High Atlas Loop

For those of you who enjoy a motoring holiday this seven-day trip starts with an overnight stay in Marrakech and a night in the nearby High Atlas before you pick up your car. Your self-drive journey begins with a scenic four hour drive south over the Tiz-n-Test pass at 6,000 ft down into the Souss Valley and Taroudant, a mini Marrakech with a wonderful souk. The next two days take you east along the southern edge of the High Atlas and the northern Sahara to the Todra Gorge, where the Auberge Le Festival has cave rooms in the 525ft cliffs. It's two days back over the Atlas to Marrakech, via Ait Benhaddou, a stage-set fortified town and the Tizi-n-Tichka, at 7,400ft the highest road pass in Morocco.

Tiz-n-Tichka

Our recommendations

Season: all year round, but best done in Spring and Autumn.

Length: 7 nights.

Flights: Marrakech (3.5 hour transfer). Agadir flights also available - the driving loop starting and finishing in Agadir or Taroudant.

Prices from £600 per person (7 nights) excluding flights*

Day	Nights'Stay	Typical itinerary for illustration
1	1	Fly to Marrakech & taxi transfer to your accommodation in the Marrakech Medina.
2	1	Transfer - Marrakech to Ouirgane in the High Atlas.
3	1	Pick up a hire car and drive through the High Atlas and across the Tiz n'Test, a spectacular mountain pass in the High Atlas (6000ft) and stop off at the Tin Mal (1153-54) - a traditional twelfth century Almohad mosque before descending into the Souss Valley and the walled town of Taroudant (4hrs).
4	1	Drive east along the southern edge of the High Atlas to Tallouine the heart of the saffron producing area of Morocco where there is a large kasbah and is a useful stopping place for lunch, before progressing over two high passes, Tizi-n-Taghatine (1886m) and Tizi Ikhsane (1650m) to Tazenakht. From here the road takes you over the Tizi-n-Bachkoum (1700m) with some great views before skirting Ourzazate and on towards the palmeries of Skoura.
5	1	A shorter day that allows time to stop at the ruins of Kasbah Amerhidil before moving on through the Oases of Skoura and the Valley of the Roses to the town of Tinehir and the Todra Gorge. Todra is a narrow and spectacular gorge with a thrilling approach as the walls of the gorge close in around you. Your overnight stay is at Auberge le Festival which has has cave rooms in the 525ft cliffs.
6	1	Returning west your journey takes you to the the World Heritage site of Ait Benhaddou whose ancient kasbahs date back to the 16th century and are some of the best conserved in Morocco. Its location is on the former salt, gold and ivory carrying caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech.
7	1	Drive to Marrakech (4 hrs) over Tizi n'Tichka pass (7,400ft) in the High Atlas Mountains, time permitting it is worth detouring to Telouet with the ruins of the ancient Glaoui Kasbah before reaching Marrakech. Afternoon visit to the souks and evening visit to the main Place Jemma de Fna.
8		Transfer to Marrakech airport for flight home.

Pricing: *Based on 2 persons sharing (B&B), 4 nights/5 days self-drive car hire (includes unlimited mileage, personal accident, super CDW (collision damage waiver)), return transfers to Marrakech airport, excl. flights, staying at Riad El Zohar (Marrakech), Palais Salaam (Taroudant), Les Jardins de Skoura (Skoura), Auberge le Festival (Todra Gorge), Kasbah Ellouze (Ait BenHaddou) Dar Eliane (Marrakech) - budget accommodation; Naturally Morocco can offer a range of alternatives if required. Price varies by room, season and exchange rate.

Transport options: All travel times are approximate. A driver can be hired for the journey if required.

Extension options: South or east to the Sahara desert or west from Marrakech to Essaouira.

Duration: 7 Nights / 8 Days

Ouirgane

A Berber village situated in a scenic bowl-shaped valley in the High Atlas Mountains some 90 minutes south west of Marrakech, Ouirgane buzzes with activity on Thursdays when Berber families flock down from the mountains by donkey for the weekly souk. It has become a very popular base for day walks into the Tassa Ouirgane National Park and longer treks to Jbel Toubkal and Amizmiz areas.

Taroudant

Often known as “Little Marrakech” due to the backdrop of the High Atlas Mountains and its red town walls, which are more complete than those of any other Moroccan town. This Berber market town is little frequented by tourists, providing an authentic experience of everyday life and is an ideal base from which to explore Berber countryside.

Todra Gorge

This narrow, spectacular gorge up to 300 metres deep is the most spectacular in Morocco and has deservedly become popular with walkers and more especially rock climbers, due to the hundreds of routes available.

Ait Benhaddou

A striking fortified settlement (ksar), renowned as a backdrop to many films (including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator), and deservedly designated as a World Heritage Site, it houses some of the best conserved kasbahs in Morocco.

Pictures