Day 1 of a three day return TRIP to the dunes of Erg Chebbi, sees us leaving Marrakech in a Prado 4WD. The distance of 562 km is estimated to take 9 hours when driven direct, but we would be using this outward bound portion of the trip to looks at things along the way, incorporating an overnight stop in the Dades Gorge. Our second night would be spent in Berber Tents in the Sahara desert and the morning we would be driven back to Marrakech with only one stop for lunch. We organised the trip before leaving Australia. It came with a driver and was shared with one other person whom we met on the day.
This post covers the mid morning session from Marrakech to the 2260 m high point in the Atlas Mountains.
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It was surprising to see modern day shepherds resolutely protecting their flocks from predator vehicles, shortly after leaving MARRAKECH.
This sight was to become less frequent the next day as the desert landscape began to dominate.
In the unspoilt and lush Valley of Oued Zat, cultivation alternates between Olives, Citrus, Walnuts and vegetables while donkeys carried everything from grass to bricks.
Only 30 km from dry and dusty Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains offer a peek into a dramatically different world. Even if you lack the time to travel as far as the Erg Chebbi dunes of the Sahara, I urge you to consider a day trip to the High Atlas. They offer outstanding scenery, a spectacular road and a change of pace.
Tizi Ait Barka morning rest stop provides spectacular views and a Latte and Muffin.
Traditional Berber villages dotted with satellite dishes blend old and new worlds together.
The Prado faced the challenges of a road that snaked up to the high point of 2260 metres. Our driver turned off the air-conditioning to help the engine and as we had left the 40 degree heat behind in Marrakech, we had no objections.
The N9 from Marrakech to Tizi N Tichka Pass was built by the French Foreign Legion in 1936 and it’s views were spectacular. I can only imagine it’s well maintained myriad twists and turns to be a motorcyclists dream.
If you look closely at the photo below you can see a sprinkling of red poppies. Our driver said Yes, Yes in answer to my question – Are the flowers opium poppies?
The next instalments of the Journey continue to Ait Benhaddou and the Dades Gorge, on route to our destination of the Erg Chebbi dunes of the Sahara.
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More from my site
Taxi from Marrakech Airport to Medina and Marrakech Riad Maizie
Sixteen Things You Must Do in Marrakech Morocco
Marrakech to the Dunes of Erg Chebbi – The Sahara (Part 5)
Marrakech to the Dunes of Erg Chebbi – Dades Gorge and Todra Gorge (Part 4)
Marrakech to the Dunes of Erg Chebbi – Ait Ben Haddou (Part 3)
Marrakech to the Dunes of Erg Chebbi – Argan Oil and Mountains (Part 2)
Tuesday in Townsville
Wow, the greens are so vibrant! Love the beige and orange houses against the bright green grass and fields. Great shots
Such a surprising place and the rest of the trip was equally so.
Modern day shepherds, rural scenes, donkey, winding snaking roads, opium poppies- what an intriguing and wonderful trip 🙂
I would love to go back one day and do more than just drive through these places, although we did get to do some investigating.
This looks like an amazing cultural experience! Thanks for sharing!
With more time available it would become more of a cultural experience, but the trip being just three days we spent a lot of time in the vehicle.
Traditional Berber villages are so beautiful…
They are Muza-chan. Unfortunately we did not get to look inside one.
Oh you have so sparked the travel bug in me. I’d love to do this trip – your photos and narrative spot on!!
Thanks Jackie, I thought the trip was fantastic as we saw a cross section of the country. It would have been wonderful to have had more time to explore.
These are fabulous Jan. It’s a trip I’ve always wanted to do but I’ve never seen quite the set of photos that you’ve got. It’s so much greener than I would have ever imagined. Now when can I go is the question.
Thanks Leigh, We were there in May. There are only certain areas (valleys) that are green. In the next weeks I will be doing more posts showing how the country changes on the way to Merzouga where the dunes of Erg Chebbi are. It was a very interesting trip.
What spectacular views! Wish I can go there too and take my time. I would love to spend at least a month there!
The views in the High Atlas are truly amazing. I could not have been more surprised.
Nice photos and story.
Thanks for the feedback Dick.
That photo of the road from a distance looks like one of the roads they have the sports cars drive in the commercials.
Ha ha – it does!
That is just AMAZING countryside! It looks like a cross between the Alps and the Outback. Fantastic!!
Yes it was. I was so glad that we decided to do that trip. More pictures to come too.
It’s so green! We didn’t do this trip but now I want to..it looks great. Love your photos
It was a great trip – the green disappears soon though.
oh wow – thank you for taking us along with you. So interesting to see places I haven’t travelled to. Fantastic views. I look forward to following along.
Thanks Jill – next installment on Thursday!
That is incredible photos – its weird to see the technology among the old houses! Yet sure is a show of the times.
How funny that the air-conditioning had to be turned off.
Did the flowers have any affects on anyone 🙂
Marrakech was full of satellite dishes, but I was a little surprised to see it in the country; I think he turned the air-con off because it was easier on the engine going up the mountain; If they were opium poppies, I assume they were being used as a drug 🙂
What gorgeous scenery! I’d probably eat at least two muffins if I could sit and just stare for a couple of hours!
It was a wonderful view, unfortunately we had to keep moving, so only time for one muffin!
Good Idea – so many great places.