last edited Sep 15, 2020
Route: "South of Marrakech"
Features
Around 1,300 km over 10-12 days, best done with your own vehicle for ease and freedom.
Route: Marrakech > Tizi-n-Tichka Road > Aït Ben Haddou > Ouarzazate > Draa Valley > M'Hamid > Taroudant > Tizi-n-Test Road > Toubkal National Park > Marrakech.
Highlights
A route combining Marrakech, the High Atlas, and the desert with the Draa Valley all the way to M'Hamid and its endless hiking possibilities.
Itinerary and Stages
- Days 1 to 3: Marrakech.
-- Marrakech: a must-see with its rich heritage, medina, and lively atmosphere.
- Day 4: Marrakech > Tizi-n-Tichka Road > Aït Ben Haddou (approx. 200 km).
-- Tizi-n-Tichka Pass Road: the stunning mountain road linking Marrakech to Ouarzazate via the pass of the same name and (if you wish) Telouet and Aït Ben Haddou.
-- Aït Ben Haddou: the ancient fortified village (ksar) is a remarkable and unique UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Day 5: Aït Ben Haddou > Ouarzazate (approx. 50 km).
-- Ouarzazate: now famous for its film studios, the "gateway to the desert" has always been a crossroads between the Sahara and the Atlas regions. The Fint Oasis is nearby.
- Day 6: Ouarzazate > Draa Valley > M'Hamid (approx. 300 km).
-- Draa Valley: nearly 200 kilometers along the Draa. The valley is also remarkable for its oases, ksour, and kasbahs scattered along the route.
- Day 7: M'Hamid.
-- M'Hamid: at the end of the Draa Valley road, before the desert and its dunes, including those of Erg Chegaga. It’s the starting point for many hikes, including camel treks, and 4x4 excursions in the area.
- Day 8: M'Hamid > (Zagora) > Taroudant (approx. 500 km).
-- Taroudant: the "little Marrakech" with its ramparts and walled city.
- Day 9: Taroudant > Tizi-n-Test Road > Toubkal National Park (approx. 200 km).
-- Tizi-n-Test Pass Road: this magnificent road crosses passes over 2,000 m high and connects Marrakech to Taroudant via the western edge of Toubkal National Park.
- Day 10: Toubkal National Park.
-- Toubkal National Park: its stunning landscapes and numerous hiking opportunities, including the highest point in Morocco at 4,167 m.
- Day 11: Toubkal National Park > Marrakech (approx. 50 km).