Treasures of the south & the magical land of saffron

Duration

10 Days

Description

From the “Red City” of Marrakech to the endless expanse of the Erg Chegaga desert, this tour offers unique impressions of the diversity of Morocco. Let yourself be enchanted by the colorful hustle and bustle of Marrakech to the empty and lonely roads towards the Moroccan Sahara. Experience the spectacular mountains of the Atlas Mountains, magnificent kasbahs, green oases of the Dades Valley and a sea of sand at the dunes of Erg Chegaga. Immerse yourself in a foreign world in the desert and spend the night in a luxury camp. Enjoy an unforgettable night under a twinkling starry sky.

Included
Excluded

Itinerary

You fly to Morocco. At Marrakech airport, you will be greeted by your tour guide and taken to your accommodation. Use the rest of the day to relax in your riad or take a first exploration tour to the Gaugker Plaz Jemaa el fena on your own or with a local city guide.

The city tour of Marrakech is certainly one of the highlights of your stay in Marrakech. A local German-speaking guide is available for this purpose. Marrakech has numerous important cultural monuments, such as the Koutoubia Mosque, the Bahia Palace, the enchanting Saadian tombs, the Menara water basin and the city wall. The special attraction lies in the colorful life in the souks and on the famous square “Djemaa El Fnaa”, where acrobats, storytellers, snake charmers and musicians meet. This city tour will end at noon and you will say goodbye to your tour guide.

  • Walking time: 4 hours

After a leisurely breakfast, a unique drive through the high Atlas Mountains over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2260 hm) to Telouet awaits you.

On this panoramic road, you will have many opportunities to enjoy the breathtaking views of the mountains. There you can take unforgettable souvenir photos.

The drive along small mountain villages takes us to the small village of Telouet. Telouet is best known for the Kasbah Dar Glaoui, a traditional Moroccan building that once served as a royal residence for the Glauoua. This once very splendid Kasbah will take us back to another time.

We continue through the oasis landscape in the Ounila Valley, also known as the “Valley of Salt”, to the town of Ait Ben Haddou (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Ait Ben Haddou is one of the most impressive clay settlements in Morocco and has served as a film set for famous movies such as Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven and Prince of Persia.

In the desert town of Ouarzazate, also known as the “Hollywood of Morocco”, you will spend your first night in an enchanting riad.

  • Distance: approx. 204 km
  • Travel time: approx. 4 hours
  • Meals: F/A

Today we will take you through the beautiful Valley of Roses to the Kasbah Amridil near Skoura. Amridil is considered one of the most impressive kasbahs of its kind in Morocco and was featured on the Moroccan 50-diram note. A local guide will lead you through this magnificent kasbah.
After the guided tour, you will continue along the road of 1000 kasbahs. The town of Kelaat Mgouna is known as the Rose City of Morocco. This is where rose oil and rose water are produced.
You then continue towards the Dades Gorge, through the green valley of Mgoun, via the idyllic village of Bou Tharar, with its old kasbahs.
In the Dades Valley, you will have the opportunity to visit a nomadic family. (If the family has not already moved on.)
In the afternoon you will move into your hotel in the Dades Gorge and can enjoy the beautiful landscape.

  • Distance: approx. 190km
  • Travel time: approx. 4 hours
  • Meals: F/A

After you have fortified yourself with breakfast, you will drive over one of the most impressive passes in Jebel Saghro, the Tizi n’Tazazert, which reaches an altitude of 2283m.

The pass offers many breathtaking views of the plateau with its beautiful lunar landscapes and mountain ranges.

On the way to N’kob, you will discover scattered houses surrounded by palm and almond trees.

The name of the village of N’kob comes from a cave in the region that was used as a house by the Ait Atta nomads.

In this nomadic town, you will take a short lunch break in a charming restaurant.

For the rest of the day you will enjoy an idyllic drive through the Draa Valley, with its palm groves, Berber settlements and old kasbahs. The most beautiful part of the Draa Valley takes us to the last village of M’hamid el Ghizlane “Plain of the Gazelles”, Morocco’s very last outpost before the Algerian border.

You will spend the night in a guesthouse near Zagora.

  • Distance: approx. 250km
  • Travel time: approx. 5 hours
  • Meals: F/A

Today’s drive takes you past numerous palm oases and barren desert landscapes to the village of Tamgroute. The small town of Tamegroute is known for its library and the so-called “green pottery”. Not far from Tamegroute, you can watch the potters at work and discover the secret of “green pottery”.

On the way to the dunes of Erg Chegaga, we pass the last village of Mhamid el Ghizlane and are then directly in the stone desert.

The jeep will take you past stony deserts and small golden sand dunes until you reach the high dunes of Chegaga, which are around 120 meters high.

On a walk through the dunes of Erg Chegagas, you will experience the endless expanse and silence, as well as the graceful beauty of the curved dunes, whose sand transforms into a sea of orange waves depending on the light conditions. Let yourself be enchanted by this unique natural spectacle.

In the evening you will spend the night in a comfortable Berber tent and experience a unique desert ambience under a starry sky with a campfire.

  • Distance: approx. 160 km
  • Travel time: approx. 4 hours
  • Meals: F/A

Don’t miss the special sunrise in the desert and enjoy it on a dune with a view of the incredible natural spectacle. After breakfast, set off for the dried-up lake “Iriki” and leave the unique world of the desert. The journey continues to Taroudant. Taroudant is located in the beautiful Sous plain and is also known as Marrakech’s little sister due to its similar city walls. The southern city is full of history and tradition.

  • Distance: approx. 364 km
  • Travel time: approx. 7 hours
  • Meals: F/A

After breakfast, the route climbs steeply to the top of the Tizi N’Test pass (2090m) with spectacular landscapes. Argan trees grow here, a species that is unique to Morocco and holds back the desert. Natural primeval forests with holm oaks and junipers and quaint villages line the road. We visit the mosque of Tinmal, built by the Almohads, whose dynasty originated in the area. Then continue to the village of Ouirgane. Overnight stay at Hotel Chez Momo II with a view of the Ouirgane dam.

  • Distance: approx. 161 km
  • Travel time: approx. 4 ½ hours.
  • Meals: F/A

After breakfast, drive to Marrakech via the village of Asni and the gorge of Moulay Ibrahim. At noon we reach Marrakech and the souks.

  • Distance: approx. 65 km
  • Travel time: approx. 1 ½ hours.
  • Meals: F

You will be picked up at the riad 3 hours before your departure (16h00) and driven to Marrakech airport. We say goodbye to you and say “Beslama” and see you next time in Morocco.

  • Travel time: 18 min