Itinerary: Kasbahs of the South
Day 1: UK - Marrakech (Fri)You will be met on arrival in Marrakech by our English speaking guide and transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay. Hotel Atlas Asni, 4 stars.
Day 2: Marrakech – Ouarzazate (Sat) After breakfast we set off towards the south-east across the Haouz Plain via an exhilarating drive up the twisting bends of the road to the Tizi ’n Tichka pass ( 2260m) to continue gently down alongside the Assif Imini to the ‘Beau Geste’ city of Ouarzazate. Lunch is taken en route before arriving in this former Foreign Legion town for an overnight stay. Hotel Kenzi Azghor, 4 stars.
Day 3: Ouarzazate – Drâa Valley – Zagora (Sun) After breakfast we set out on our journey through the Drâa Valley to the edge of the Sahara, Zagora. There is even a sign telling us the number of days by Camel to Timbuctou! We visit the Tamegroute Mosque where there is still a Koran written on strips of vellum, some of Alexander the Great’s maps and an original maths primer before spending the night in the desert Hamada town of Zagora, once an important stop for the caravanserai with their gold, salt and slaves. Hotel La Fibule du Draa.
Day 4: Zagora – Alnif – Erfoud (Mon) After breakfast we set off north and then east, skirting the Sahara between the Jbels Sarhro (The Dry Mountain) and Beni to take lunch in the small village of Alnif. Such a contrast - the main form of transport here is donkey or pickup truck! On we go to the Taffilalet Oases, to arrive finally at Erfoud, another French Foreign Legion outpost for an overnight stay. Hotel Kasbah Tizimi. (Here at either sunrise or sunset we can organise for you a trip by Land Rover to Merzouga and Erg Chebbi, the highest dunes in the Sahara, to witness a spectacular sunset or sunrise).
Day 5: Erfoud – Todra Gorge – Tineghir (Tue) After breakfast, we set off first to the north through the almost lunar landscape and then to the east alongside the High Atlas mountains to the Todra Gorges where lunch is taken in the shade of the cliffs. The afternoon drive takes us to Tineghir for an overnight stop. Hotel Kenzi Bougafer.
Day 6: Tineghir – Dades Gorges – Road of 1000 Kasbahs – Ouarzazate (Wed) After breakfast today we take the road of a Thousand Kasbahs back to Ouarzazate. Lunch is taken at the entrance to the impressive Dadès Gorges. A return to Ouarzazate for an overnight stay. Hotel Kenzi Azghor, 4 stars.
Day 7: Ouarzazate – Kasbahs and Ksours – Marrakech (Thu) After breakfast this morning we explore what is the ex French Foreign Legion town of Ouarzazate. We start with the Kasbah Taourirt, once the home of the all-powerful Glaoui family made famous by Gavin Maxwell in his book Lords of the Atlas. On to the Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and backdrop to so many Hollywood films. This afternoon we head back over the Atlas mountains and descend to the Red City – Marrakech for our last night. Hotel Atlas Asni , 4 stars.
Day 8: Marrakech – departure (Fri) After breakfast and in accordance with your flight’s departure time, we leave for the airport, or you may prefer to extend your stay in the Kingdom of Morocco.
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