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9-Day Marrakesh and South: The High Atlas & Desert, Landscapes and Culture

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Overview

This trip follows a classic circuit to see the Morocco highlights- the High Atlas and the Sahara - but does so with a much more interesting route and with a set of special experiences.

Rather than following the asphalt roads for much of the trip, special sections take you on to piste, the traditional gravel routes. By travelling into more remote areas, the reality of everyday life for the mountain and desert peoples are encountered; many experiences are planned but, hopefully, many others are by joyous "happenstance".

As well as visiting the High Atlas and the Sahara, after some rest and recuperation in Marrakesh mid-tour, two wonderful days are then spent in the foothills of the towering High Atlas in and around the area of Amizmiz. This allows you to enjoy some gentle hiking in and amongst the Berbers, the mountain people. Their villages, farming activities and culture are all-engrossing and spending a night in this area really allows you to absorb a very different way of life.

This tour is designed to let you see real Morocco, its magnificent landscapes and its absorbing cultures.
Sightseeing
Hiking & Trekking
Culture & Arts
Outdoors & Nature
Adventure

Itinerary

Day 1

Begin Your Morocco Highlights Tour

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Begin Your Morocco Highlights Tour

Once you land in Marrakesh Menara Airport, your driver will meet you and transfer you to your accommodation in the city. Depending on your flight arrival time, you may have some free time to spend in the city, perhaps choosing to explore the range of cafes and souks in the Medina. The Marrakesh Medina is a lively, colourful place, offering a most memorable set of initial experiences to savour. Dinner will be in your riad.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Riad Lamya4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Jemaa el-Fna and the Souks

    Jemaa el-Fna

    Koutoubia Mosque

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Marrakesh Menara Airport to Riad Lamya

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Marrakesh

Day 2

Marrakesh, Ouarzazate and Boumalen Dades

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Marrakesh, Ouarzazate and Boumalen Dades

This journey takes you over the High Atlas. Along the route, you can see many Berber villages and the farms. After Taddert, the N9 road continues to snake upwards to the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass (2,260m). From here panoramic views can be seen, over the mountain range and the twisting road just travelled. Descending the south facing slopes of the High Atlas, there is much to fascinate with local activities everywhere. The climate becomes noticeably drier on approaching Ouarzazate.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Xaluca Dades4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
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    Activities

    Tizi n'Tichka

    Kasbah TaourirtOptional Activity

    The Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs

    Roses Valley

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Riad Amlal

    Hotel Xaluca Dades

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Marrakesh to Ouarzazate, Morocco

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Marrakesh

    Tizi N'Tichka

    Ouarzazate

    Skoura

    Kalaat M'Gouna

    Boumalne Dades

Day 3

Ouarzazate, Todra Gorge and Merzouga

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Ouarzazate, Todra Gorge and Merzouga

You first travel along The Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, ancient fortified settlements where the chiefs lived with their workers. Built of pisé mud, many kasbahs are now in disrepair but are beautiful none-the-less. Look too for storks' nests in the corner watchtowers of the kasbahs. As the climate continues to warm up and the increasing aridity is ever more obvious, a stop is made at Today Gorge, a water cut canyon with an awesome to view. Then, to the Sahara and it's dunes.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Starry Desert Nights Camp4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Todras Gorge

    Erfoud

    Camel Ride in Erg Chebbi

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Ouarzazate to Merzouga

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Boumalne Dades

    Tinghir

    Erfoud

    Merzouga

    Drâa-Tafilalet

Day 4

Merzouga to Ouarzazate via Alnif

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Merzouga to Ouarzazate via Alnif

After your evening in the Sahara, and hopefully having had views a glorious sunset, it is time to travel along the Sahara's northern edge. Today's landscapes are beautiful. You will be in a very remote area with fantastic mountains to the north and south of your travel route; high peaks, plateaux, buttes and mesas. As you slowly leave the true desert, you will see acacia trees in the landscape, trees that offer so much to the Bedouins.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Riad Dar Chamaa3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Khemliya Village

    Rissani

    Chorea & Jbel Sarhro

    Tizi'n-Tinififft

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Kasbah Ennakhile

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Merzouga to Ouarzazate

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Drâa-Tafilalet

    Khemliya

    Rissani

    Alnif

    Nkob

    Tarmigte

Day 5

Ouarzazate to Marrakesh

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Ouarzazate to Marrakesh

Your Morocco highlights tour continues today at Aït Benhaddou, an ancient kasbah and World Heritage Site. Then, travelling northwards, up and over the High Atlas, vast new vistas open up with an ever-changing set of sights. The Berber villages continue to fascinate; to view the village of Zaouite Inkkkal lets you clearly see how a Berber village site was chosen - facing south, above flood danger, near fertile river soils, with a water supply.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Riad Lamya4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Ait Ben Haddou‌

    Taddert Argan Oil Co-operative

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Argan Tichka

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Ouarzazate to Marrakesh

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Tarmigte

    Aït Benhaddou

    Taddert

    Marrakesh

Day 6

Day in Marrakesh

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Day in Marrakesh

Returning to Marrakesh after several days in the mountains and desert offers the chance to unwind and relax after your travelling. With accommodation in the Medina, there are many delights right on your doorstep - if you can tear yourself away from the roof terrace! As well as the ever-lively Jemaa El Fna, the "entertainment square" of the city, it is fun to explore the souks and to engage with the craftspeople and sellers.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Riad Lamya4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Jemaa el-Fna and the Souks

    Bahia Palace

    Tombs of Saadian

    Jardin Majorelle

    Old Medina

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Marrakesh

Day 7

Hiking Day in the High Atlas around Amizmiz

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Hiking Day in the High Atlas around Amizmiz

Amizmiz is a rural Berber market town, only 1 hr from the south of Marrakesh. The village is in a glorious location, facing four valleys, making it an ideal area for hikes at all levels of demand. Your personalised hike passes by many Berber villages, where you will see their terraced fields and their intricate irrigation systems, herds of goats and cows in the meadows and people working in the fields.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Maroc Lodge Boutique Hotel4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Day in the High Atlas, Imlil

  • restaurant icon
    Restaurants

    Maroc Lodge Boutique Hotel

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Marrakesh to Amizmiz

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Marrakesh

    Amizmiz

Day 8

High Atlas and Back to Marrakesh

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High Atlas and Back to Marrakesh

After your cosy night in the High Atlas, a further hike is taken to reconnect with your private transport. Before returning to Marrakesh, there an the opportunity to stroll around Amizmiz town centre to see the locals' activities, especially exciting on market days. Your return journey to Marrakesh can include a brief stop off at Lalla Takerkoust Barrage. Here you can see a huge reservoir hopefully full of the ever so very important resource of water.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Riad Lamya4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Day in the High Atlas, Imlil

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Amizmiz to Marrakesh

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Amizmiz

    Marrakesh

Day 9

Departure Day

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Departure Day

This is the end of your Morocco highlights tour. Depending on your flight time, you may have some time in the morning to do more exploring. Then, you'll be transported to the airport, ready for your onward journey

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Jemaa el-Fna

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Marrakesh to Marrakesh Menara Airport

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Marrakesh

Included in Price

  • 8 nights accommodation
  • 23 activities
  • 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 8 dinners
  • Airport transfer
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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