After breakfast, we depart towards Taroudant, a journey which takes us across the High Atlas mountains. The road – which follows the track of the ancient caravans travelling to the Souss – drives through the magnificent landscapes of the Toubkal National Park, punctuated by Berber villages perched to the hills of the mountains.
Then the vegetation becomes scarce, changing to a mineral landscape where you will see, after leaving behind Ouirgane, on top of a rocky promontory, the ruins of a small mosque. It’s Timmel, regarded as the jewel of Almohad architecture, and one of the key sites in the history of ancient Morocco. After a stop to admire the purity of its design, we continue our journey, crossing the mountain pass of Tizi’n’Test before starting our descent towards the plains of the Souss, where Taroudant is located.
Lunch en route.
Cradle of the Saadian dynasty, Taroudant is a beautiful town surrounded by magnificent ramparts which have earned it the nickname of ‘little Marrakech’. Former capital of an empire, it was once a large and prosperous caravan centre.
We reach Riad Hida in the late afternoon. This private palace was restored and maintained for thirty years by a Danish billionaire who succumbed to its beauty and the magnificence of its vast Andalusian gardens.
Dinner and overnight.
This day brings you the chance to explore the foothills of the anti-Atlas, mountainous region where life is still regulated by ancestral traditions. Discover the beautiful valley of Ammelns and the colourful village of Aday, whith its houses made of pink granite amidst fields of almond trees, and enjoy picnic lunch in the palm grove of Ait Mansour, a mountain oasis of rare beauty. Dinner and overnight in a guest house some 8 kms away from Tafrout, facing mount Lekest.
An enormous block of pink granite dominates the landscape; our road follows a succession of palm groves up to Tiznit, where we stop for lunch and spend some time exploring its ancient medina, its centenary ramparts, and the narrow alleys of its souks, renowned for its Berber jewellery (city guide optional). We continue by the pretty road overlooking the ocean and its long white beaches towards the small village of Mirleft, clinging to a steep hill, some 45 km from Tiznit.
Dinner and overnight in a guest house by the ocean.
After leaving Agadir, we reach Ida Outanane, where argan trees spread all over the slopes of the mountains, as fas as the eye can see. The road becomes more and more narrow, winding its way through wild hills and verdant valleys before sinking into the mountains. At Tifrit, it runs alongside the riverTamrhakht, and then ascends one of its tributaries, the Telmed Wadi, through a canyon with white and pink rocks overlooking the wadi edged with palms and oleanders; the place is called the Valley of Paradise. This region is also known for its fortified collective granaries, and the local bee-keepers produce honey which is much appreciated all over Morocco.
Lunch on the way.
We continue towards Essaouira, sandy beaches and cliffs alternating in front of our eyes against the backdrop of the wild ocean. Before reaching Essaouira, we drive inland through an arid landscape punctuated by Argan trees, which the goats climb in order to eat the fruits growing from their branches. On arrival in Essaouira, we drop our car near Bab Marrakech, and walk up to our Riad in the ancient medina.
Dinner and overnight.
Day at leisure. Your meals are provided in your accommodation.
Explore the windy Essaouira and its ancient medina, whose houses are painted in white and blue tones. Immerse yourself in its souk, busy with the noise of the artisans at work in their tiny workshops, and enjoy the hustle and bustle of its lively port. The city will charm you.
After breakfast, we return to Marrakech with a stop in the village of Chichaoua, famous for its Berber carpets. Check in in our Riad in the medina where lunch will be served. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
