The Beaches & Deserts of South Morocco is a special and wonderful tour south of the Atlas mountains. Leaving Marrakech you'll travel along the Atlantic coast south of Essaouira, visiting Cap Rhir sandy beaches and surfing colonies, then head east of Agadir into the Anti Atlas mountains to Tafroute and Taroudant, remote deserts, rare wild life viewing in the Souss Maasa National Park, (best birding in February to April and September to November) and search for ancient rock art – exploring where few tourists go. This tour can expand to include a grand circle of the Sahara including Tata, Zagora, Erg Chegaga dunes and more. Throughout you will be immersed in Berber mountain and desert cultures closely tied to ancient traditions. You can bird watch, swim, surf, cycle, climb, wander Berber markets, explore ruins and cliff side villages, stay in medina riads, and desert auberge and seaside hotels. Transport by big roomy 4x4 vehicles with air conditioning. We can add more days or reduce the number of days to suit your flights and budget. Can start and end in Marrakech. Add on more days to start from Casablanca.

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Sample Nine Day Tour

This sample 9 day tour can be shortened to 7 or 8 days, or add any number of days.

Day 1
You will be met at the Marrakech airport and transfer to ESSAOUIRA (3 hours) on the Atlantic coast, famous for its grilled fresh seafood, Thuja wood crafts and artists colony. Waves crash against the old Portuguese ramparts that guard the walled medina, where you can watch silver craftsmen and wood carvers at work in one of the most charming towns in all Morocco. You can visit a traditional pharmacy and learn about natural medicines and cures, and a Women’s cooperative processing Argan nuts by hand into one of the rarest and most healthful oils in the world. Stay SIDI KAOUKI Beach.

Day 2
Depart Sidi Kaouki early after breakfast and head south down the Atlantic coast towards Agadir. You'll follow this beautiful winding road along magnificent beaches to Cap Rhir, famous for its surfing. Stop in Tamri for lunch, and perhaps see one of the rarest birds in the world, the Bald Ibis. After Cap Rhir turn inland to Paradise valley. Stay in PARADISE VALLEY hotel with gardens and pools overlooking the waterfalls.

Day 3
Descend Paradise valley and pass through the busy tourist center of Agadir and head south to visit the Souss Massa National Park. You might see oryx, ostriches, gazelles, flamingos, and many rare birds make this part of Morocco home. Have lunch and then hit the road, continuing south and east into the Anti Atlas mountains to TAFRAOUTE. Stay in Tafraoute small and charming hotel.

Day 4
After a leisurely breakfast, you'll ride bicycles out to visit the blue rocks along a dirt path among the crazy huge boulders and rock spires that Tafraoute is famous for, (alternately we can drive). Keep your eye open for wild hares, and desert dwelling foxes and birds. This is an easy gentle ride (downhill return). Return to TAFRAOUTE village.

Day 5
Rise early and take the bicycles in the 4x4 over the Tiwadou pass. From here you will spend the day exploring a very special place, viewing ancient rock art that dates back to 3000 BC. These rock panels go on for many kilometers and we'll be driving offroad with a guide to find them. Return to Tafraoute via the Tigharassme gorge and stop to visit an ancient cliff top village enroute. Stay in TAFRAOUTE hotel this night.

Day 6
This morning drive back toward the High Atlas mountains to TAROUDANT, the smaller sister city of Marrakech. You'll take a different route from the one we arrived on, and pass many interesting and beautiful villages. Your stay will be in a rural auberge, with wonderful views of the High Atlas mountains from the south. Stay and relax by the pool or ride your bike in to visit Taroudant city as well two markets (Berber and Nomad).

Day 7
Depart for MARRAKECH over the Test pass of the High Atlas, one of the steepest in Morocco. You'll stop at the top for lunch and to enjoy the incredible view, then its downhill all the way to Marrakech. The roads are slow, winding, and very beautiful in this area. Arrive Marrakech. Stay medina riad in the heart of the medina.

Day 8
Explore the back street maze of Marrakech - visit Ben Youssef Medersa, the Koutoubia mosque, and the Marrakech Museum. Afternoon explore the vast souk (market). The Souk is comprised of many specialist areas e.g. metalwork, where crafters ply their trade; dyers workshops are strung with colourful skeins of wool; carpets, and carpet sellers entice you into their shops with a cup of mint tea; search tiny shops selling Berber jewellery, old silver, and African beads; or spices, olives, fresh herbs; or traditional apothecaries where you can buy all manner of potions to heal or cast spells of love or revenge. Stay in Marrakech medina private riad.

Day 9
Depart or add on more days.

Want to arrive and / or depart from Rabat or Casablanca or Fes?
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