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Located in the heart of Morocco, Marrakech, also known as "the red city" because of the color of its buildings, enchants visitors with its many lush gardens, culture, crafts and the famous Jemaa el Fna square, the lively heart of the city.
This self-drive tour of southern Morocco takes in some of the most beautiful sites in this region between the Atlas mountains and the Sahara. Departing from Marrakech, it crosses the Atlas mountains and links the Dades, Tafilalet and Draa valleys. Today, it’s open to all, not just desert adventurers. A car is all you need, as the roads are good, the signposting clear and the accommodation numerous and varied. It’s even possible to find a hostel in the smallest of oases! We’ll be happy to advise you on accommodation to suit your taste and budget, and to put together the itinerary of your dreams.
Regions visited during this trip to Morocco: Marrakech & Surrounding Areas | Agadir & the Deep South | Atlas Mountains & Sahara
N.B.: This trip to Morocco is an individual, tailor-made tour that you can personalize with our Morocco specialist advisors.
Welcome at Marrakech airport and transfer to your hotel. Alternatively, transfer from Casablanca airport at extra cost (approx. 2 hours on freeway).
Night in Marrakech.
Pick up your vehicle at your hotel and set off for Ouarzazate via the Tichka Pass at 2260m, one of Morocco’s most beautiful mountain roads. Some 30 km before Ouarzazate, you’ll make a short detour to visit the famous kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou.
Night in a hotel in Ouarzazate.
You head east along the beautiful road that skirts the Dades valley between the Atlas mountains and Djebel Sagho. It’s a road dotted with kasbahs and ksour, rising up, hue upon hue, from red ochre and mauve rocks. At Boumalne, we invite you to take a trip into the Dades Gorge. Overnight in Boumalne in a lush palm grove.
Night in a hotel or inn.
Continuing on to Tinerhir, from where you can climb the magnificent Todhra Gorge. The walls narrow and rise, steeper and steeper, until they reach 300 m in height… A particularly spectacular natural spectacle. Stop for green tea at one of the inns located in the gorge.
Back on the road between Atlas and Sagho, you enter the Jorf palm grove, which stretches all the way to Erfoud, where the country’s best dates are harvested! And you’ll see your first fine golden sand dunes.
Night in a hotel or inn near Merzouga.
Erg Chebbi, near the village of Merzouga, is the largest dune massif in Morocco. Huge dunes over 150 meters high stretch for 40 kilometers across the Tafilalet valley. Soft shapes, a grandiose universe, changing shades of color, infinite horizons. The desert awaits you for a day’s ride.
Night in a hotel or inn near Merzouga.
A beautiful tarmac road takes you through the Saharan regions south of the Sagho djebel. After Rissani, you leave the Tafilalet valley and head for Alnif, on a road that rises through a desert landscape. Then it’s on to the Tazzarine palm grove. Finally, you reach the Drâa Valley, a long oasis that takes you all the way to Agdz.
Night in a hotel or inn in Agdz.
From Agdz up the Draa valley. We recommend a stop and a stroll through the gardens. You then leave the valley to cross the south-western Djebel Sagho and its astonishing volcanic formations. In Ouarzazate, take time out to visit the impressive Taourirt kasbah, a recently renovated former residence of the glaoui.
You’ll cross the Atlas Mountains again to reach Marrakech in the afternoon. Return to your vehicle.
Night in a hotel in Marrakech.
After breakfast, transfer to Marrakech airport. Transfer to Casablanca airport possible at extra cost.
Please do not hesitate to contact our team to find out more about the accommodation we have selected for you.
The accommodations proposed in our programs are selected according to criteria of comfort, services and location. As Morocco like a local is a travel agency specializing in tailor-made tours, we strive to meet your expectations by offering 100% customized programs. This is why all the accommodations mentioned in our programs are only suggestions, and it is entirely possible for you to modify them according to your wishes, your budget and seasonal availability.
Nights in *** hotels in Marrakech and Ouarzazate.
In hostels in Boumalne, Merzouga and Agdz.
Your trip starts at €840 per person based on 2 people.
This rate is based on people traveling together and sharing a double room.
The final price may vary according to the number of participants, your departure dates, vehicle category and availability during the selected period.
6-day car rental, category A/B/C/D or 4×4 according to your choice.
VAT included, unlimited mileage, comprehensive insurance, pick-up and drop-off at your hotel.
The entire route is on very good tarmac roads. So there’s no need to rent a 4×4, unless you want to treat yourself… You’ll have the chance to get away from the road for a while, and feel a bit like you’re living the adventure.