3 Days : Amazraou Oasis Sahara Expedition | Private & Luxury

Your driver will come to pick you up from your Riad or hotel in Marrakech in a comfortable air-conditionned 4x4 car or minivan. We leave the ochre city behind and drive south-east crossing many small and dispersed villages on our way. After about a 100 kilometers, we start to go up as we reach the chain of the Atlas mountains and the highest pass in the chain Tizi N-Tichka (2160m), the pass is usually coverd in snow during winter time.We will stop in one of the teraces in Tichka to stretch our legs, maybe grab a cup of coffee to fully wake up. 

After the pass, we cross several berber villages again, perched in the mountains and hills. The scenery on the road changes frequently leaving no room for boredom. Arriving to Ouarzazate (~90 kilometers from Tichka pass), we will stop to visit the beautiful Kasbah of Taourirt (home to former Caid Pacha Glaoui) and the museum of Cinema as Ouarzazate is a noted film-making location, it has two huge film studios inviting some of the big international experts of the industry of cinema to work there. After Visiting the attractions of Ouarzazate, we will drive again through the beautiful valleys for another 90 kilometers to reach Agdez and appreciate the view of its palmeraie from a high point. 

After lunch, we continue our desert trip to the Amezraou Oasis wher you will be chjecked in To your Riad/Hotel , Diner will be served and overnight to relax and get prepared for a busy day Tomorrow …

After early Bio Breakfast we will go to walk This spectacular mountain rises over the Draa River – worth climbing for the views, provided you have stamina, water and sunblock and set off in the early morning. The round trip to Jebel Zagora takes about 2 hours on foot, or 35 minutes by car along the piste (dirt track) to the right beyond Camping de la Montagne. Halfway up are the faint ruins of an 11th-century Almoravid fortress, but the military installation at the summit is off limits.

Amazouar Oasis Exploring local life and the kasbah of the Jews (mellah) :

The small Oasis of Amazraou, about 5,000 inhabitants, Its visit is very interesting, with first of all the kasbah of the Jews (mellah) which stands out as a particularly impressive monument. The narrow streets and underground galleries accentuate the height of the ramparts and walls. In this maze, you will meet donkeys in semi-liberty as well as children who, running in all directions, make their cries and laughter resound.
 

At 600 m from there, you will take great pleasure to walk between the palm trees and the dunes of the palm grove that runs along the banks of the Drâa river. 

The last Jews left Amazraou in 1958, and the village is now mainly inhabited by the Draoui, nomads from Sudan who gave their name to the Draa Valley. 

They cultivated date palms according to a centuries-old system, the hamas. They kept one-fifth of the harvest for themselves, the owners recovered three-fifths, and the remaining one-fifth was distributed to the poor. 

Will guide you through the ksar. Here, contrary to the usual practice, the west gate was used by Jews and the east gate by Muslims. Inside, the old synagogue is unfortunately in ruins. Further on, the taghadirt, a former lookout post, stands above the houses and overlooks the valley, offering its occupants breathtaking views of the surroundings.

Visit Tamegroute & the famous Zaouïa Naciri :

The small town of Tamegroute, south of Zagora, is the place where you can find the famous Zaouïa Naciri. Founded in the 12th century by Sidi Mohamed Benaceur, it’s a sacred place of pilgrimages in homage to the holy man buried in a marabout behind which is an important library containing thousands old volumes of history, medicine, and religious essays.

But Tamegroute is recognized throughout Morocco by the manufacture of a particular green pottery.

After this Amazing Day we will Take a camel ride heading to your Accomodation inside the sahara desert wher you will experience a night on your camp with a camp fire and local music , diner will be served and the overnight under he stars .

An Early bio breakfast will be on the camp, so you don't miss the awesome sunset Sahara Desert has to offer, another opportunity to take beautiful pictures. 

Then Ride the camels back to meet the car at the end of the paved road. 

On our way back we will take a detour to Tamnougalte Built in the 16th century, the fortified village of Tamnougalt is the historic capital of the Berber tribe of the Mezguita, one of the oldest ksour still standing in plumb within the Draa Valley.

Due to its strategic position, at the southern exit of Agdz, the Tamnougalt ksar was at that time where the rivalries between Berber tribes were as much a defensive function, in order to protect the Draa valley against the invasions of looters, as commercial being located on the road of the caravans going from Marrakech to Timbuktu.

Surrounded by adobe ramparts, access to the village is via one of the four gates that open the ksar. The main one overlooks a large square next to the marabout.

This historical ksar is a pleasant stage to discover. The maze of corridors and alleyways sometimes covered, leads to plots where celebrations, weddings and other meetings between villagers were held.

Below the ksar, a monumental gate buried at its base by the sand opens onto the palm grove and the river Draa, inviting us to enjoy walks in the shade of the great palm trees.

Every year, the first week of October gives rise to the Ellama monsoon in Tamnougalt, a cultural and religious event bringing together the villagers of the Draa Valley.

Facing the ksar, the kasbah of the kaid, inhabited until the 60’s, but now abandoned, dominates it from the top of its rocky peak, embracing a splendid panorama on this part of the palm grove of the Draa and the Anti-Atlas.

After lunch we will take the road back to Marrakech, to arrive there at around 6 or 7pm, where your driver will drop you at the location of your choice.