Cultural Tours Handcrafted in Morocco
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  • Ouarzazate-day-tours-Kasbah Ait Benhaddou
  • Ouarzazate-day-tours-kasbah-ait benhaddou
  • Ouarzazate-day-tours-skoura-oasis
  • Ouarzazate-day-tours-skoura-amerhdil-kasbah
  • Ouarzazate-day-tours-road-ounila-valley
  • Ouarzazate-day-tours-Kasbah Telouet
  • Ouarzazate-day-tours-Telouet-kasbah
  • Ouarzazate-day-tours-tizi-n-tichka
Ouarzazate Day Tour

Great Kasbahs of the South

1 day

Tour Ref:   SV051
Tour start:   Ouarzazate
Tour end:   Ouarzazate
Tour type:   Day Tour
Regions:   Southern Valleys and Oases, High Atlas Mountains
Available:   All year upon request

Tour summary

Private day tour in 4x4 vehicle from Ouarzazate visiting the major strategic and historic kasbahs of the region. Includes Kasbah Amerhdil in Skoura, the Skoura Museum, UNESCO World Heritage site Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, ruined Kasbah Tamdaght and the partially restored 19th century Telouet Kasbah. The route takes you on a magnificent and picturesque journey through the Ounila Valley and then back over the Tizi n Tichka pass that traverses the High Atlas Mountains. A jam-packed cultural outing from Ouarzazate for those who want an insight into the architecture, history and tribal traditions of the southern kasbahs that ruled the caravan trade routes of a bygone era. Group size from 2 - 5 people sharing. All ages and fitness levels. Approx 8 hours drive on a circular route. English-speaking local guide.

Please note: All our Morocco tours can be customised to allow extra days for shorter daily car journeys, extra activities, relaxation days, exploration days etc. We can also adapt tours to connect with different start/end locations in Morocco. Let us know your wishes and we will build your perfect Morocco tour itinerary.

Price: Contact us for a personalised quotation.
Prices will vary according to number of people travelling in vehicle, number of days, time of year, category of accommodation chosen and activities requested.

NB Our Morocco tours are private tours organised upon request.

Day tour itinerary

Day 1

Ouarzazate - Skoura - Ait Benhaddou - Ounila Valley - Telouet Kasbah - Tizi n'Tichka

8.30/9.00am departure from your hotel in Ouarzazate we follow the "Route of a Thousand Kasbahs" east to the grand palm groves of Skoura Oasis. Here we have a guided visit of the 17th century Kasbah Amerhdil with its square towers etched with Saharan motifs and gaze out over its battlements to the palm groves and the snow capped High Atlas Mountains. On route we will pass by Kasbah Ait Ben Moro (now a boutique guest-house) and see many other kasbahs in amongst the palm groves. To get a better understanding of the significance of the kasbahs and local tribes, we pause at the Skoura Museum which has photos and artifacts revealing the life of the Skoura Oasis which founded by Sultan Yacoub El Mansour in the 12th century. We then double back via Ouarzazate and head north to Morocco’s most famous kasbah - the UNESCO World Heritage site of Kasbah Ait Benhaddou. Here we climb the ancient dusty streets to the top of the most impressive intact walled kasbah in Morocco, the scene of many epic Hollywood films like Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia. Lunch will be enjoyed near to the kasbah. After few kilometres we stop briefly at the ruined Kasbah Tamdaght built by the Glaoui family who ruled southern Morocco for over half a century. From here the journey weaves into the High Atlas, through the rugged beauty of the fertile Ounila valley, once part of the ancient Sub-Saharan camel trading route before the construction of the Tizi n Tichka pass in the 1930’s. Our final visit of the tour is the gothic-like remains of Kasbah Telouet, seat of power to the Thami El Glaoui, the Pacha of Marrakech during the French Protectorate until he fled Morocco in 1956, branded as a traitor. Here there are some remarkable mosaics and tiled reception rooms, with commanding views over the surrounding valley. A guide will be available to explain the history. We return to Ouarzazate by the spectacular Tizi N’Tichka pass with stunning panoramic views across the High Atlas Mountains as the road heads back to a more arid semi-desert landscape. Your day tour from Ouarzazate gets you back at around 7/8pm after a jam-packed day of magnificent scenery, culture and history.

Stay: N/A

Meal plan: N/A

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