7 days through the South and Coast of Morocco
7 Days Tour : South and the Coast
Tour
Day 1 : Marrakech – Ouarzazate via Ait Ben Haddou
We depart for Ouarzazate via the Tizi‘n’Tichka, and continue to visit the Kasbah Telouet ancestral home of Pacha Glaoui. After lunch we follow a trail through the Ksour and Kasbah of Anmiter to reach the valley Ounila. We contine on the track to see the kasbah Tamdakhte and that of Ait Ben Haddou where a tasty déjeunée is served before departure to Ouarzazate. Upon arrival we install ourselves at the hotel. Dinner and night in Ouarzazate.
Day 2 : Ouarzazate – Tinghir
After breakfast, we depart to the Dades Gorge via the lake, park and kasbah of Ouarzazate. We take the track westward to reach the village of Bou Thahrar and visit the kasbah of Ait Youl, the Glaoui Valley of Dades, and then proceed to the Dades Gorge. Next we continue along the road that winds through the hills of the High Atlas to the Todra Gorge. In Tinghir we arriv at your hotel. Dinner and night in Tinghir.
Day 3 : Tinghir – Tazarine - N’Kob – Zagora - M’hamid
An early start is desirable for us to follow the longest section of tarmac this week, through Tazarine then N'Kob (small Berber village). We enjoy lunch in Zagora, before stopping at Tamgroute to visit the Koranic library and the manufacturing of pottery in the underground streets. We then continue on the trail through the grove of Ouled Brahim and Reg Elfaija to M'hamid, where we camp. We have dinner in the evening and spend the night in tents.
Day 4 : Zagora – M’hamid
After breakfast, we ride camels for an hour, before we start the 4x4 track to the big sandy dunes of Chegaga. We enjoy a lunch in the shade of palm trees and tamarisk. In the afternoon we resume our journey to Chegaga. Installed in our bivouac, we watch the sunset, enjoy dinner and spend the night in tents or under the stars.
Day 5 : Chegaga - Foum Zguid - Taznakht - Taroundant
Bidding farewell to the dunes of Chegaga, we depart for Zagora. We visit Taznakht – a village known for its fine Berber carpets - before we cross the Anti Atlas Mountains to Talioulin - a prime site for the harvest of saffron. Near Talioulin are the prominent forests of argan trees. A single argan – known as the "goat tree" - can serve as the centre and source of life for the community. We then cross the citrus-rich plain of Souss and arrive in Taroundant, where we have dinner and spend the night in a hotel.
Day 6 : Taroundant - Agadir - Essaouira
After breakfast we head for Agadir, where we visit the city and the beautiful beach. The city of Agadir was rebuilt by European architects after the earthquake of 1960 and has a unique continental feel. We then depart for Essaouira along the Atlantic Coast. After Cape Ghir the road diverges from the coast to Haha country. In addition to the native argan trees, you can see the most amazing view from the Atlantic coast of Morocco at the UNESCO protected city of Essaouria. We have dinner, and stay in hotel.
Day 7 : Essaouira - Marrakech
In the morning we enjoy the beautiful city of Essaouira, an enchanting fishing harbor which retains the Portuguese character of a 16th century European settlement. The enormous fortress is built at sea level and is graced with the white washed, blue-shuttered homes reminiscent of the Southern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The architecture is famous around the world. Today, the city is a thriving center for marquetry – working work with ebony, mother-of-pearl, and silver threads. In the afternoon we depart for Marrakech.