Kasbahs and Date Palms
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Mountain roads to Ait Benhaddou
It’s time to head inland to Morocco’s mountain and valleys. Your destination today is Ait Benhaddou and you’ll probably be travelling from Marrakech which is about a three hour drive away. We recommend starting early then you’re not rushed and will have time to explore on arrival. It’s a picturesque drive taking you across the Atlas Mountains. From the highest point of the pass there are sweeping views across the mountains and the road winding through the rocks way down in the valley. On the other side of the mountains you’ll enter a desert-like landscape, with arid areas interspersed by lush green palm oases. You’ll spend the night directly opposite the famous kasbah of Ait Benhaddou. This red mudbrick fortified village seems frozen in time and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 2 – Hike in the Dades Valley
This morning it’s about a three-hour drive to the picturesque Dades Valley. The road passes green fertile valleys, date palm groves, remote berber villages and a rugged mountain landscape before you arrive at your accommodation. You will stay overnight in a simple hotel set just below the Dades Gorge, that has been designed to blend into the surrounding landscape. There is time to freshen up before heading out into the mountains on a three-hour trek accompanied by a local guide. The trek is suitable for anyone with an average level of fitness, but the trail is rocky so make sure you bring a pair of sturdy walking shoes. The guide will take you up to a viewpoint where you can see the contrast between the red-coloured mountain walls and the green riverbed in the valley. After working up an appetite return to your hotel for dinner (own expense).
Day 3 – Depart Dades Valley
After breakfast it’s time to depart the incredible beauty of the Dades Valley. Instead of heading back to Marrakech, why not swap the mountains for the desert and drive east to Merzouga and the sands of Erg Chebbi?
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Kasbahs and Date Palms: Dades Valley to Ait Benhaddou
This bite-sized trip can be done in reverse from the Dades Valley to Ait Benhaddou. This is a great option if you’re coming from the desert and then travelling on to Marrakech. If this routing fits better with your plans then select the option below.
from {22488} per person (excluding flights)
If you’re looking for a unique experience during your stay, consider our alternative Special Stay option. This option is a little more unique, but still full of local character! Have you ever slept in a cave before? If you choose for our alternative Special Stay option, you have the opportunity to experience this at the Todra Gorge. The deeper you drive into the gorge, the narrower it becomes. It’s impressive to see the narrowest part of the gorge, but it is also a popular spot amongst tourists, so it can feel a bit crowded. To get to the eco-lodge where you’ll spend the night, you leave the busy areas behind and drive even deeper into the gorge. Here, you’ll check into your particularly unique cave chamber. In the evening, candles and oil lamps provide atmospheric lighting, and the next morning, a guide will join you on a hike in the surrounding area. In Ait Benhaddou, you’ll stay in a riad on the edge of the desert, where you wake up to beautiful panoramic views of the desert. The riad also has a few terraces upstairs, perfect for watching the sunset as the sky turns orange and pink. If you’re interested in upgrading to this alternative option for this bite-sized trip, you can select this below.
