Casablanca → Marrakech: the adventure

The route

Itinerary

1. 1
   Day 1

   Arrival in Casablanca

   Arrival in Casablanca and transfer to the riad in Marrakech.

2. 2
   Day 2

   Marrakech → Telouet → Ouarzazate

   Over the High Atlas to the Tichka pass (2,260 m). Visit to the Glaoui kasbah in Telouet. On increasingly winding roads through Berber villages to Ait Ben Haddou and on to Ouarzazate. Dinner and night.

3. 3
   Day 3

   Ouarzazate → El Kelaa → Boumalne

   Along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, past El Kelaa M’Gouna, the town of roses, into the Dades Valley with its well-preserved kasbahs on the hills. Short walk, dinner and night.

4. 4
   Day 4

   Boumalne → Tinghir → Merzouga

   To the giant Todra Gorge past palm groves and ksour. Visit to an old ksar in Tinjdad and to Erfoud, the fossil town. Then onto a camel to enjoy the sunset in the dunes of Merzouga. Night in a nomad tent under the open sky.

5. 5
   Day 5

   In the desert

   By Land Rover around Erg Chebbi. Visit to the Gnawa, whose ancestors came from West Africa. Picnic in a palm oasis, then through the black mountains of the old mines to the former French border post. Berber feast in the evening.

6. 6
   Day 6

   Merzouga → Rissani → Zagora

   Via Rissani, the town of the Alaouite kings, and the barren road to Tazzarine through the stone desert to Zagora.

7. 7
   Day 7

   Zagora → M’Hamid

   To Tamegroute with its old library and pottery workshops. Night in M’Hamid.

8. 8
   Day 8

   M’Hamid → Erg Chegaga

   After 60 kilometres of track over dunes and plains with tamarisks and acacias you reach the Chegaga dune. At sunset you climb it on foot. Night in camp.

9. 9
   Day 9

   Chegaga → Foum Zguid

   On an impressive track through stone and sand desert and across the dry Lake Iriki to the oasis of Foum Zguid.

10. 10
    Day 10

    Foum Zguid → Tafraout

    Along the Anti-Atlas to Tata with ancient rock carvings of elephants and rhinos. On a track through the palm-filled Ait Mansour canyon to Tafraout.

11. 11
    Day 11

    Tafraout and the Ammeln Valley

    On foot in the footsteps of the Berber tribes. In the village they explain the traditional sharing of scarce water. Picnic by the springs of Anameur.

12. 12
    Day 12

    Tafraout → Tiznit → Agadir → Essaouira

    Through the Anti-Atlas over the Col du Kerdous to Tiznit, the silver town. Along the coast via Agadir to Taghazout for lunch, then on to Essaouira. Dinner in the medina.

13. 13
    Day 13

    Essaouira

    Free day: harbour, golden beach, medina and crafts.

14. 14
    Day 14

    Essaouira

    Camel ride on the long beach or kitesurfing in the wind.

15. 15
    Day 15

    Essaouira

    One more day of sea, fish and calm.

16. 16
    Day 16

    Essaouira → Marrakech

    Transfer to Marrakech.