From Errachidia: the grand southern loop in 7 days

Itinerary: From Errachidia: the grand southern loop in 7 days

1. 1

   Day 1 · Errachidia — Merzouga

   Morning departure along the Ziz valley, the 'river of palms': from the viewpoint above the palm grove you see kilometres of green in the middle of the desert. Stops in Erfoud, at the fossil workshops, and in Rissani, with its souk and mud-brick ksars. In the afternoon we reach the dunes and ride camels to the camp, just in time for sunset. Dinner and a night in the desert.

   
2. 2

   Day 2 · Merzouga — N'Kob — Zagora

   Sunrise over the dunes, breakfast and departure west through Alnif and the Jebel Saghro road. Lunch in N'Kob and arrival in Zagora, in the Draa palm grove.

   
3. 3

   Day 3 · Zagora — M'Hamid — Erg Chigaga

   Tamegroute with its green pottery and then on to M'Hamid, the last village before the desert. Here we leave the tarmac: two hours of 4x4 track among dunes, dry lakes and acacias to the Erg Chigaga camp. Sunset from the highest dune and a night in absolute silence.

   
4. 4

   Day 4 · Erg Chigaga — Draa valley — Ouarzazate

   Sunrise on the dunes and back along the track to M'Hamid. We drive up the whole Draa valley with its kasbahs and the Agdz viewpoint to Ouarzazate. Night in a riad.

   
5. 5

   Day 5 · Ouarzazate — Aït Ben Haddou — Ouarzazate

   Morning in Aït Ben Haddou, climbing up to the granary at the top of the ksar. Afternoon at the Atlas film studios or the Taourirt kasbah. Free evening in Ouarzazate.

   
6. 6

   Day 6 · Ouarzazate — Skoura — Valley of Roses — Dadès

   The Skoura palm grove and the Amridil kasbah, rose water cooperatives in Kelaat M'Gouna and the drive up the Dadès valley to its winding road. A walk between the villages and a night overlooking the gorge.

   
7. 7

   Day 7 · Dadès — Todra — Tinejdad — Errachidia

   Last morning in the south: we go back to the Todra Gorge while it is still in shade and quiet, for a longer walk by the river. Then Tinghir, with its palm grove and old Jewish quarter, and the khettaras of Tinejdad, underground channels that bring water to the oases. Back in Errachidia in the early afternoon.