The Road of 1000 Kasbahs and the Desert in 10 Days
This itinerary is ideal for travelers who want a scenic and memorable road trip through southern Morocco. Starting from Marrakech, it combines the High Atlas, Ait Benhaddou, Ouarzazate, Skoura, the Dades Valley, Todgha Gorge, Merzouga and the Draa Valley before looping back to Marrakech. It is one of the best ways to experience Morocco’s dramatic mountain scenery, fortified villages, palm groves, desert landscapes and some of the country’s most iconic road sections in a single trip. The pace is steady, but it remains realistic for travelers who are comfortable with a few longer driving days.
Quick Facts
- Best for: Road-trip lovers, first-time visitors looking for a strong southern route, couples, photographers, scenery-focused travelers
- Duration: 10 days
- Start: Marrakech
- End: Marrakech
- Pace: Moderate
- Best with: Rental car or private driver
- Includes: High Atlas, kasbahs, valleys, gorges, desert landscapes, scenic drives, fortified villages
Day by Day Itinerary
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Days 1 & 2 - Marrakech
Begin the trip in Marrakech and use the first two days to settle in before heading south. Explore the medina, major monuments, gardens and souks, and enjoy the city’s mix of history, color and energy. This also gives you a useful contrast before moving into the quieter landscapes of the Atlas and the south.
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Day 3 - High Atlas and Ait Benhaddou
Leave Marrakech and cross the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka route, one of the country’s classic mountain drives. Continue to Ait Benhaddou, one of Morocco’s most iconic ksars and one of the natural highlights of any southern itinerary. After visiting the site, continue to Ouarzazate or nearby for the night.
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Day 4 - Ouarzazate and Skoura
Spend the day in and around Ouarzazate before continuing toward Skoura. This section introduces the kasbah landscapes and palm-filled scenery that define much of southern Morocco. Skoura, with its large palm grove and old kasbahs, is one of the classic gateways to the Road of 1000 Kasbahs. Overnight in Skoura or nearby.
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Day 5 - Skoura to Dades Valley
Continue east through southern Morocco’s fortified-village landscapes and valley roads. The route becomes increasingly scenic as you move toward the Dades Valley, one of the most memorable sections of the trip, known for old villages, cultivated patches, red rock scenery and winding roads. Overnight in the Dades area.
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Day 6 - Dades Valley and Todgha Gorge
Spend the day exploring the Dades Valley and continue to Todgha Gorge, where the scenery shifts from broad valley landscapes to steep canyon walls and a more dramatic mountain setting. This is one of the most scenic days of the itinerary and a strong reminder that southern Morocco is not just about the desert. Overnight in the Tinghir area, Todgha area or back toward Dades depending on your pace.
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Day 7 - Todgha & Tinghir to Merzouga
Continue southeast toward Merzouga. This is one of the longer transfer days of the trip, but it leads to one of the most iconic experiences in Morocco. By late afternoon, the landscape gives way to dunes and open desert scenery. Spend the night in Merzouga or in a desert camp, depending on the style of trip you want.
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Day 8 - Merzouga Desert
Use this day to properly experience the desert rather than treating it as a quick overnight stop. Enjoy the dunes, the quieter rhythm of the region, and above all do not miss sunrise over the sand, which is often one of the most memorable moments of the trip.
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Day 9 - Merzouga to the Draa Valley & Agdz
Begin the return west by taking a more scenic southern route through Rissani, Alnif, Nkob and the Draa Valley. This avoids a plain backtrack and adds another distinct landscape to the itinerary, with palm groves, old villages and a more remote feel. Overnight in Agdz or elsewhere in the Draa Valley.
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Day 10 - Draa Valley & Agdz to Marrakech
Continue back toward Marrakech via Ouarzazate and the High Atlas. This is another substantial driving day, but it completes a strong and coherent southern loop rather than a simple out-and-back route.
This itinerary is manageable for most travelers, but it does include a few long road days. Those who prefer a slower pace may want to add extra time in the Dades Valley or Merzouga, or extend the trip to 12 days.
Page last updated: June 2026
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