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From Marrakech to the Authentic Southern Desert and the Atlantic Coast

An exciting journey from Marrakech to the remote desert, discovering traditional kasbahs and the most authentic side of Morocco, before ending the tour on the Atlantic coast.
From Marrakech to Erg Chebbi, through historic kasbahs, Berber villages, spectacular oases and desert landscapes: 8 days immersed in breathtaking scenery, local culture and the magical atmosphere of the Sahara.

DAY 1

Marrakech

Arrival at Marrakech Airport, meeting with your driver and transfer to the riad. Departure for a guided tour of vibrant Marrakech, known as the “Pearl of the South”. You will discover the Bahia Palace, El Badi Palace, the Saadian Tombs, the Ben Youssef Madrasa, the Koutoubia Mosque, the Menara and Majorelle Gardens, and the Yves Saint Laurent Museum. Free time for lunch in the lively Jemaa el-Fna Square, the heart of the city, with musicians, snake charmers and street vendors.

Dinner at your leisure. Overnight stay in a riad.

DAY 2

Marrakech – Ounila Valley – Ait-Ben-Haddou – Ouarzazate – Agdz

Departure from Marrakech, crossing the High Atlas Mountains along the spectacular Tizi n’Tichka road, the highest mountain pass in the country at 2,260 metres. Along the way, you will take a detour through the picturesque Ounila Valley, an ancient caravan route dotted with kasbahs and spectacular canyons. You will reach the legendary Ait-Ben-Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a fascinating ksar where time seems to have stood still, for a short visit. After exploring this remarkable example of Berber architecture, the journey continues towards Ouarzazate, the “Hollywood of Morocco”, famous for its film studios and the majestic Kasbah of Taourirt. Crossing desert landscapes and lush palm groves, you will reach Agdz, the gateway to the Draa Valley, a spectacular oasis dotted with historic kasbahs and traditional villages. Here, you can immerse yourself in the authentic atmosphere of southern Morocco, surrounded by centuries-old palm groves and picture-perfect landscapes.

Dinner and overnight stay in a riad.

DAY 3

Agdz – Kasbah Tamnougalt – Zagora

After breakfast, departure from Agdz towards Zagora, passing by the Kasbah of Tamnougalt and travelling through one of the most authentic and scenic stretches of the Draa Valley, a route that captures the true essence of southern Morocco. From Agdz, nestled at the foot of Jbel Kissane, the road winds through the fertile valley, where the Draa River creates a long oasis of palm groves, cultivated fields and ancient fortified villages. Here, time seems to have stood still: among shades of ochre and green, numerous earthen kasbahs rise from the landscape, symbols of traditional Berber architecture.
Just a few kilometres from Agdz lies the magnificent Kasbah of Tamnougalt, one of the oldest and best-preserved fortified complexes in the valley. With its rammed-earth walls, crenellated towers and shaded alleyways, Tamnougalt offers a journey back to the days when caravans travelled the ancient gold and salt routes towards Timbuktu. The kasbah overlooks the valley, offering spectacular views across the palm grove, which stretches like a green sea between the mountains of the Anti-Atlas.
Continuing south, the landscape gradually changes: palm groves become less dense, giving way to vast expanses of stone and sand. Villages become more scattered, still dotted with small kasbahs and red-earth mosques that reflect the simple and authentic lifestyle of the local communities.
Arrival in Zagora marks the gateway to the desert. This historic oasis town, once an important departure point for ancient caravan routes, welcomes travellers with its famous “Timbuktu 52 days” sign and an atmosphere suspended between past and present. The sunset light over the palm groves and surrounding mountains creates one of the most evocative landscapes of southern Morocco, where every detail tells the long history of the Draa Valley and its people.

Dinner and overnight stay in a riad.

DAY 4

Zagora – Tamegroute – Parigi-Dakar Route – Tafraout Sidi Ali

After breakfast, departure from Zagora, heading south along the ancient caravan route through villages and palm groves until reaching Tamegroute, famous for its centuries-old Quranic library and distinctive green pottery, still produced using traditional methods. Beyond the village, the landscape changes rapidly as you join the legendary Paris-Dakar route, an adventurous off-road track crossing rocky plateaus, dunes and dry wadis, offering spectacular scenery and a true sense of exploration.
The journey continues towards Tafraout Sidi Ali, a remote Saharan village surrounded by the silence of the desert, wind-sculpted rock formations and small Berber settlements. Here, life moves at a slower pace beneath clear skies and the golden shades of the desert: an authentic place where the journey takes on the rhythm and magic of the Sahara.

Dinner and overnight stay in a riad.

DAY 5

Tafraout Sidi Ali – Ramlia – Ouzina – Merzouga

After breakfast, departure from Tafraout Sidi Ali heading northeast through desert landscapes of rare beauty, crossing rocky plateaus and sandy tracks that connect small Saharan villages. The route passes through Ramlia, an isolated oasis surrounded by dunes and acacia trees, where silence and the vastness of the desert dominate the landscape. The journey then continues towards Ouzina, known for its golden dunes and Berber hospitality, an ideal stop to experience the authentic atmosphere of the Sahara. Arrival in the afternoon in Merzouga, at the gateway to the Erg Chebbi Desert. Shortly before sunset, departure by camel to reach the Berber tents, also known as “Haima”, where dinner will be served under the stars while you enjoy traditional Berber music played with percussion instruments.

Dinner and overnight stay in a luxury desert camp.

DAY 6

Merzouga – Erg Chebbi – Khamlia – Mifiss – Merzouga

Wake up at dawn to watch the sunrise among the dunes, breakfast at the desert camp and departure to explore the dunes of Erg Chebbi, where you will have the opportunity to admire and photograph unique landscapes. Along the way, there will be a short visit to nomadic families living in remote areas of the desert. The journey continues to the Village of Khamlia, home to communities originally from Mali, Senegal and Mauritania, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Gnawa music performance. Short visit to the Mifiss mines before returning to the riad in Merzouga.

Dinner and overnight stay in a riad.

DAY 7

Merzouga – Erfoud – Todra Gorges – Dades

After breakfast, departure from the village of Merzouga towards Erfoud, a town known for its ancient fossils and artisan workshops specializing in fossil stone. Here, you can make a short stop to visit a specialized workshop and discover ancient marine remains embedded in the rock. Leaving Erfoud, the road crosses desert landscapes and lush palm groves until reaching the Todra Gorges, an impressive canyon with red rock walls rising up to 300 metres. There will be time for a walk along the river flowing through the gorges, enjoying the authentic atmosphere of this place, popular with hikers and climbers. The journey continues as the landscape gradually changes while entering the scenic Dades Valley, famous for its unique rock formations and panoramic road winding through the mountains. A stop at the spectacular rock formations known as the “Monkey Fingers” offers the opportunity to take unforgettable photographs. Continuing along the Road of 1000 Kasbahs, you can admire ancient earthen fortresses surrounded by canyons and palm groves, witnesses to a past rich in history. Arrival in Dades in the evening.

Dinner and overnight stay in a riad.

DAY 8

Dades – Boutaghrar Valley – Roses Valley – Skoura – Kasbah Amridil – Ouarzazate

After breakfast, departure from Dades towards the picturesque Boutaghrar Valley, where scenic tracks connect Berber villages and ancient kasbahs nestled among mountains and oases. The journey continues through the fragrant Valley of Roses, famous for the cultivation of roses used to produce rose essence and for its green landscapes set among the red rocks of the Atlas Mountains. You will then reach Skoura, with its vast palm grove and numerous earthen kasbahs, including the magnificent Kasbah Amridil, beautifully preserved and rich in historical charm. The journey ends in Ouarzazate, the “gateway to the desert”, famous for its film studios and the majestic Kasbah of Taourirt.

Dinner and overnight stay in a riad.

DAY 9

Ouarzazate – Taliouine – Taroudant

After breakfast, departure from Ouarzazate, heading west through the mountainous landscapes and isolated villages of the Anti-Atlas, crossing arid valleys and plateaus dotted with argan and almond trees. You will reach Taliouine, home of the precious Moroccan saffron, where the fields bloom in autumn, colouring the landscape with shades of purple and gold. The journey then continues towards Taroudant, an ancient fortified city known as the “Grandmother of Marrakech”, with its ochre-coloured walls, lively souks and the authentic atmosphere of traditional Morocco.

Dinner and overnight stay in a riad.

DAY 10

Taroudant – Ouled Teima (Houara) – Ait Melloul – Agadir

After breakfast, departure from Taroudant heading west across the fertile Souss Plain, a green expanse of citrus groves and cultivated fields. The route passes through Ouled Teima (Houara), the agricultural heart of the region, and Ait Melloul, a dynamic town near the Atlantic coast. You will finally reach Agadir, a modern coastal city rebuilt after the 1960 earthquake, today renowned for its golden beaches, lively seafront and relaxed atmosphere. Just outside the city centre lies the Medina of Agadir, built from earth using traditional techniques. The medina is a true tribute to the art and craftsmanship of southern Morocco. Among narrow streets, carved gateways, artisan workshops and decorated courtyards, you can experience the authenticity of a timeless Morocco, where tradition meets creativity.

Dinner and overnight stay in a riad.

DAY 11

Agadir – Taghazout – Essaouira

After breakfast, departure from Agadir along the Atlantic Ocean, following one of the most spectacular coastal roads in Morocco. The route passes through Taghazout, a former fishing village now renowned for its golden sandy beaches and perfect surfing waves, while still preserving a relaxed and authentic atmosphere.
The road continues through cliffs, secluded coves and small coastal villages, offering magnificent views of the ocean and argan-covered terraces. Along the way, you can experience the peaceful atmosphere of the Atlantic coast before arriving in Essaouira, a charming fortified city overlooking the sea, where the white-and-blue medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reflects a long history of trade and Portuguese, Berber and Arab influences. A journey through sea, wind and culture, with an unmistakable charm.

Dinner and overnight stay in a riad.

DAY 12

Essaouira – Marrakech

After breakfast, departure from Essaouira towards Marrakech and transfer to the airport.

•⁠ ⁠airport transfers (arrival and departure)
•⁠ ⁠pick-up from your hotel or riad
•⁠ ⁠Toyota Prado Land Cruiser / Mitsubishi 4×4 / minivan / minibus with air conditioning
•⁠ ⁠driver speaking Italian / French / English / Spanish
•⁠ ⁠fuel, tolls, and associated taxes
•⁠ ⁠overnight stays and breakfasts in traditional riads
•⁠ ⁠half board treatment as specified in the itinerary
•⁠ ⁠camel trekking experience
•⁠ ⁠4×4 desert excursion by jeep
•⁠ ⁠sandboarding experience on the desert dunes

•⁠ ⁠flights
•⁠ ⁠lunches
•⁠ ⁠drinks
•⁠ ⁠tips (always appreciated)
•⁠ ⁠entrance fees to museums, monuments, parks, and archaeological sites
•⁠ ⁠optional travel insurance (recommended)
•⁠ ⁠anything not expressly mentioned in the “Included” section

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