ON THE ROAD
After you’ve had your fill of busy
Marrakech, take to the road and head for
the desert. You can choose to rent a car
and self-drive or, for a more relaxing
journey, hire a driver, sit back, and let the
countryside unfold around you. Your path
will take you over the famous Atlas
Mountains, misty and mysterious in cooler
weather or with sweeping vistas on clear,
hot days. As the highway winds south east
towards the Algerian border, it traces the
incredible Draa Valley. The Draa is
Morocco’s longest river, flowing from high
in the Atlas Mountains, through the country
and out into the Atlantic ocean. You’ll
barely catch sight of the water, but you will
witness endless stretches of verdant palm
trees — 25 species to be exact — thattrace the watercourse. The valley is also
renowned for its ancient kasbahs — the
old, red-walled citadels that pepper
Morocco. Seeing them rise majestically
from the huge oasis of palm fronds is
positively spine tingling.
All along the route, the photo
opportunities are endless and you’ll find
yourself wanting to stop around every bend
to capture the changing scenes. In
Morocco, the journey is as much a part of
the experience as the destination itself. Just
remember that the road to the Sahara is a
long and winding one, so don’t rush it.
Break the nine-to-10 hour journey by
overnighting in charming mountain villages
or rustic local towns along the way.TOP STOPS
There are myriad charming maison d’hotes
en route to the Sahara in which to recover
from a long day’s drive.
KASBAH ELLOUZE
For a delightful stop in a converted kasbah,
book a room at Kasbah Ellouze
(kasbahellouze.com) in Ouarzazate —
around halfway between Marrakech and
the desert. Run by dynamic French
owners, it’s a sweet little bed and breakfast
with lovely food and a great pool. Enjoy a
romantic aperatif on the rooftop deck —
the view is one you won’t forget in a hurry.
DAR AZAWAD
Consider Dar Azawad (darazawad.com) in
tiny M’hamid for your jumping-off point to
the desert. The chic swimming pool and
friendly pet camel and donkeys, Madonna
and Shakira, add to the experience.
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:
Visit Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco’s most
famous kasbah. The county shows its
bucolic side. Dusty, charming M’hamid.
Dar Azawad’s refreshing pool. A rustic
road sign shows the way.DUST OFF YOUR
SCHOOLGIRL FRENCH
BOOKS AND BRUSH UP
ON A FEW WORDS. AFTER
ARABIC AND BERBER,
IT’S THE COUNTRY’S
UNOFFICIAL THIRD
LANGUAGE.290 | bridetobe.com.au