There is a road that leaves Marrakech heading south and does not stop surprising you until you reach the edge of the Sahara. It crosses the High Atlas, passes through ancient kasbahs, runs alongside rose fields and gorges carved 300 metres deep, and ends at the largest sand dunes in Morocco.

The drive from Marrakech to Merzouga is around 560 kilometres. On a straight run it takes about 9 hours. Nobody should do it as a straight run. The stops along the way are not inconveniences. They are what the trip is actually about.

Here is the route and what you will find at each stop.

The Tizi n’Tichka Pass

About 100 kilometres south of Marrakech the road starts climbing into the High Atlas. The Tizi n’Tichka pass sits at 2,260 metres. On clear days the views go on forever. On cloudy mornings the mountain villages appear out of fog.

Berber villages line the road up to the pass. Stalls sell fossils, minerals, and rugs. If this is your first time in the Moroccan mountains, the pass alone is worth the early start from Marrakech.

Ait Ben Haddou

About 30 kilometres before Ouarzazate, just off the main road, sits one of the most extraordinary structures in Morocco.

Ait Ben Haddou is a fortified earthen city that has been inhabited for centuries. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and you will probably recognise it from films. Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and several seasons of Game of Thrones were shot here. The real thing is more impressive than any of those.

Give it at least 90 minutes. Hire a local guide at the gate for around 100 dirhams. They know the history and the stories behind each tower.

Ouarzazate

Ouarzazate is called the Hollywood of Africa. The Atlas Film Studios here have hosted productions from around the world for decades.

The Taourirt Kasbah in the centre of town is worth an hour. The city itself is calm and easy after the intensity of Marrakech, a good place to have a proper lunch and reset before heading further east.

From Ouarzazate the landscape shifts. The air gets drier. The colours change from green to gold to rust. You are moving toward the desert now and you can feel it.

Skoura and the Valley of Roses

The Skoura oasis east of Ouarzazate is a dense forest of date palms hiding ancient kasbahs and centuries-old irrigation channels. Walking into it on foot is one of the quiet pleasures of this whole route.

Further east around Kelaat M’Gouna the Valley of Roses begins. In April and May both sides of the road are covered in Damask roses grown for perfume. The smell on a warm morning is something you will not forget.

Dades Gorge and Todra Gorge

These two gorges sit about 100 kilometres apart and both deserve their own half day.

The Dades Gorge cuts through red rock formations the locals call the Monkey Fingers. The road climbs steeply before opening onto high plateau views that are worth the drive alone.

Todra Gorge is narrower and more dramatic. At its tightest point the walls rise 300 metres on each side with a small river running along the base. Standing there and looking straight up makes you properly quiet. Not many places do that.

Merzouga and the Sahara

After two days on the road, the Sahara appears suddenly. The stone desert gives way to sand and the dunes of Erg Chebbi rise up to 150 metres above the flat ground around them.

The experience every first-time visitor wants is real and it lives up to expectations. A camel trek at sunset into the dunes. A night in a desert camp with Berber music around a fire. A sunrise from the top of the highest dune the next morning. All of it is worth it.

Choose your camp carefully. The difference between a basic tent and a good luxury camp at Merzouga is significant. Our team at Moroccan Gate works with the best camps in the area and arranges the right option for each group.