7 days/6 nights: ‘From Marrakech across the desert to the Atlantic Ocean’

The journey takes us over the High Atlas and the 2,260-metre-high Tizi-n-Tichka Pass with its breathtaking views. The steep road, lined with oak forests and nut trees, leads past the mud and stone houses of Berber villages and rushing mountain streams.  Once the pass has been crossed, the steep road descends into the almost moon-like landscape of the Anti-Atlas and we reach our first destination, the Kasbah of Telouet; along the former caravan route, this was the seat of power of the El Glaoui family, hence sometimes also called the Palace of the Glaoui (if you wish, you can visit the Kasbah). We continue to Ait Benhaddou, a kasbah built of mud bricks. Protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is considered the most beautiful and famous kasbah in Morocco and has served as the backdrop for films such as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ and ‘Gladiator’. After the tour, we continue through date palm oases, past beautiful old kasbahs that have given this region its name – into the Valley of 1000 Kasbahs. If you wish, you can visit the beautiful Kasbah Amridil in Skoura before continuing via Kelaa M’Gouna – famous for its roses and rose products – to the Dades Gorge. Walk in the gorge, dinner and overnight stay in a riad in the Dades Gorge.

After breakfast at our riad, we drive via Boumalne to the enchanting natural landscape of Jebel Saghro and the Tizi-n Tazazert Pass. The route offers the most beautiful panoramic views of the Jebel Saghro. After 70 km, we reach the Tazazert Pass at 2,283 m, where the steep descent begins with hairpin bends and sensational views: first the Tagourt plateau, then the mountain peak of Tazlout, which resembles a pyramid, followed by the gorges of Acca n’Akhbache and finally the two rock towers of Bab n’Ali. We reach Nkob and finally the Draa Valley. The waters of the High Atlas have formed an elongated oasis, the Draà Valley, which stretches from Ouarzazate to Mhamid. The most beautiful part of the oasis, with millions of date palms, stretches from Agdz to Zagora. The dates of the Draa Valley are very famous and sought-after, and during the harvest season (September-December) they are sold everywhere along the roadside. Don’t miss the opportunity to try this extraordinary fruit, which is said to have aphrodisiac properties. We drive past Zagora, Tamegroute and the dunes of Tinfou to Mhamid, once a lonely oasis and an important stop on the old caravan routes.  From Mhamid, we continue into the desert; on an adventurous journey in a Land Cruiser on the desert tracks and between the dunes of the Sahara, we reach the sacred oasis after about 50 km and then the dunes of Erg Chigaga, which stretch for about 40 km. The golden dunes reach a height of 300 m and our bivouac is located in the middle of the dunes. We reach Erg Chigaga at sunset. Dinner and overnight stay in the desert camp with nomadic romance and campfire.

If you are spending the night in the desert, you should get up early to see the sun rise behind the dunes. After breakfast, we set off on our dromedaries for a hike in the dunes of Erg Chigaga. After about two hours, we will reach our resting place, a large tamarind tree, where we will prepare our lunch in the shade. Mint tea, bread baked in hot sand, meat skewers (brochette) and, of course, Moroccan salad taste simply fantastic in the middle of the dunes. Dinner and overnight stay in the desert camp; music and campfire.

After breakfast, we continue our journey on the old Paris-Dakar track and reach Lac Iriki, a salt lake that is usually dry for many years, only coming to life during periods of increased rainfall. Continuing on our journey, we arrive at Fossil Mountain, where you can collect a few small fossils as souvenirs. We leave the desert and travel via Foom Zguid to Tazenakht and then through the fertile Sous Valley to Taroudant. Taroudant, the capital of the Sous, is an important agricultural centre surrounded by olive groves, orchards and vineyards, and is almost completely enclosed by an approximately 8-metre-high, mighty clay wall with towers and five gates dating from the 16th century. Dinner and overnight stay in a riad.

After breakfast at our riad, we drive south towards Tafroute, a date palm oasis located at an altitude of 1,000 metres. The area around Tafroute, with its fantastic mountain landscape of bizarre granite rock formations, is one of the most beautiful regions in the country. In the afternoon, we take a tour of the beautiful Ammel Valley with its unspoilt villages and magnificent granite rock scenery with painted rocks and rock engravings. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will drive along the Atlantic coast via Agadir to Essaouira, a charming fishing town built on the rocks of the Atlantic. Attractions include the harbour and the fish market, where every day the small fishing trawlers offer their catch for sale and you can see the abundance of fish and biodiversity of the region. The old fortifications, the city walls and, above all, the impressive Andalusian-style old town (medina) are also worth a visit. Overnight stay in a riad.

After breakfast and a stroll through the medina, you will return to Marrakech around noon, arriving in the afternoon, where the tour ends.