Help with South Morocco itinerary
 

Hi everyone,
We are arriving into Marrakesh 11/22 and departing 11/28 mid-day..6 days..not a lot of time to see everything so I need help figuring out what parts are definite must-do's..I feel like I want to see/spend a night in the Sahara, visit Ait ben Houddin, spend 2 days in Marrakesh and also visit Essouira on the coast...but I feel like I don't have enough to time to do all this :( I feel like I need to choose between the Sahara or Essouira..and I really really want to visit both.
Any thoughts? ideas?

SS

Would you suggest we do a day-trip to Essaouira or go there for the day and night? Maybe we can squeeze in a day-tour there from Marrakesh..maybe that would make more sense..

Nov 22-Marrakesh
Nov 23-Marrakesh
Nov 24-Day trip to Essaouira, Marrakesh
Nov 25-Ait ben Haddou, Ouarzazat
Nov 26-tour to Totra Gorge/Sahara
Nov 27-tour to Totra Gorge/Sahara, cont'd
Nov 28-drive from Ouarzazat to Marakesh Airport

thoughts?

My suggestion would be as follows.
Nov 22 Marrakech
Nov 23 Marrakech
Nov 24 Ait Ben haddou, Ouarzazate, Overnight in the Todra Gorges.
Nov 25 Overnight in the Sand dunes of Erg Chebbi.
Nov 26 Marrakech,via the other route, Nkob, Agdz, Ouarzazate
Nov 27 Day trip to Essaouira, or overnight there depending on the time of your flight,
Nov 28 Airport transfer.
I think you will need to either rent a car and drive yourself or hire a Car and the a driver as your itinerary is really packed and you would not make it if you ll depend on the pub transportation.

Thanks for the suggestion..I found a 2 day tour from Oaurzazat to Totra Gorge and Sahara
http://www.ideal-tours-marrakech.com...rg-chebbi.html
so not sure if I would rather rent a car and go to the dunes alone..
this tour comp also has a day-tour to Essouira..

so the only other transportation I would need is Marrakesh to Ouarzazat..

have a nice trip .

You really don't need a tour for Essaouira - there are perfectly good buses.

Hi,

We had five days and used Marrakech as our base. We did a day trip by coach (CTM) to Essouira and we also went to the desert via Ouarzazate. Was really disappointed with Essouira as it's very touristy right now. I would choose the desert every time. If you have the time and feel you can do both if you get the 08hr00 coach from Marrakech you get to Essouira before lunch and the coach leaves again at 17hr00. Ouarzazate is far more scenic in my opinion. You have to cross the High Atlas mountains to reach it and the journey in itself is stunning and a bit of an extreme sport! You should take two days for this and an overnight in a tent in the desert. Hope that helps.

The Supratour bus is very nice. Be aware that it has it's own station in Essaouira, that's not shared by the other bus companies.

We liked the town, and we're not that big on touristy (besides, after Marrakesh, *nothing* seems touristy again). We thought Essa was relaxed and low pressure, which was nice.

Ait Ben Haddou is a great site, but stayed in Skoura for an overnight around there. We went north for the desert though, en route to Fez, so no help there.

I don't think you need a tour or to take the bus which I've done in the past. It's quite easy and inexpensive to hire a driver and their car for the trips. It's a chance to spend some time with the locals as well! Have spent the night in Sahara and also have spent some days in Essaouira. You could probably manage to do both. I think you may find the Sahara a unique experience. Morocco is such a beautiful place to visit. Hope you enjoy.