Dunes, lakes, waterfalls in morocco
Marrakesh –Ouarzazate Morning departure at 8 o’clock from your hotel or riad in Marrakesh to cross the High Atlas Mountains. After the Tichka pass, you leave the main road and take a side road to the Telouet Kasbah, which belonged to the Lords of the Atlas, the Glaoui family, and which now stands in ruins after the last Pasha fled the country, following the departure of the French. From there you continue for lunch at Ait Ben Haddou along the newly asphalted connecting road. This is the most famous Kasbah in Morocco and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which we visit after lunch. After visiting the Kasbah, you continue to see another famous one of the area, Kasbah Tifoultoute. In Ouarzazate you spend the night in a riad.
Ouarzazate – Toudgha Gorges After breakfast, you set out towards the Dades Gorge, passing the Skoura Oasis, where numerous ancient kasbahs, some sadly in ruins, stand amongst the palm trees. From here, our route takes us through Kela’a M’gouna, the Valley of Roses, famous for its Rose Festival in May,. Here we stop to see the cosmetic articles which are made locally from the valley’s abundant flowers. These products are well-known throughout Morocco and are highly valued. From here, you take an off-road route to have a better impression of the landscape. Along the way, you will stop at caves, used by whichever Berber nomads happen to pass and claim residence there. We will have a glass of tea with them before continuing to the Dades Gorge for lunch. The trip continues a short distance to Tinghir and the very different Toudgha gorges, where you spend the night in a hotel or Kasbah.
Toudgha – Merzouga After breakfast, there are opportunities to walk, either along the river through the gardens or up the road on the other side of the gorges. Lunch will either be here or later at the bivouac at the Erg Chebbi dunes. You drive there via the Oasis of Tafilalet near Erfoud, famous for its Date Festival, and Rissani, which is the seat of the Alaouite family of the present king of Morocco. At the bivouac you are welcomed with a glass of tea before taking a camel ride to watch the sunset from the top of the dunes. Later there is dinner and the night in a nomad tent at the foot of the dunes.
Merzouga – Kasba Tadla, founded by Sultan Moulay Ismaïl in 1687. After breakfast, departure for Rissani and Erfoud, where there will be a stop to see how locally found fossils are worked into furniture and artefacts. From there the road leads north to Er Rachidia and the Ziz Valley, remarkable for the extent of its palm trees. Lunch is in Midelt, which is called “the apple capital”, in the Middle Atlas and at the foot of the Ayachi Mountain. From Midelt we continue north as far as Zeïda and then turn west across the Middle Atlas until we join the Fes – Marrakesh road. In Kasba Tadla (Tadla meaning a bouquet of wheat in Amazigh) which lies on the left bank of the Oum Er Rabia river, we stay the night in a riad!
In Beni Mellal you visit the Ain Asserdoun waterfalls which provide drinking water and are a source of irrigation for the surrounding villages of Ouled Ayad, Ouled Drid, Mghi among others. Asserdoun means “mule” in Amazigh! Back in the High Atlas you visit the lovely lake of Ben El Ouidane where the mountains come down to the water! Here you can take a walk to enjoy the peace and the green of the area and watch any fiosherman trying his luck! Later you continue to the Ouzoud Waterfalls which constitute one of the most spectacular natural beauty spots in Morocco. The surrounding countryside offers red cliffs, oleander and doves. If you are lucky you will catch a glimpse of some Barbary apes. A short walk will bring you to the top of the falls from where you can see the river stretching away from the magnificent falls. Another three hours drive will bring you back to your riad in Marrakesh.
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Marrakesh –Ouarzazate Morning departure at 8 o’clock from your hotel or riad in Marrakesh to cross the High Atlas Mountains. After the Tichka pass, you leave the main road and take a side road to the Telouet Kasbah, which belonged to the Lords of the Atlas, the Glaoui family, and which now stands in ruins after the last Pasha fled the country, following the departure of the French. From there you continue for lunch at Ait Ben Haddou along the newly asphalted connecting road. This is the most famous Kasbah in Morocco and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which we visit after lunch. After visiting the Kasbah, you continue to see another famous one of the area, Kasbah Tifoultoute. In Ouarzazate you spend the night in a riad.
Ouarzazate – Toudgha Gorges After breakfast, you set out towards the Dades Gorge, passing the Skoura Oasis, where numerous ancient kasbahs, some sadly in ruins, stand amongst the palm trees. From here, our route takes us through Kela’a M’gouna, the Valley of Roses, famous for its Rose Festival in May,. Here we stop to see the cosmetic articles which are made locally from the valley’s abundant flowers. These products are well-known throughout Morocco and are highly valued. From here, you take an off-road route to have a better impression of the landscape. Along the way, you will stop at caves, used by whichever Berber nomads happen to pass and claim residence there. We will have a glass of tea with them before continuing to the Dades Gorge for lunch. The trip continues a short distance to Tinghir and the very different Toudgha gorges, where you spend the night in a hotel or Kasbah.
Toudgha – Merzouga After breakfast, there are opportunities to walk, either along the river through the gardens or up the road on the other side of the gorges. Lunch will either be here or later at the bivouac at the Erg Chebbi dunes. You drive there via the Oasis of Tafilalet near Erfoud, famous for its Date Festival, and Rissani, which is the seat of the Alaouite family of the present king of Morocco. At the bivouac you are welcomed with a glass of tea before taking a camel ride to watch the sunset from the top of the dunes. Later there is dinner and the night in a nomad tent at the foot of the dunes.
Merzouga – Kasba Tadla, founded by Sultan Moulay Ismaïl in 1687. After breakfast, departure for Rissani and Erfoud, where there will be a stop to see how locally found fossils are worked into furniture and artefacts. From there the road leads north to Er Rachidia and the Ziz Valley, remarkable for the extent of its palm trees. Lunch is in Midelt, which is called “the apple capital”, in the Middle Atlas and at the foot of the Ayachi Mountain. From Midelt we continue north as far as Zeïda and then turn west across the Middle Atlas until we join the Fes – Marrakesh road. In Kasba Tadla (Tadla meaning a bouquet of wheat in Amazigh) which lies on the left bank of the Oum Er Rabia river, we stay the night in a riad!
In Beni Mellal you visit the Ain Asserdoun waterfalls which provide drinking water and are a source of irrigation for the surrounding villages of Ouled Ayad, Ouled Drid, Mghi among others. Asserdoun means “mule” in Amazigh! Back in the High Atlas you visit the lovely lake of Ben El Ouidane where the mountains come down to the water! Here you can take a walk to enjoy the peace and the green of the area and watch any fiosherman trying his luck! Later you continue to the Ouzoud Waterfalls which constitute one of the most spectacular natural beauty spots in Morocco. The surrounding countryside offers red cliffs, oleander and doves. If you are lucky you will catch a glimpse of some Barbary apes. A short walk will bring you to the top of the falls from where you can see the river stretching away from the magnificent falls. Another three hours drive will bring you back to your riad in Marrakesh.
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