Trip Program :
1st day : Meeting at the hotel in Marrakech.
2nd day: Early in the morning, we drive south through the Tizi-n'-Tichka (2260m alt). Then we take the dirt road through the valley where we will visit fortress Ounila of Telouet. After a pic-nic, we will hike up to the cliffs to observe curious dwellings Carved in the rock(2:30). We continue to the south through the kasbah of Tamadaht and the Ksar of Ait Benhaddou, both interesting middle age monuments. We will camp by the dam of Ouarzazate Al Mansour.
3rd day: We drive along the Dades valley, known as the road Kasbahs miles, passing through skoura green oasis, the palm grove along with the kasbahs of Ouarzazate (the pasha glaoui palaces). This lush valley is also known as the Valley of Roses, because they abound and the natives produce rosewater. we hike up to Hdida Boutaghrar, a welcoming mountain village in the middle of cultivated fields and orchards (3h). After a pic-nic lunch, we visit the Dades kasbah in Ait Youl. Then, through the spectacular gorges of Dadès, where we will see forts and other interesting ruins. Camp near Msemrir.
4th day: At this time, we can see a very splendid panoramic mountain trail . Then, we stop at a high pass (at 2800m alt)to admire the view over the snowy high Atlas mountains. Long descent to the valley where we cross the well known Todra gorges that reach a height of 400m in some places. Coming out of the gorges we enjoy the very pleasant contrast of the Todra plains with its palm tree groves, orchards and its lively agricultural activity. We pass Tineghir to enter the interesting Saghro volcanic massif with its curious rock formations. We start our hike at Ikniouine along an old trail on the slopes of mount Amalou n'Mansour and soon reach the Tazazert (2300m) pass. Excellent view over the high rock tables and pinnacles that are so characteristic of the Saghro. We continue through pasture land passing by some rock huts where we might meet a lonely sheperd with his beasts. Then we descend towards our camping place by a stream in a very peaceful environment at Bab n'Ali, Ali Baba's gates, two imposing roch towers.
5th day: We follow desertic valleys observing some distant palm groves and small villages. After Tansikht, we enter the lush and populated Drâa valley. We drive through long date trees grove, an important production of this valley, and continue to Zagora, the capital of the fortified towns. Visit to its library which is famous for its X century manuscripts. We pass some very interesting fortified villages with their ochre walls, the ksour. Being built of mud, sand and some stones they need to be often repaired. Many of them are in ruins which give them a fascinating and odd look. In ancient times their assailants use the tactic of diverting a stream in the ksour's direction and would leave the action of the water demolish it. Our hike starts at Lalla Kebira and will pass by some desert hamlets surrounded by green fields tilled with tomatos, barley, wheat and potatoes, where these very hospitable natives may offer us mint tea with . Some scattered sand dunes will also be seen.We may encounter here gazelles, rabbits, squirrels and lizards. When reaching Beni Ali (1h30) we drive past Jbel Bani to Tagounite, a typical desert village. Our camp will be set further into the dunes at Nasrate, another village with ksours and palm trees grove, Nasrate is an interesting town amid the dunes and palm grove with some typical ksours.
6th day: An interesting hike on the great Chegaga dunes.,where you will have fun by printing your trail on a dunes. Here you will become immersed in a deep silence and in the view of the endless desert horizon.
We may observe some interesting touareg camps who are nomads and semi-nomads, used to the loneliness of the desert and show us their warm hospitality.
Our trip continues on the desert trail passing by the Great Dried Lake at Iriki till Lamdawar Esghir at its end we camp.
7th day: We leave the desert, then, enter the green valley of Foum Zguide known for its orchards and tilled fields, a refuge from the desert loneliness. At Tazenakht, a village that produces saffron and is popular for its Ouaouzguits carpets. Our hike will take place along the Aneal valley and we will follow its river course going through the fields and meeting the natives while they work.
We reach Tamallakout (2h), and after a pic nic we return to Marrakech through the Tizi n'Tichka pass Hotel in Marrakech.
8th day: End of the program after breakfast.
