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Southern Soul:
The Deep South Loop
Discovery Loop
Southern Soul: 4 Days Tour of The Deep South Loop
This 4-day circular journey takes you deep into the heart of the south, exploring the “Road of 1000 Kasbahs.” Leaving Marrakech, you will discover the crumbling grandeur of Telouet, a former Pasha’s palace that once controlled the caravan trade, before descending into the lush green serpent of the Draa Valley.
Beyond the typical tourist trail, this tour introduces you to the prehistoric rock carvings of Tazzarine and the volcanic peaks of Djebel Saghro. You will witness the ingenuity of desert life, from bread baking in village stoves to the ancient granaries and nomad grottoes carved into the mountains.
The experience is anchored by a night in the deep Sahara at Erg Chebbi. Climb the highest dune to watch the sand turn from golden to burnt orange at sunset, then return to Marrakech via the film-famous city of Ouarzazate and the Fint Oasis.
The Deep South Loop
Marrakech (Atlas Crossing)Begin your circular journey by crossing the High Atlas. Your first major discovery is the crumbling grandeur of Telouet Kasbah, the former palace of the "Lord of the Atlas," featuring intricate mosaics hidden within ruined walls.
Trip Highlights
What's included in the Trip
Private 4x4 Transportation
Overnight in Sahara Camp
Dades Gorge & Rose Valley
Ait Benhaddou Visit
Prehistoric Rock Carvings
Camel Trekking
What to expect in the trip
What’s Included
- Transport: Private 4×4 tour vehicle with a dedicated driver-guide.
- Accommodation: Stays in the lush Skoura palm grove, a Sahara desert camp in Erg Chebbi, and the beautiful Draa Valley.
- Meals: Daily breakfasts and dinners, plus a special lunch with a local family.
- Desert Experience: Sunset camel trek into the dunes of Erg Chebbi, sleeping under the stars, and optional sandboarding.
- Cultural Excursions: Guided walks in palm groves, visits to traditional village markets, and explorations of Berber granaries and nomad grottoes.
- Monuments & Sites: Entrance to the 300-meter-high Todra Gorges, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Benhaddou, and the ruined palace at Telouet.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: The High Atlas, Pasha’s Palace & Ait Benhaddou
- Morning: Leave Marrakech and travel through the High Atlas Mountains, crossing the 2,260-meter high Tizi n Tichka pass surrounded by oak trees and walnut groves.
- Afternoon: Go off-road to visit Telouet and the extravagant former palace of Pasha Glaoui, who once overshadowed the Sultan.
- Late Afternoon: Explore the famous adobe citadel of Ait Benhaddou, a postcard-perfect UNESCO World Heritage site featured in films like Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia.
- Night: Enjoy dinner and overnight accommodation in the lush Skoura palm grove.
Day 2: Canyons, Rose Valleys & The Sahara Dunes
- Morning: Take a walk in the Skoura palm grove to see the ingenious traditional water distribution system and local craftsmen. Drive through Kelaa des Mgouna, famous for its Rose Valley.
- Midday: Explore the spectacular Dades Gorge and visit the 300-meter-high Todra Gorges with its crystal-clear river.
- Afternoon: Pass through the historic caravan-trade town of Rissani before reaching Merzouga.
- Evening: Hop onto a camel for a trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes and watch the sun turn the sand from golden to burnt orange.
- Night: Spend the night in a traditional desert camp.
Day 3: Desert Sunrise, Fossils & The Draa Valley
- Morning: Wake up early to watch the sunrise over the dunes and enjoy optional sandboarding down the slopes.
- Afternoon: Drive a scenic route to Tazzarine, known for its fossils and prehistoric rock carvings, and pass the starkly beautiful volcanic peaks of Djebel Saghro.
- Night: Arrive at the Draa Valley palm grove for dinner and accommodation.
Day 4: Oases, Film Studios & Return to Marrakech
- Morning: Climb the Tizi n’Tinififft pass for a stunning view looking back over the Draa Valley’s green river of palms.
- Midday: Visit the Fint Oasis to witness traditional life and lush gardens set in the middle of a stone desert.
- Afternoon: Cross Ouarzazate, famous for its film studios where Game of Thrones was shot.
- Evening: Journey back to Marrakech through the High Atlas valleys along a route originally laid out by the French Foreign Legion.
Navigate the Extraordinary
Morocco is not a destination. It is a direction
Southern Soul
Journey Stops
- Telouet & Skoura – Crumbling Palaces & Palm Groves
- Todra Gorge – Limestone Canyons
- Sahara Desert – Deep Desert Immersion
- Draa Valley – The Green Serpent of Palms
- Ouarzazate – Film Studios & Fint Oasis
