Desert and Essaouira

Pick up at 9:00 a.m. from your riad by private vehicle heading to Ouarzazate, crossing the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi Ntichka Pass. At 2,260 meters above sea level, it is the highest point in the country. We will enjoy incredible landscapes and make several stops to take photos of the Berber villages. Afterwards, we will take a detour along a small road, enjoying the beautiful surrounding landscapes, until we reach the Kasbah of Telouat. We will visit the Kasbah and enjoy a typical village meal. In the afternoon, we will continue through the Ounila Valley, among Berber villages where families live in adobe houses lost in the mountains, until we reach the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, where we will visit its famous Kasbah (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986). Several famous films have been filmed in this spectacular setting, such as Gladiator, Obelix, Sahara with Penelope Cruz, and more. After visiting the Kasbah, we'll head to Ouarzazate, considered the great gateway to the desert. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After a hearty breakfast, we bid farewell to the desert and depart for Rissani, where we'll visit its market (if we're lucky, it's one of the market days: Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday). We'll continue on to Erfoud, where there's also the opportunity to visit the fossilized marble factory, before continuing to the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad. An hour later, we'll reach one of the most impressive points in the High Atlas: the Todra Gorges. The Todra River has formed a gorge with sheer walls of enormous proportions and great beauty; it's a climber's paradise and a unique place. Lunch is served at the site, followed by a half-hour hike to see and appreciate the gorges in detail. In the afternoon, we'll continue to the Dadès Valley, also known as the Valley of Figs, passing through Boumalne Dadès, where we'll stop at the "monkey fingers." Dinner and overnight in the Dadès Gorges.

After breakfast, we'll enjoy one of the best views of the Dadès Valley. We'll do so from one of the most strategic locations the mountains offer. From there, we'll be able to observe the multitude of kasbahs and the picturesque nature of each one. We then head out onto a road dotted with various kasbahs of great interest. After several stops to enjoy the Route of the Thousand Kasbahs, the Valley of the Roses, and the great palm grove of Skoura, we'll arrive in Ouarzazate and visit the Kasbah of Taourirt, the former residence of the Glaoui or Pasha of Marrakech, the film studios, and the Film Museum, if you're interested. Lunch will be served in the village, and in the afternoon, we'll depart for Marrakech again, crossing the Tizi Ntichka mountain pass with stops for photos. Here, we'll leave the lunar landscape behind, giving way to the predominant colors of green, ochre, and other shades. We'll arrive in Marrakech around 6:00 PM and transfer to the riad to rest and recover.

After breakfast at the riad in Marrakech, we head to Essaouira, or the Pearl of the Atlantic. This city, declared a World Heritage Site, maintains the charm and authenticity of a land lost in time. Essaouira has become an essential stop on any trip to Morocco. Adventurous explorers will be fascinated by the hospitable friendliness of the city's people, which is no surprise given that they have lived for centuries at the crossroads of cultures, civilizations, and religions. Free afternoon to stroll through the medina. Overnight stay in Essaouira.