Moroccan Sahara Escape (5 days)

This afternoon you’ll enjoy a scenic journey into the High Atlas Mountains to the Tizi n'Tichka Pass (2,260m). Here in the Atlas, Berber villages cling to the steep red earth slopes and fossil traders vie for passing tourist trade. Later we’ll follow a former caravan route to see the crumbling Kasbah of the Glaouis at Telouet (now under renovation) before arriving at Ait Benhaddou early evening.

Inscribed by UNESCO in 1987 as a ‘World Heritage Site’, the Ksar of Ait Benhaddou is a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco. The Ksar, a group of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls, is a traditional pre-Saharan habitat. The houses crowd together within the defensive walls, which are reinforced by corner towers.

With a very picturesque setting and the backdrop for many a major movie, Ait Benhaddou makes an ideal overnight stop between Marrakech and the Sahara. After a short guided tour of the ancient settlement be sure to walk up to the high point on the hill above the Ksar for particularly fine views.

Your first stop today will be Ouarzazate, home to one of the largest movie studios in the world where several historical movies have been set, including “Gladiator”, “Alexander” and “Kingdom of Heaven”. At Agdz the stunning Draa Valley begins. Lined with Kasbahs, Ksour and irrigated palm groves, a drive through the valley is regarded by many as one of the most scenic journeys in Morocco. The River Draa starts in the High Atlas and has, over many years, cut a channel between the Jebel Saghro and the Anti Atlas mountain ranges, making sheer canyons famous for their colourful rocks. Arabs, Berbers, Jews and descendants of Mauritanian slaves all live in the valley, which is scattered with old fortified villages, known as ‘Ksour’ where the villagers lived to protect themselves from marauding nomads.

After a stop in Zagora, once the final stop-off for caravans before they entered the endless solitude of the Hamada’s, we’ll enjoy a tour of the great Islamic learning centre of Tamegroute to see a collection of priceless manuscripts in the Koranic Library. The final stretch of today’s journey will take us to Tagounite from where we’ll ride camels to the welcoming comfort of our tented eco-camp accommodation, the Sahara Safari Camp.

Here in the deep south of Morocco in the region of the southern Draa Valley and M’hamid the Sahara Desert is a beguiling wilderness of palm-filled oases, vast sand dunes, ancient lake-beds, camel caravans, adobe mud-brick villages and men in blue.

Off-the-beaten-track and accessible by camel, on foot or by 4x4 it is here that the stylish Sahara Safari Camp is located. Set between dunes and date palm trees with a dramatic mesa backdrop, guests are assured of daytime adventure and restful nights in real comfort. Bounded by the Moroccan Sahara Desert the camp is set in a stunning location surrounded by incredibly varied landscapes.

Excursions can be taken on foot or by camel to nearby oases, villages, flat-topped mesas and towering dunes. Alternatively join an optional off-road 4x4 day trip to the dunes of Chegaga located to the west of M’hamid. For wildlife enthusiasts, desert fox, gerbil and a variety of bird species are regularly seen close to camp.

This morning’s drive is another journey of scenic contrasts, from our Sahara Camp through the Anti-Atlas Mountains to the colourful Berber town of Tazenakht, known for its carpets. We continue through ever-changing scenery with the Jebel Siroua range to the north and the Anti-Atlas to the south, until we reach the verdant Souss Valley.

Next we’ll enjoy a dramatic traverse of the High Atlas Mountains, ascending a twisting and turning mountain road to the Tizi n’Test Pass (2,092m). After time to gaze at the spectacular views of the Souss Valley down below, the next 2 hours offer simply breathtaking views of mountain peaks and Berber villages clinging to the slopes.

There’s time to visit the Mosque at Tin Mal and pause in the pretty village of Ouirgane before following the Aït Mizane Valley to Aremd (or possibly Imlil on certain departures), a classic Berber mountain village in the heart of Toubkal National Park. Welcomed at our accommodation with a glass of mint tea there should be time for a short walk around the village before dinner.

Sitting at an altitude of 1,915 metres in Toubkal National Park, Aremd is the highest village in the Aït Mizane Valley, and the last settlement before Jebel Toubkal. For unrivalled views of North Africa's highest peak the village is hard to beat. The High Atlas, the greatest mountain range of North Africa, is perhaps the most beautiful and intriguing part of Morocco. It has retained a remoteness which until recent decades was virtually complete and contains villages where the way of life has changed little for centuries. Outsiders to the mountains are constantly surprised when they encounter the friendliness and openness of the villagers as they go about their everyday tasks.

Hiking in the High Atlas is one of the best possible experiences in Morocco. Regardless of levels of fitness this area is accessible to all with a wide range of walking possibilities, from a short ramble through the villages to more demanding hikes. Mules can also be hired and a guide is on hand for those that wish to walk. The trails around the valleys are well contoured and kept in excellent condition.

After lunch we’ll make the 1.5 hour drive back to Marrakech where the tour ends at 1500 PM.