Southern Loop: Ksabahs & Ait Bouguemez

Welcome to Morocco! Arrival transfer from Marrakech airport to our hotel.  Orient yourself in a bustling, vibrant old medina with narrow alleyways, riads and markets. A cacophony of sights, sounds and smells - spices and sweet pastries. Visit The Bahia Palace, Medrassa Ben Youssef, Dar El Bacha, see the Koutoubia Mosque from outside  Souks and Jamaa el Fna Square.

Pick up from your Riad in Imlil in the morning, crossing High Atlas mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka  pass (2260m). Enjoy the mountainous road and the spectacular Berber villages. Several stops to appreciate the panoramic views and to take pictures. Once your reach the summit, begin your descent taking a deviation towards the Kasbah of Telouet, a palatial former residence of the powerful rulers of the Glaoui tribe. Listen to your guide tell you the fascinating history of this crumbling yet stunning village and its role in the struggle for Moroccan independence. Drive along the beautiful and awe-inspiring Ounila Valley, full of bends in the roads, surprises at the hues of the rock and soil, Berber villages and gardens, as well as smaller Kasbahs until you reach the village of Ait Ben Haddou. Continue to reach the UNESCO world heritage site "Ait Benhaddou village", the fortified Ksar with its beautiful Kasbahs. You will go on a walk with a local guide crossing the river to the other side to discover The Ksar and climb to the top of the hill through the alleys of Ait-ben-Haddou, which is like rambling through the middle ages for an amazing view on the fertile Ounila river valley. After lunch we will travel to the nearby filming location of Ouarzazate. Join a film studio tour and discover which of your favorite movies were filmed in the nearby desert regions, a visit of Touarirt Kasbah and the Musée du Cinema are possible but optional. Drive 1 more hour to reach the Oasis town of Skoura, where you can visit another Kasbah " Ameridile Kasbah" if time permits. Overnight in Skoura.

After breakfast we will drive to visit Amridil Kasbah, the kasbah has been beautifully restored and is well worth visiting; constructed entirely of adobe, an excellent building material – keeps room temperature, due to the thickness of the walls. Follow the route of the Thousand Kasbahs to Kelaat Mgouna, " Valley Des Roses". Imgoun river, tucked into the heart of berber culture, between the Atlas mountain range and the Sahara desert. The region is the biggest producer of rose oil and water in the whole country, thus receiving the name rose valley. Both rose oil and water are fundamental to local culture and economy. After lunch we will cross the high atlas to the happy valley. The valley stretches its greenery over some thirty kilometers, which makes it the longest and widest valley of altitude of the High Atlas and Morocco. It has 27 villages with ancestral architecture using natural building materials such as clay, stone, wood, plaster … And has a population of about 14,000 inhabitants.

Today is devoted to the discovery of this valley and its villages. Tiny fertile fields carefully cultivated by the Berbers, countless irrigation canals, the activities of women in traditional clothing, the architecture of the Berber villages. Lunch in the shade of large walnut trees.

After breakfast we will head back to Marrakech by the road to Azilal, a small coffee break on the way before reaching the sumptuous valley of Ouzoud, where you will have the chance to discover the highest waterfalls in Morocco, nestled in the heart of a beautiful natural site of the Middle Atlas. Join a guided walk to discover this beautiful waterfalls, visit the old water mills that are still in use, enjoying troops of monkeys, free time to walk up to the springs of the waterfalls, or cross the river by the local wooden boats, a traditional Tagine or Barbecue in Ouzoud falls for lunch could be a highlight while marveling at the nature in front of us. Continue to Marrakech passing through the olive trees and the corners, and through the magical views of the great Atlas. After a long day on the road, settle into your hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon as you like. In the early evening, the main square—and busiest square in all of Africa!—Jemaa el-Fna, comes alive with musicians, performers, snake charmers, games, and food stalls, a catch-all of entertainment.

Depending on the time of your departure flight, spend the morning relaxing or picking up a few last minute souvenirs before your leave to the airport.