Telouet and the Kasbah of el Glaoui

The road south east from Marrakech takes you through the Haouz plain and then on to the Tizi n'Tichka pass (the highest mountain pass in Morocco). Some 3-4 miles from the pass, as the road continues on towards Ait Benhaddou and Ouarzazate, a road leads off to the Kasbah of Telouet.

**Please Note: Naturally Morocco's excursions are only available as part of an itinerary booked through us that includes accommodation and transport.**

Telouet is around 3 hours (100km) drive from Marrakech and is situated in the High Atlas Mountains, sited at 1,800m on the old caravan route towards Ouzarzate and the Sahara beyond. It is west of (and not linked to) the Ourika Valley. 

The Kasbah of el Glaoui is a stunning, crumbling Kasbah with a beautiful mountainous backdrop, one of the most spectacular in the Atlas Mountains, although now it is in various states of decay.  It was started by the Glaoui family who had risen to power of Morocco south of the High Atlas in the late 1800s, and who worked with the French in the early 1900s; however, it was never completed.

From the roof one can see the vast extent of the Kasbah, and the huge structures are still impressive, albeit crumbling, even today. Inside visitors can wander through the large state rooms, with dusty pink plaster and painted cedar ceilings and colourful zellij tilework.

Thursday is a good day to visit to see the traditional Berber souk.  You might choose to take a simple lunch in one of the cafes in the village.

A Typical Day's Trip to Kasbah Telouet

The trip to Kasbah Telouet usually departs from your accommodation at around 9am from Marrakech, arriving approx midday. Along the way, you can ask your driver to stop for photo opportunities if you wish as there is some beautiful scenery enroute. Day visitors have around 6 hours to explore the Kasbah, have a lunch break (not inlcuded in the price) and take photos before returning to your Marrakech riad at around 7.30pm.

Duration: 1 day
Season: All Year