DISCOVERING SOUTHERN MOROCCO

When we speak of southern Morocco, we can imagine the desert and the beginning of the Sahara. But this region of Morocco has very varied landscapes, which gradually pass from the high Atlas mountains to the desert. On the roads of southern Morocco, we meet palm groves, old kasbah and other traditional houses but also gorges or beautiful valleys.

There is a lot to see in this region of Morocco and even if it is not huge, it does not run fast and it is necessary to provide time to discover this region of Morocco.

In this post, I give you some tips to make a good trip in southern Morocco while resting.

Where To Start Your Roadtrip?

For me, the best place to start a trip in southern Morocco is Marrakech. The city is served by low cost airlines and this allows to find a cheap flight.

Marrakech is a little less than 200 km from Ouarzazate, a real entry into southern Morocco. The road between Marrakech and Ouarzazate passes through the Atlas and the Tizi n'Tichka (a pass of a little over 2000 meters). Allow 4 to 5 hours for this trip.

Depart from Marrakech (and therefore come back for the return flight) and also a good solution to discover the city if you do not know it. 
The offer of hotels or riads is very wide. Booking a nice hotel in Marrakech allows to rest 2/3 days after a roadtrip and before leaving Morocco. There are luxury riads in Marrakech where you can relax in beautiful oriental decorations. A beautiful experience to finish a stay in Morocco!

The city is beautiful but for me, it goes further and further from the real Morocco, I spoke in this post dedicated to Marrakech .

It is also possible to reach southern Morocco from other cities such as Agadir but the journey will be longer.

Prepare your road trip!

Are you going on a road trip to Morocco soon? I invite you to read my ticket to prepare his road trip to Morocco .

I mention all the points related to the preparation of his trip, from the car rental to the route to remember.

Car Essential?

Everyone will have their vision on the issue. 
For me, the car is not essential but almost ;-)

As soon as you get away from big cities, the frequency of buses is much lower and making all trips by public transport will take a lot of time and comfort will not be there. 
In addition, this rural region of Morocco must be discovered in depth and not only on the edges of the national road. To go to the small villages, to go through the gorges or the valleys, the car is essential.

Alternatively, find a taxi by the day. It is possible but in the end it will cost you more than a rental car! In addition, for those who are not necessarily reassured for driving in Morocco, on the roads of southern Morocco, there is very little car and it is done very well in passenger vehicle, the 4 × 4 is not required, at least for a first trip to this region.

By cons, if you start your roadtrip in Marrakech, pay attention to traffic in Marrakech. It's dense, it's going fast, there are people everywhere. It is necessary to be vigilant but one accustoms very quickly ;-)

What To Visit In Southern Morocco?

As mentioned above, southern Morocco is a very rich region. There are many things to see and discover.

This part of the ticket is not intended to list all the points of interest of southern Morocco in an exhaustive manner but just to show you the variety of landscapes that are found in this region. 
This region of Morocco also allows to discover a rural Morocco and to meet families living mainly from agriculture.

A rural Morocco

Southern Morocco is a rural region. There are few cities and they are much smaller than cities like Fez, Tangier, Rabat, ... Ouarzazate does not count for example a little less than 100,000 inhabitants.

There are many villages, hamlets and isolated dwellings. 
I recommend you stop at the palm of Skoura, one of the most beautiful palm groves of Morocco, at the foot of the Atlas. The palm grove is inhabited and there are many families living from agriculture in the palm grove.

Gorges and valleys

This region of Morocco has a fairly varied terrain. The foothills of the Atlas are that there are gorgeous gorges and valleys.

Todra Gorge (pronounced Todra) are very pleased to make a small stop. The Dades Valley is beautiful. Plan to travel a long time, the roads are winding, time goes very quickly ;-)

Jbel Saghro is the highest point of the Anti Atlas and culminates at 2700 meters above sea level. It is an arid region with rock formations that remind you of Monument Valley, less grandiose all the same, it must be recognized.

It is a very sparsely populated area. It is the ideal place in the area for trekking or walking. Allow a lot of time because the most beautiful places are not in the immediate vicinity of the national road! 
One of my favorites in southern Morocco!

The dunes of the Sahara

Flagship landscape of southern Morocco: the desert of sand. Before the dunes of the Sahara, the landscape is already desert for a lot of kilometers but it is not sand dunes that are for many the only synonym of the desert.

I spoke previously on this blog possibilities to see dunes in Morocco and go to the Moroccan desert . I recommend Merzouga, easy to reach and with beautiful dunes. 
Plan to spend a night in the desert or at a nearby hostel to enjoy the colors of the dunes at sunrise/sunset. Memories that will always be engraved in mind for a long time!

If you go to Morocco, really think about a road trip in this region, for the nature side, it is the most beautiful region of Morocco!