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- Duration
- Full day
- Tour type
- Day trips
- Languages
- Spanish, English, French
Overview
A full day on a private tour crossing the High Atlas, visiting the Glaoui kasbah in Telouet, following the Ounila Valley and reaching the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou.
Tour highlights
- Crossing the High Atlas (2,260 m) with photo stops
- Telouet kasbah, former residence of the Glaoui family
- Ounila Valley, with caves and Berber villages
- Visit to the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- The old salt caravan route
Route at a glance
Full day
- Your accommodation in Marrakech Starting point
- Ait Ben Haddou
- Your accommodation in Marrakech Ending point
About this tour
This day trip follows the old caravan route between southern Morocco and Marrakech. Along the way you see two very different earthen fortresses: the kasbah of Telouet, now in ruins, and the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Telouet belonged to the Glaoui family, one of the most powerful in the country. The last pasha, governor of the region and an ally of the French, fled Morocco after they left, and the kasbah was abandoned. It stood on the salt route to Marrakech, used by merchants bringing gold from Ghana and exotic bird feathers from Sudan.
The route then heads down the Ounila Valley, with stops to look at the mountains, a few caves and Berber villages, all the way to Ait Ben Haddou. This ksar is a walled group of kasbahs built from mud brick the same colour as the mountains. A few families still live there and it has been the setting for many films.
This is a private tour with an accompanying Spanish-speaking driver, with pick-up from and return to your accommodation in Marrakech.
Itinerary
Print this itinerary-
Start time 7:00
Pick-up in Marrakech and crossing the High Atlas
Route Marrakech - Telouet
We pick you up from your accommodation in Marrakech at 7:00. The route crosses the High Atlas (2,260 m), with several stops for photos and a break.
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Telouet kasbah
First visit: the kasbah of Telouet, which belonged to the Glaoui family. It has been in ruins since the last pasha, an ally of the French, fled the country after they left.
The kasbah lies on the old salt caravan route into Marrakech, travelled by merchants bringing gold from Ghana, exotic bird feathers from Sudan and tales of faraway kingdoms.
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Ounila Valley
Route Telouet - Ait Ben Haddou
We continue through the Ounila Valley, with several stops to take in the mountain scenery, a few caves and Berber villages.
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Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou
Arrival at Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for lunch and the guided visit. It is a ksar, a walled group of kasbahs, built from mud brick the same colour as the surrounding mountains.
Its economic importance came from the caravans crossing the desert. Today a few residents live alongside the visitors, and the site has been the setting for many films.
Lunch and entrance fees are not included.
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Start time 16:00
Return to Marrakech
Route Ait Ben Haddou - Marrakech Distance 180 km each way Travel time 3 hr 30 min each way
Departure from Ait Ben Haddou at 16:00, arriving in Marrakech at around 19:30.
What's included
Included
- Transport and fuel
- Private tour with an accompanying Spanish-speaking driver
- Pick-up from and return to your accommodation in Marrakech
Not included
- Lunch
- Visits and entrance fees
- Tips
Good to know
Conditions
- Exclusive private tour
- If the trip is cancelled due to bad weather, we offer a new date or a full refund
- Baby car seat available if booked in advance
- This tour is not suitable for wheelchair users
- Temperatures are higher in July and August
- Vegetarian options available if you book in advance
