We depart from Agadir at 8am to Taroudant known as “the little Marrakesh”. Taroudant is spectacular for its massive 7.5km ramparts and beautiful medina. We stop to have lunch in Taliouine famous for its production of saffron and are one of the main exporters of this spice worldwide, after lunch we visit a museum about the art of growing saffron. We then continue on to Taznakht. This small town is famous for its Berber gelims and carpets. From here the road continues to Agdz via Bouazzer to spend the first night in Kasbah Tamnougalt, 16th –century fortified village, the mother of all ksour (castles)

After breakfast there will be a visit to Kasbah Tamnougalt before continuing towards Merzouga. We stop for lunch at a riad in N’Kob one of Morocco’s best-kept secrets where no less than 45 mud-brick ksour (castles). Later we pass through Tazzarine, featured in the film “Babel” and continue to your bivouac in Merzouga. After experiencing and partaking in the Moroccan tea ceremony you will then take a camel ride to watch the sun go down over the dunes. After descending the high dunes we have dinner and spend the night in a bivouac at the foot of the dunes.

Early birds can watch the spectacle of the majestic sunrise where the colour of the dunes and the play of shadows are an awesome sight. After breakfast we leave for the Todra gorges. The road passes through Tinjdad and the Todra Valley. After lunch there are plenty of opportunities to walk, either along the river, through the gardens or up the road. Later we continue to the Dades Gorges and Dades Valley known as the ‘Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs’. We have dinner and spend the night in a hotel.

After breakfast a walk in the Dades Gorges is scheduled. After the walk, the trip to Ouarzazate continues, going off-road along the Boutaghar piste to visit Berber nomads in their caves and have morning tea with them. From here we continue through the Valley of the Roses, where local rosewater and other rose oil products are available for sale. The route goes via Skoura on to Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, a World Heritage site and the backdrop for many Hollywood blockbusters. It is the most famous Kasbah in Morocco. Here we stop for lunch and a visit to the Kasbah. We continue to travel via Telouet through the expansive and scenic High Atlas Mountains and eventually descend from the heights to the Moroccan midlands and the majestic city of Marrakesh. We have dinner and spend the night in a hotel.

After breakfast the morning is spent with a guide visiting the sights of your choice before returning to Agadir after lunch. Optional selections of sights are the:

• Bahia Palace - one of the most beautiful palaces in Marrakech

• Saadian tombs – a truly rich architectural gem of the 16th century

• Souks - the famous Markets of Marrakesh

• Madressah ben Youssef - once the largest Islamic school in North Africa

• Majorelle Gardens which used to belong to Yves St Laurent

Not all of these are possible in one short morning but you could always add a sixth day!