scfphoto

Planning an itinerary for next April. Can one drive (we would hire a driver/guide) from Fez out through the scenic desert areas and see a few notable sights along the way, to Quarzazate in 1 day? Is it too much? Is spending the night somewhere along the way is necessary? That seems to be what I have read in most trip reports? We would probably do some desert day trips from Quarzazate. Any suggestions for nice upper class accom. along the way appreciated. Thanks SF.

Clifton

My personal opinion is that you could theoretically drive it... but it would be a long tiring day and you don't have a lot of time for stopping. I drove that area myself, in a rental car. The roads are ok. But you're missing so much. Not sure what else you have on your agenda causing the squeeze.

Say, Merzouga. Better on the way than from Oarzazate (note the "O", rather than "Q", in case you're searching. Beautiful golden dunes out on Merzouga. Then the road along the mountains has gorges to do detours up and back. When you're coming from Fez, you'll come to - a not so Moroccan looking town, but a great place to buy craft stuff cheap and it's got a excellent local market once a week. There are wold barbary "apes" around there too.

After Azrou, the whole landscape gets dramatic and looks a lot like the American southwest with the red rock formations, etc. Then you can split off and go straight to Merzouga or head south along the road that goes to Ouarzazate, from which the Dades and Todra gorges run off of. You'd come back to this road via a small cut-across road if you were to go to Merzouga.

Can't help on accom on that level. We tend a little lower level. I did really like the place we stayed near Ouarzazate though, in the town of Skoura, in a well restored old kasbah. The rooms are windowless (hey, it's a castle of mud) but full of character and very well kept and modernized. But best was the roof with a view to the mountains and over the palm oasis surrounding it and all the other kasbahs poking up from the trees. It was cool to lay on the warm roof with no light to get in the way of seeing the stars. Perfectly silent. They've got a pretty good restaurant onsite.

Clifton

Somehow I deleted too much, but the not-so-Moroccan looking town after Fez is "Azrou".

scfphoto

No real squeeze just tying to figure how to do the the loop. Trying to figure out what to see and do. Whether stopping along the way or staying in Ouarzazate for a few days and doing day trips from there. We usually prefer to stay in one spot 3 days or more and do side trips rather than pack and move every day. Thanks. Yes it is an O not Q. Sorry.

Clifton

No worries on the spelling. I am not usually a type corrector, honest! Just saw it twice and wasn't sure and thought if you were googling or something.... (ps, not to be a pedant, but it took months for me to actually hear the town name sounded out, so thought I'd share that the town's pronounced, roughly: 'WAR-za-zaht')

I get the desire to set up and stay awhile. Fez is a good base for that, for instance. Meknest, Volubolis are easy to see from there.

I could see backtracking out to the gorges from Ouarzazate. The town itself didn't rock my world, but it is somewhat close to those, as well as Ait Benhaddou, an atmospheric, semi-abandoned, mud city on a hillside, used a lot for well-known movie backdrops.

Merzouga though, that's a bit far for a day trip... especially since the best times, I thought, were sunrise and sunset. I just noticed the "photo" in your screen name. The long shadows out there are ... well... wow. (my opinion anyway). Merzouga is where the big golden dunes are. I understand there's another edge of the Sahara, southeast of Ouarzazate, but that it's more a rocky plain sort of desert system at that spot.

Anyway, this is a couple of pics I took of the Merzouga area, (sundown) that would give you an idea. The camels take people out for overnights in Berber tented camps out in the dunes.

http://www.travelisfatal.com/gallery...w&gazimage=121

http://www.travelisfatal.com/gallery...ew&gazimage=79

scfphoto

Brilliant photos Clifton! After talking to DW she has her sights set on several days at Dar Ahlam which in Skoura. I know $$$$. Then letting them take us to their desert camp and touring us around the area to hopefully see some of the sights like your photos. Just trying to work out the logistics of getting there. Will be going to Marrakesh and Fes at either end depending on availability at chosen riads and air travel from Spain.

scfphoto

Clifton, Is there a good 1/2 way point to stop for a night between Fes and Skoura you could recommend? Maybe near Midelt Er-Rachida, Tinerhir or along that road? Due to airline schedules it seems we would do Fes first then Skoura with trip out to dunes then Marrakesh and fly to London from there.

Clifton

scf, sorry I can't be of more help with the accomodation side.

Between Fez and Skoura, we stayed in Azrou and in Merzouga, but neither of those are well placed as a mid-point for your trip (and neither of our choices were very upscale at all).