The road of Kasbahs, Oasis and Saffron Land

You will be picked up from your hotel at 09am, meet your guide and start your Guided city tour of Marrakech, visit The Bahia Palace, Medrassa Ben Youssef, Saadian Tombs, see the Koutoubia Mosque from outside  Souks and Jamaa el Fna Square.

You will be picked up from your accommodation and leave the busy city behind and head east toward the desert.  Traverse the High Atlas Mountains via the stunning Tizi n’ Tichka pass (2260 m) and stop at multiple beautiful panoramas for pictures. After the Tichka pass, you will leave the main road and take a side road to the Telouet Kasbah, which was once the palatial residence and headquarters of the powerful Glaoui tribe. In Telouet you will be introduced to your local guide, who will take you on a visit to the Kasbah. Continue down the Ounila Valley with the green fields running parallel down below, full of bends in the road, and surprises at the hues of the rock and soil, Berber villages and gardens, as well as smaller Kasbahs. Arrive in Ait Ben Haddou, you will meet your local guide, who will accompany you in a visit the World Heritage Site, and one of Morocco’s most spectacular ksours (fortified villages). Overnight in a Guest house in Ait Ben Haddou.

Ait Benhaddou is a mind-blowing example of a historic medieval kasbah and of traditional desert architecture with its earth houses and high protective walls. After breakfast travel to the nearby filming location of Ouarzazate. Join a film studio tour and discover which of your favorite movies were filmed in the nearby desert regions, a visit of Touarirt Kasbah and the Musée du Cinema are possible but optional. We will then continue to Kelaat M'Gouna " Valley Des Roses". The region is the biggest producer of rose oil and water in the whole country, thus receiving the name rose valley. Both rose oil and water are fundamental to local culture and economy. We will continue towards the gorges of Dades through the Mgoun river and via the village of Boutghrar with a small Stop to visit the nomads in caves. We will cross numerous villages strengthened in a hard-packed surface through the colorful Dades Valley to get to our Hotel for the overnight.

After breakfast we will follow the road of 1000 kasbahs drive around the colourful Berber villages, enjoy beautiful Rock formations (Called the monkey feet) and fortified Kasbahs scenery along the Dades river. Leave the Dades valley behind and head to Tinrghir and the Todra valley. Watch the panoramic views of the old mud Berber villages overlooking the valley. Get to the Gorge and walk under the 300m high red cliff, where many Rock-climbers come to enjoy their preferred sport. Today, we will explore the little oasis of Saghro and transhumant Ait Atta tribes with their herds of goats, sheep, camels in black Bedouin tents. Later on, we will cross the Tizi Tzazzert pass ( 2,200 m ) to get to our final destination, Nkob. Nkob is one of Morocco’s untouched Oasis, where you can stop and admire its 45 mudbrick ksour (fortified villages). The name Nkob comes from a cave in the area that once served as a lodging of sorts for Aït Atta nomads. Here, we will spend the night in one of the traditional hotels in town.

Nkob is a famous village located just aside from the Jbel Saghro, that features 45 very well preserved kasbahs. You will have the chance to enjoy the panoramic views of the surrounding palm grove and briefly walk inside the village near one of its most prominent buildings. Follow the Draa Valley which was a part of the ancient road of the caravans used for trade and exchange goods with Mali and Niger, crossing the Sahara to get to Zagora. You will be amazed at the region's vast oasis of the Draa Valley with its thousands of date palms, producing an amazing 44 varieties. Along the way, we will stop in the the original town of the 16th century dynasty ( Saadian), Tamgroute known for its green pottery, an old Coran library and a subterranean kasbah. We will drive further south , to M’hamid, the gate to the desert and the end of the paved road. Here, we will stop for a picnic lunch. After Lunch, we will drive the off-road to Erg Chegaga Desert. Upon arrival, you will ride camels and enjoy the sunset. Night and dinner in the camp in the middle of nowhere.

Wake up early to witness the sunrise from the top of the dunes of Erg Chigaga. After breakfast, say goodbye to our family Berber team in the camp. Drive for another 90km in the desert with varying sceneries; the natural dried lake of Iriqui, fossils and the plains of black stones. Before taking the asphalted road in the direction of the small town of Foum Zguid, the first town after desert. We will continue north to Taznakht which is one of the biggest centers of carpets in the kingdom where we will visit a cooperative of Berber carpets made by women of the surrounding villages. Stop about an hour for lunch. After lunch, we will continue our journey to Taliouine, the heart of the saffron growing region. Here we will visit a government-run museum to learn about saffron agriculture. In the late afternoon we will arrive to Taroudante known as "Marrakech's little sister." a city of history, culture and its superb historical ramparts of ocher. Check into your riad, free evening to spend at your leisure.

The morning is devoted to discover the main attractions of Taroudante. Meet your local guide for a tour of this friendly city, the town is also a great place to shop without the "big city" pressure of Marrakech! After the visit of Taroudante,  we will drive back to Marrakech via the scenic Tizi'n'Test pass 2100m across High Atlas, characterized by greenery juxtaposing red clay hills and roads. We will stop at the Tin-Mal Mosque, a twelfth-century monument close in spirit to the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech. Tin-Mal town from which the mosque took its name was the base from where the Almohads swept down to conquer Morocco. The rest of the drive takes us via a slew of hamlets and vast, mesmerizing landscapes. Passing Ouirgane, Asni and Tahanouet to arrive to our final destination Marrakech.

Depending on the time of your departure flight, you may be able to do some last-minute sightseeing( Majorelle Garden, Anima Garden...), get some souvenirs before your leave to the airport.