High Atlas Journey to Telouet, Aït Benhaddou and Ouarzazate
- Meet your tour guide at the agreed-upon location in Marrakech and begin the tour.
Drive through the High Atlas Mountains and over the Tizi n'Tichka Pass (2,260 m). Your first sightseeing stop of the day is Telouet, a village on the 'Route of the Caravans' from the Sahara. Telouet has one of the most spectacular kasbahs in the Atlas, once the palatial residence and headquarters of the powerful Glaoui tribe.
Arrive at Aït Benhaddou. Inscribed by UNESCO in 1987 as a 'World Heritage Site', the Ksar of Aït Benhaddou is a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco. The ksar, a group of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls, is a traditional pre-Saharan habitat.
Walk up to the high point on the hill above the ksar for particularly fine views.
Proceed to Ouarzazate to visit Taourirt Kasbah, a former Glaoui palace and the main attraction of this desert oasis city. This 300-room fortress, partly restored, marks the junction of 3 rivers - Dadès, Draâ and Ziz - as well as numerous caravan routes.
Tour the palace and stroll through the kasbah's irregular streets.
Drive back to Marrakech late in the afternoon.
