Kasbah and Oasis
8 days/7 nights
In the South-East of Morocco, a kasbah designates a square building with four towers at the angles, built of raw earth that was usually intended to house a family of notables. This type of habitat is of Berber origin and in this language it is called tighremt. The word kasbah is recent and was introduced when Arab and French citizens arrived in the region around the 1920s. The oldest kasbahs were built in the 18th century, in some cases 17th century, but most of them date a hundred years old, because previously the population of the pre-Saharan valleys lived in the ksour. A ksar (plural ksour) is a village surrounded by a perimeter wall and protected by watchtowers, which includes dozens or even hundreds of dwellings, not to mention the mosque, the streets, collective installations and a place where the celebrations were held. All the ksour have one or more monumental entrances, which are most of the time finely decorated. The ksour are in principle much older than the kasbahs, some are even thousands of years old!
DAY1:
MARRAKECH AIRPORT – HOTEL [D]
~0h20min
Upon arrival in Marrakech, please proceed through customs and immigration formalities. Collect your baggage and proceed outside of the Arrival Terminal where our representative will be waiting for you holding a sign under your name. Drive to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY2:
MARRAKECH – City tour [BD]
After breakfast, enjoy the city tour of Marrakesh, the “Red City”, a majestic place filled with palaces, gardens, markets, and mosques. Upon arrival, you will first stand by the Koutoubia Mosque with its 282 ft minaret, an architectural landmark dating back to the late 12th century. You will continue to the 19th century stunning Bahia Palace and discover the intricate work done by the local artisans to decorate this splendid home built by a powerful Vizir for his harem. The building includes one hundred and fifty rooms, countless courtyards and interior gardens, a veritable labyrinth of corridors, a Koranic school, hammams, a harem, stables. From there we will start exploring artisan quarters and the colorful souks to interact with the real life of Marrakech people. Continue to Dar El Bacha Museum of Confluences, built in 1910 and was the residence of Thami El Glaoui, named Pasha of Marrakech by Sultan Moulay Youssef in 1912. It is one of the medina’s finest examples of Riad architecture, dripping with Moroccan Zellige (colorful geometric tilework), intricate white plasterwork and heavy carved cedar-wood lintels. Before sunset we will be strolling in the square of which the city is so famed, Jemaa El Fna. Located at the entrance of the Medina, this triangular square is surrounded by restaurants, stands and public buildings, and provides everyday commercial activities and various forms of entertainment. It is a magical circus where fortune tellers, henna artists, fire eaters, snake charmers, dancing wild costumed monkeys, story tellers, hypnotic medicine-men, cross dressers, tooth pullers, musicians including real Gnaoua, and acrobats gather in a cacophonic feast. After the tour, head to your hotel to freshen up. When you are ready, transfer to a local restaurant to enjoy your dinner. Back to your hotel for overnight.
DAY3:
MARRAKECH – SKOURA – DADES [BD]
~5h35min
As you leave Marrakech, the distant haze begins to resolve itself into a jagged mountain range, the High Atlas Mountains, jutting abruptly from the plain. Our route follows the same route that caravans used centuries ago, to bring into Marrakech gold and precious wood from the other side of the Sahara. Beautiful scenery and small villages built in tiers succeed among oak trees, walnut groves, and snow patches before arriving at the Tizi n Tichka pass, 2,260m high. Once over the pass a totally different scenery is unveiled: the lunar landscape of the Anti-Atlas. Later, skirt past Ouarzazate and stop for a lunch (own expense). Past Ouarzazate, our trip tour reaches another lush area, nested between the deserted crest and the desolate plateaus: Skoura Palm Grove. Then, we reach Kelaa des Mgouna, famous for the nearby Valley of Roses and its Rose Festival, where at the end of a 3-day celebration usually held in May, a local girl is crowned Rose Queen. The most looked after product is eau-de-rose and two factories in the area distil and export the product. The process uses approximately three thousand kilograms of rose petals to extract a liter of rose oil. Further on, Boulmane Dades follows, the starting point to explore the spectacular Gorges of Dades, a luxuriant carpet set against the massive rocks and quite popular among those who like trekking. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY4:
DADES – TINGHIR – MERZOUGA [BD]
~3h45min
Back on the road, our first stop is Tinghir, with its extensive palm grove, ksour (fortified village) built into the rocky hills above and its mysterious decaying Jewish quarter. Tinghir has been for generations a stop for nomadic Berber tribes travelling from the northern mountains towards the desert. A rather inconspicuous hidden gem is the 19th century adobe mosque nested within the old crumbling ksour, a heaven for photography enthusiasts. The Gorges of Todra, lie only 15km from Tinghir, presenting a capturing scene with its crystal-clear river emerging from it, its huge walls changing color walls, a magical effect as the day unfolds. Its 300m high walls are home to more than 150 bolted routes and at any time of day you can catch a glimpse of someone rock climbing his way up the gigantic walls. Before reaching Merzouga where the tarmac ends, we pass Erfoud and Rissani. In Erfoud we may stop for a visit at Musée des Oasis if time allows. Rissani used to serve as the last stop on the great caravan southern route. Gold and slave auctions were taking place there in the 1800s. Prior 1800, the caravan trade and the most important city in Morocco was Sijilmassa, the ruins of which lie opposite Rissani. From its gates, Ibn Battuta and Leo Africanus left Morocco to embark on their illustrious journeys across the Sahara into African countries. Soon after we reach Merzouga and in the distance you glimpse the first leviathans of sand forming the Sahara: the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Surf the sandy sea on a powerful 4WD Land Rover to the desert camp. Dinner and overnight under a Berber tent.
DAY5:
MERZOUGA – ALNIF – TAZARINE – ZAGORA [BD]
~4h05min
Enjoy a sunrise camel ride along the golden sand dunes in Merzouga. Return to your Riad for breakfast before transferring to Zagora via the Amazigh (Berber) villages of Alnif and Tazarine. The road to Tazzarine sees almost no traffic, providing a scenic link between Tafilalet and Draa Valley. Aside from the landscape, fossils and prehistoric rock carvings are this region’s main attraction. The scenery grows wilder as you approach Tazzarine, set in a grassy oasis surrounded by bare mountains. Continue to Zagora. Famous for its palms valley that is the largest in Morocco. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY6:
ZAGORA – AGDEZ – OUARZAZATE [BD]
~2h35min
After breakfast, enjoy the tour of Zagora including some of the oldest villages of Morocco. Stop by Tamgroute to visit the village’s famous library, which houses ancient Koranic scripts dating back to the 12th century. Visit the pottery quarter of Tamgroute famous for its one-of-a-kind pottery’ workshops, which have been passed down over generations. Its exquisite pottery’s secret lies in its enamel and green colors. Then transfer to Ouarzazate along the Draa valley with a stop at Agdez for lunch (own expenses), then continue to Ouarzazate for dinner and overnight.
DAY7:
OUARZAZATE – AIT BEN HADDOU – MARRAKECH [BD]
~3h50min
Begin the day by exploring Ouarzazate, a city originally built as a French garrison in the 1920s. Today, the city is a regional trade center, known for its pottery and carpets. Visit the Taourirt Kasbah, which now consists of simple clay houses and crenellated towers that are beautifully decorated with geometric motifs. On the way, optional visit of the Film Studios. Continue to elaborate ksar Ait Ben Haddou, listed as UNESCO World Heritage, and home of the region’s most exotic Kasbahs, where all structures defy the laws of gravity as they perch upon a steep slope. Some of these buildings have been featured in films, including Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Game of Thrones among others. Then you journey over the High Atlas Mountains, observing everyday life in remote rural towns, to the fascinating city of Marrakech. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY8:
MARRAKECH AIRPORT [B]
~0h20min
After breakfast, we will assist you to Marrakech airport for your return flight.
Included Services:
| City | 4* Hotel (or similar) |
| Marrakech | Longue Vie |
| Dades | Hotel Xaluca |
| Merzouga | Madu Camp |
| Zagora | Kasbah Hnini |
| Ouarzazate | Dar Chamaa |
| Marrakech | Longue Vie |
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