gorge

After breakfast, depart from your hotel in early morning for the multicolored rock walls of Dades Gorge, along Lake Ouarzazate via the road of kasbahs. Pass through Skoura, a fertile oasis lined with immense palm groves, to reach the home of Morocco’s Rose Festival, El Kelâa M’Gouna (commonly referred to as the Valley of Roses). Continue through Rose Valley and Ait Said, Tourbist, and Tamalout to reach the village of Bou-Thahrar. Enjoy a walking tour beside the River M’Goun, then continue to the Kasbah of Ait Youl Glaoui in the Dades Valley with its colorful rocks and ancient kasbahs. Arrive at your guesthouse in Dades Gorge in late afternoon for dinner and the night.

Day 3: Dades Gorge – Todra Gorge

After breakfast, depart for a guided hike of Dades Gorge and the Monkey Fingers (cliffs of Tamellalt), a natural rock formation resembling primate’s fingers rising from the Dades River. After the hike, continue to the sheer rock walls of Todra Gorge via the village of Tinghir. Stop for lunch along the way and visit the traditional adobe architecture of the ancient Jewish quarter of Tinghir. Hike the magnificent Tinejdad palm grove of Tinghir, which stretches 30 miles (48 km). Continue to your guesthouse for dinner and the night.

Day 4: Todra Gorge – Zagora

After breakfast, depart to Zagora via the village of Alnif, crossing the Jebel Saghro via the mountain pass of Tizi-n-Tazazert and the village of Tazarine. After lunch, continue to Zagora via the village of Taghbalt and the mountain pass of Tizi-n-Tafilalet. Arrive late afternoon at your guesthouse for a traditional dinner and the night.

Day 5: Zagora – Erg Chigaga

After a traditional Moroccan breakfast, depart early morning for the Sahara Desert via M'Hamid el Ghizlane, the last village in the Draa Valley, the longest and largest oasis in the world. Enjoy a visit to Tamegroute to visit the Koranic library, the manufacturing location of the unique green pottery of Tamegroute, and on to the vast oasis of Ktaoua, Ksar Nesrat and Beni Sbih, the former home of the largest Jewish population in Morocco in the early 20^th century. Take a relaxing walk and have tea in the oasis with locals. Stop for lunch in M'Hamid and trek by foot through the last palm grove of the Draa Valley. Continue to the big dunes of Erg Chigaga and meet your cameleers for a desert trek to the  desert camp in time for sunset on the dunes, followed by a traditional desert dinner and a night under the stars or in desert tents.

Day 6: Erg Chigaga

A day to relax and enjoy the serenity of the Sahara Desert.  Read, meditate, sandboard, yoga, visit local nomads for tea, have a quad/ATV tour, or walk through the dunes. Watch the sunset over the dunes followed by a traditional desert dinner and night under the stars or in desert tents.

Day 7: Erg Chigaga – Ait Ben Haddou

After watching sunrise over the dunes, depart for Ait Ben Haddou along the track between Erg Chigaga and the old riverbed of the Draa River to Lake Iriqui, then to the village of Foum Zguid. Stop for lunch in Taznakht, well known for its handmade Berber carpets and silver jewelry. After lunch, watch a carpet weaving demonstration with the Taznakht weaving cooperative. Continue to visit the stunning Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and to your guesthouse in Ait Ben Haddou for a traditional dinner and the night.

Day 8: Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech

Depart for Marrakech through the beautiful Ounila Valley, a part of the main caravan route from sub-Saharan Africa to Marrakech. Visit the famous Kasbah Telouet; built in 1860, one of the former residences of Pacha Glaoui and perhaps one of the best examples of Islamic architecture in Morocco. Stop for lunch along the way and continue through the High Atlas Mountain pass of Tizi-n-Tichka. Arrive in the late afternoon in Marrakech.