Tours: Mountains and Desert of Morocco’s Grand South

11 days, 10 nights

This tour will take you to some of the most unspoiled and dramatic regions of South Morocco, across the Atlas mountains to remote areas of the Sahara Desert. A good part of this journey is off-road each day, on tracks which can only be accessed with a 4x4 vehicle.

Day 1: Marrakech

Arrival in Marrakech, transfer to hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure in Marrakech.

Day 2: Marrakech – Tioute

Leaving Marrakech, cross the mountains of the High Atlas by the beautiful Tizi-n-Test Pass (2092m), with views of lush valleys, rivers and kasbahs. Arrive at the elegant walled town of Taroudannt and visit its Berber and Bedouin souks (markets). Camp out for the night in the romantic palm oasis of Tioute.

Day 3: Tioute – Tafraoute

Visit the grand kasbah at Tioute, with fabulous views over the palm groves. Journey on to Ait Baha, a village nestled amid argan groves and the mountains of the Anti Atlas. Continue on through wonderful scenery to Tafraoute to spend the night in a hotel.

Day 4: Tafraoute – Tata

In the morning, see ancient rock paintings and pretty villages in the Ameln Valley. Take in wonderful panoramic views as you continue to the Tazagzaout Gorge and the Bedouin village of Tata. Spend the night in a hotel.

Day 5: Tata – Dunes du Juif

This is the most beautiful, interesting and adventurous day of the tour. Travel by the Bedouin village of Tissint, the great dry lake of Iriqui, and a wide river full of sand, to stop for mint tea under the tents of the Oum el Aalague oasis. Continue across a desert plateau to reach the date palms of the Draa Valley. Finally, reach the Dunes du Juif to camp out for a magical night beneath the desert stars.

Day 6: Dunes du Juif – Hassi Ouzina

After breakfast, leave for Zagora to take a hammam (steam bath) followed by lunch. In the afternoon, travel off-road to cross the Tizi-n-Tifilalt Pass, then through the stony desert (‘hamadas’) along the Algerian border to the sand dunes of Hassi Ouzina. Overnight in an auberge at the foot of the dunes.

Day 7: Hassi Ouzina – Merzouga

Continue off-road via Khamlia, passing desert ksars, crossing dry rivers, and encountering sacred oases and desert plateaus – a real ‘expedition’ day. Arrive at a hotel at the foot of the Erg Chebbi dunes to spend the night.

Day 8: Tour of the dunes near Merzouga

Head off into the desert with the 4x4. Visit Berber villages, old mines, fossil quarries and prehistoric remains. Return to the auberge around 4pm, and then trek into the desert by camel as the sun sets. Spend the night at an oasis in the heart of the dunes, camping in nomad tents.

Day 9: Merzouga – Dades Valley

After watching the sun rise from the summit of the dunes, and eating breakfast, return by camel to your hotel. Visit the city of Rissani, economic capital of Morocco and its first imperial city. Tour its large market (‘souk’), one of the most important in South Morocco, and see its many ksars. Then take the road to the village of Alnif for lunch. From here, travel off-road through the Jebel Ougnat to Tinerhir and the spectacular Todhra Gorge, where kasbahs stand guard at the foot of the cliffs. The highway takes you on to the Dades Valley, to spend the night in a small hotel.

Day 10: Dades Valley – Marrakech

Leave the Dades Valley off-road via the famous and beautiful Valley of the Roses to visit the hilltop village of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with some of the best-preserved kasbahs in Morocco. It has been the setting for 20 films, including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. Lunch at Ait Ben Haddou. Cross the High Atlas by road over the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass (2200m) through lovely mountain scenery. Arrive in Marrakech at sunset, and enjoy your final night in a riad.

Day 11: Marrakech

At leisure in Marrakech until your transfer to the airport.