South & desert
Why go?
As you leave the Atlas mountains heading south east to
Ouarzazate, you find yourself, almost without warning, in an arid
semi-desert which blends gradually into the classic sand dunes and
rocky ranges of the Sahara. But these first brushes with the desert
are surprisingly well-watered, thanks to the run-off from the
Atlas, with bright green riverside meadows and extensive palmeries
dotted with once-wealthy ksour (kasbah-hamlets).
Ouarzazate itself is a modern, regional administrative town
with little of interest for the tourist, but 32km away is the
famous Ait Benhaddou, one the best preserved kasbah-towns in
the Atlas and featured in many films, including Lawrence of Arabia.
If you continue past the throngs of Ait Benhaddou, you reach the
equally lovely and lesser-visited village of Tamadaght with its
crumbling fortifications and alleys.
From Ouarzazate, there are two main routes to the
desert:
1. To Erfoud (and the dunes at Merzouga) via the Dades Valley (aka
the 'Valley of a thousand Kasbahs'), Tinerhir and the Todra
Gorge.
2. To Zagora (for the dunes at Tinfou and M'hamid) via the Draa
Valley.