Road trips
Enjoy a thrilling journey through majestic mountains and arid desert, taking in some of Morocco's most historic sites along the way, with transfers run by our experienced local drivers. Transfers to M'hamid from Marrakech, Agadir or Ouarzazate.
Travel in comfort by air-conditioned taxi from Marrakech, Agadir or Ouarzazate
Pass through stunning scenery ranging from dizzying mountain passes to green oases
Break up the journey with stops for historical sites and killer photo ops
Refuel with a traditional Moroccan lunch en-route (price not included)
Door-to-door transfer from a location of your choice to your hotel in M'hamid
Road trip highlights
An epic
from €290 return
Road trip prices
From Marrakech
Air conditioned taxi (1-6 people)
Air conditioned bus (7-16 people)
€380 return
€690 return
journey
From Agadir
Air conditioned taxi (1-6 people)
€480 return
€670 return
Air conditioned bus (7-16 people)
Price quoted is the total price you pay, regardless of the number of travellers
From Ouarzazate
Air conditioned taxi (1-6 people)
€290 return
Air conditioned bus (7-16 people)
€420 return
Into the Atlas Mountains
Heading south-east from Marrakech, dusty plains give way to the towering High Atlas mountain range as we traverse, via a series of dizzying hairpin bends, the Tizi n'Tichka, the highest mountain pass in North Africa, reaching 2,260m (7,400ft). We make a short stop here where you can take pictures, grab a cup of tea or buy souvenirs.
Road trip from Marrakech & Ouarzazate
Departs from: Marrakech
Duration: Around 7h (no stops)
or 8h 30m with stops
Departure time: early morning
Distance: 500km (310 miles)
Abandoned gas station film set
Having passed through the mountains, we head towards the city of Ouarzazate, home of the world famous Atlas Studios. We make a brief diversion from the main N9 to the intriguing abandoned gas station used as a filming location for the 2006 horror film The Hills Have Eyes. Pause for pictures at this unique slice of America in the Moroccan wilderness.
Fortress of Aït Benhaddou
We pause for lunch at the ksar (fortified village) of Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which may look familiar having served as a backdrop to everything from Lawrence of Arabia to Game of Thrones. After lunch, explore the narrow alleyways and crenellated towers of the ksar which, as well as being a major tourist attraction and filming location, is still home to a few Berber families who maintain their traditional way of life.
Tamegroute - seat of learning
South of Ouarzazate, we pass through the captivating Tizi n' Tinififft mountain pass before following the course of the Draa, Morocco's longest river, once the main source of water for the south but now dry for much of the year after the construction of the Ouarzazate dam in the 1970s.
After passing through the town of Zagora and the green oasis in which it lies, we reach Tamegroute, known for its distinctive green pottery and home to a zaouia (Islamic religious school) founded in the 16th century and a library which you can visit and wonder at the ancient manuscripts within. From here, the scenery becomes increasingly desert-like as we approach M'hamid El Ghizlane, our final destination.
Note: Ouarzazate road trip begins from step 4 above, taking in Tizi n' Tinififft and Tamegroute.
Road trip from Agadir
Departs from: Agadir
Duration: Around 7h 30m (no stops)
or 9h with stops
Departure time: early morning
Distance: 550km (340 miles)
Taroudant - mini Marrakech
Heading eastwards on the N10, around an hour and a half outside of Agadir, the honey coloured walls of the town of Taroudant loom into view. Sometimes known as 'Little Marrakech', it offers a well-preserved medina (walled city) with vibrant souks (markets), but on a smaller scale than its more famous counterpart and offering a more laid-back, authentic atmosphere. We will make a quick stop here to check out the souks which run off Place Asarag and Place Talmoklate, the town's two main squares.
Lunch in Tazenakht
As we continue east, the landscape becomes more mountainous as we pass through the Anti Atlas mountains, with the towering peak of the 3,000m (10,000ft) high Jbel Sirwa (Mount Sirwa) looming into view on our left. We pass through Taliouine, famous for its Saffron production (if you travel with us in September or October you may see the crop being harvested), before reaching the small town of Tazenakht, where we stop for lunch.
Tamegroute and its ancient library
At Agdz, we turn onto the N9, which follows the course of the Draa, Morocco's longest river, lined with green palm oases. At Tamegroute, famed for its distinctive green pottery, we pause to visit the 16th century zaouia (Islamic religious school) and view some of the stunning ancient manuscripts in its library. Back on the road, the landscape becomes ever more desert like (you may even see some camels!) before we reach M'hamid El-Ghizlane, where this journey ends.
Want to know more? See full details of our Sahara camel treks and if you have questions see our Camel Trek FAQ.
What's included
Included in your road trip
Transport in comfortable air conditioned taxi or bus driven by an experienced driver
What's not included
Short stops at historical sites, viewpoints and other places of interest along the route
Cost of lunch. We will stop at a restaurant but you can choose what you want to eat and how much you want to pay
Optional tips / gratuities for your driver
Pick-up from a location of your choice in Marrakech, Agadir or Ouarzazate (pick-up from other cities available on request)
Entry to paid museums or attractions you may wish to visit en-route
Our camel treks
• Sahara Plus – a three‑night route with more time in the dunes
• Sahara Pro – our most comprehensive expedition, five nights in the desert
• Sahara for Beginners – a gentle two‑night introduction to the desert
• If you want to see exactly where M’hamid is, our homepage has a simple map showing the distances from Marrakech, Agadir and Ouarzazate.
