5 days/4 nights: “Oases, desert, and the sea”

Our trip will take us through the High Atlas mountains by way of the historic Tizi-n-Tichka pass. With an elevation of 2,260 meters the size and beauty of the mountains cannot be overstated. This pass is also dotted with ancient oak woods, walnut groves, traditional Berber villages and picturesque valley pastures complete with roaming free range goats and sheep. The mountain pass opens into a high desert lunar landscape and  we reach our first destination, the Telouet Kasbah; along the ancient route of the caravans, this was the seat of power of the El Glaoui family, hence sometimes called the Palace of Glaoui. (if you wish you can visit the Kasbah). We continue to Ait Benhaddou, where we will stop for lunch. This UNESCO protected village has been featured in such films as Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth and The Gladiator. Morocco has long been a favorite of Hollywood and you will also have a chance to visit previous movie sets that are still standing. From here we journey to Ouarzazate.Then through the lush Draa Valley to Zagora. Here you will stay in a Moroccan Riad bed and breakfast, complete with tea service and full dinner.

After breakfast, we continue south into the desert of Mhamid. The journey takes us past Tamegroute (where you can visit a pottery workshop and watch the potters at work) and the dunes of Tinfou to Mhamid, once a lonely oasis and an important stop on the old caravan routes. Before Mhamid, we leave the paved road and drive into the desert; if you are lucky, you may see ostriches, antelopes, and gazelles; you are sure to encounter free-roaming dromedaries and herds of goats. In an adventurous drive in a Land Cruiser on the desert tracks, you will reach the sacred oasis of Iriki after about 50 km and then continue to the dunes of Erg Chigaga, which stretch over an area of about 40 km. The golden dunes reach a height of 300 m and our desert camp is located in the middle of the dunes. Enjoy the hospitality of the nomads, with the famous mint tea, the “Whiskey berbère,” as a welcome drink. Lunch at the camp; sandboarding on the dunes and camel ride into the sunset. Dinner and overnight stay in the desert camp and nomadic romance.

After breakfast, we continue on our journey by jeep along the old track of the Paris-Dakar rally, reaching the dried up salt lake of Iriki. We pass below the fossil mountain and finally leave the desert behind and reach Tazenakht, a famous carpet manufacturing centre. We stop in Tazenakht for lunch and we head towards Taroudant. Dinner and overnight accommodation in a typical Riad in Taroudant.

After breakfast in the garden of our Riad, we pay a visit to the attractive town of Taroudant, with its walls and medina with its souk. We resume our journey to the Atlantic Ocean, and head along the coast to the north until we reach Essaouira. Overnight accommodation in a riad in the medina of Essaouira.

After breakfast, we’ll have time to visit the beautiful down of Essaouira, on the Atlantic Ocean, a destination rich in charm and fascination. Among its attractions are the fish market and harbour, with the small fishing vessels which bring the fresh fish and all the abundance of the Atlantic to the land. The ancient fortifications, ramparts and, above all, the imposing medina, which was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2001, are unforgettable sights. As we walk the narrow lanes of the medina, we can admire the picturesque white houses with blue doors and window frames and the many shops and cafes. Return to Marrakesh.