Morocco - Secrets of the Sahara Photo Holiday

marrakech - telouet - ait benhaddou - agdz - zagora - tamegroute - mhamid - erg chigaga - tata - taroudant

Day One
Arrival in Marrakech. Pick up from Marrakech Menara Airport and check into hotel. Welcome drinks and dinner at hotel. Overnight Marrakech

Day Two
Marrakech walking tour with Suzanne and a local city guide - a behind the scenes look at the inner workings of the ancient Marrakech medina and artisans at work in the souks. Free for dinner of your own choice. Overnight Marrakech

Day Three
8 AM pick up from hotel. Leave Marrakech behind and pass through one of the most winding and dramatic routes in Morocco as we enter the Atlas Mountains and her dense forests. Soon after crossing the Tizi n Tichka pass at 2100 meters, take an ‘off road’ to the left, leading us to the Pasha’s derelict palace at Telouet and the nearby salt mines. Continue along Ounila valley to reach the village of Tamedaght in the afternoon. Visit the local troglodyte grottos and the Berber granary. Dinner and overnight. (total: 4 hours driving)

Day Four
Early start to bake bread in the earth oven with the village ladies. Leave the Kasbah for Ait Benhaddou. Wander through the honey- comb citadel of the UNESCO world site, before the tourist buses arrive. Pass through Ouarzazate and cross the gorges to reach the peak of 1700 meters, from where the panorama of the legendary Draa Valley unfolds. Outside Agdz, it is worth visiting the Black people village and the ksar of Tamnougalt. Before Zagora, a dusty off road will take you to local prehistoric rock engravings. Reach Zagora early evening. Dinner and overnight . (total: 3 hours driving)

Day Five
After breakfast, discover the nearby village of Amezrou and its Jewish heritage - the old adobe synagogue and the silver jewelry craft. Further on, the stoves of Tamegroute cast the emerald glaze so easily identi ed on mosque tiles, dishes and pots across Morocco. The nearby Nassiria library holds a 10th century gold- engraved Koran and various treaties on astronomy, medicine and Arab poetry among other gems. Before leaving the tarmac behind to take on the Sahara, we visit a traditional ksour and have lunch with a local family. From Mhamid, cross various types of desert, to reach the dunes of Erg Chigaga, with the last bit on the back of a camel...Astrophotography for those who are interested. Dinner and overnight in luxury tents with ensuite shower and toilets in the middle of the dunes. (total: 3 hours driving)

Day Six
Early rise for sunset shots amongst the dunes. Free time to work on photos or enjoy a leisurely walk around the tranquil desert. Lunch at the Sacred Oasis. Afternoon, visit to a nomad school. Photo critique after dinner. Overnight Azalai Lodge.

Day Seven
After breakfast, get on the road and take on the hamada ( rocky desert). Pass the dry lake Iriki and pluck out milenia old fossils . Re-join the tarmac once again at Foum Zguid. Have a tasty lunch by the pool at a local guest house or opt for the more local choice of kefta in the village. Take the road west and soon reach the salty waterfalls of Tissint. Stunning landscapes and panoramas. Reach Tata and the 500 year old guest-house, your dwelling for the night. Dinner and accommodation at Dar Infiane. (total: 5 hours driving)

Day Eight
Start the day in the palm groves of Tata and discover the water tower and the khettaras with a local guide. Visit the local grottos before taking the road heading north. You are soon into the Anti Atlas, their dramatic twists greeting the panorama. Stop in a village and awe at the local century- old granary, where locals deposit their grains, still in use. Further on, admire some of the first Berber alphabet signs, engraved on the rocks. Have a picnic lunch to then reach Ighrem and descend on Taroudant, the snow- capped peaks of the High Atlas glinting in the background. Arrive in Taroudant late afternoon. Dinner and accommodation at Dar Al Hossoun.(total: 4 hours driving)

Day Nine
Breakfast and then free time to either work on photos, take a caleche ride around the walls of Taroudant or visit Sous Massa bird reserve. Back on the road around 11am, heading north through the High Atlas mountains. Reach Tizi n Test pass, peaking at 2000 meters high. Hopefully a chance to take some great panoramic shots, if clear skies. After many twists and turns, stop by the 12th century old mosque of Tinmel. A little further to Ijujak for a lunch with a local family. Skirt past Asni, Tahnaout and arrive in Marrakech in the evening. Dinner and photographic presentation. Overnight at Palais Khum. (total 5 hours driving)

Day Ten
Transfers to the airport. End of the tour.

Price is per person and based on single room occupancy

Please note: this price includes a 1 % donation towards educating young girls in remote areas of Morocco: https://www.efamorocco.org