We meet you at your hotel or riad at 08.00am with our 4WD vehicle for this private tour and set off on our ascent of the High Atlas Mountains.

The winding road skirts around the mountainsides affording spectacular scenery as we climb upwards to the important Tizi-n-Tichka pass – the highest major mountain pass in North Africa - nestled at a height of 2,260m.

As with the rest of this private tour, your driver will stop off en route for photo opportunities of breathtaking views and the scenic beauty of the many Berber villages throughout our travels.

Shortly after beginning our descent, we take a detour on a minor mountain road – formerly part of the ‘Salt Route’ – to visit the Kasbah Telouet. Reputed to be the most beautiful Kasbah in Morocco, it’s hard to understand why as you approach the crumbling, ochre-coloured building. But step inside and you’ll start to appreciate how this unusual edifice has earned such an important place in the history books of Morocco.

Kasbah Telouet dates back to the 18th century and was occupied solely by the legendary Glaoui family until as recently as 1956. Among its occupants was The Lord of the Atlas - T’hami el Glaoui - one of the country’s wealthiest and most powerful pashas. Amidst the decay, restoration work is revealing some remarkable craftsmanship and, with it, an insight into the layout and lifestyle enjoyed within this magnificent former residence.

Back on to the mountain road we head for Aït Ben Haddou where you will be joined by our professional guide who will accompany you around this historic Ksar.

Now a UNESCO world heritage site, Ait Ben Haddou dates back to the 17th Century and is an outstanding example of early southern Morocco architecture.

And, not only will you be stepping back in time here, you can also follow in the footsteps of film stars who have appeared in productions such as Gladiator, The Mummy, Lawrence of Arabia and Game of Thrones which used this magnificent backdrop for some of their location shoots.

After lunch at Aït Ben Haddou, we make our way through the Ounila Valley, peppered with Berber villages clinging to the hillsides, before reaching Ouarzazate – the movie capital of Morocco – where you will have dinner and spend the night at your hotel.

After breakfast, we leave Ouarzazate, and head through the Jbel Sarhro volcanic mountain range: a wild and almost barren region of striking rock formations and panoramic views of gorges.

Seemingly inhospitable, it is the homeland of the Aït Atta tribe whose ancestors can be traced back to before the 7th century. As we move into the Drâa Valley, we follow Morocco’s longest river as it snakes its way towards Agdz and the Sahara. Palm groves – the area is known locally as the Country of Dates – and various fruit and vegetable crops quench their thirst for life among the many oases along the valley floor.

Our route takes us through Tamnougalt to visit the ancient Kasbah – also the location backdrop for movies such as Babel and Princess of Persia. By now, the scenery is changing noticeably as we approach Zagora and prepare to wave farewell to civilization as the desert looms on the horizon.

Twenty kilometers out of Zagora we break our journey at Tamgroute, notable not just as a historic seat of learning and religion but also for its predominantly green coloured pottery that has become synonymous with this location.

While in Tamgroute we will take in the labyrinth of dark passageways in the underground kasbah, see local artisans at work with pottery and visit the old Koranic library – one of the oldest in Africa – that contains around 4,000 manuscripts, some of which date back to the 13th century.

The final part of today’s journey takes us through the palm grove of Ouled Brahim and Reg Elfaija until we reach the desert outpost of M’hamid, the last village along this part of the Drâa River.

Suitably attired and equipped, we saddle our camels and, accompanied by our trusted guides, begin our camel trek into the desert against the backdrop of magnificent natural beauty as the magical Saharan sunset descends on us.

A traditional Moroccan meal will be prepared by our guides who will also entertain you – and invite you to join in – with some after-dinner music and dancing! Overnight under a canopy of stars in a typical Berber tent…but with the comfort of mattresses, sheets and running water on tap.

After capturing the magic of a Saharan sunrise we take breakfast and set off for a visit to the old Ksar of M’hamid. Some refreshing mint tea refreshes us for our 4x4 journey to explore the impressive sand dunes and desert environment of Erg Chegaga.

We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch in the shade of palm trees before starting our off-road trek back to the desert camp to relax over dinner and spend another night under the stars.

After breakfast we vacate the desert camp and follow the track between Erg Chegaga and Taliouin along the dry riverbed of the Drâa, through Lake Iriqui and onwards to Foum Zquid.

This is a special part of the tour, with incredibly remote scenery, which we hope will be remembered and treasured by you for many years to come.

At Foum Zquid, we rejoin the paved road and signs of civilization again (as we know it) for our onward journey to the Berber town of Taznkaht. If you’re considering buying a carpet in Morocco, then this is the place. Taznkhat is highly respected throughout the country for its fine, handmade rugs and carpets and is a centre for a number of cooperatives producing these sought after coverings.

After a stop for lunch we take the road to Taliouin, famous for its saffron, and continue to Taroudant. The city bears a striking resemblance to Marrakech with its sandstone-coloured fortifications. And, although renowned for its local handicrafts, especially jewelry, it is far more relaxed than the Red City itself. Your accommodation, including dinner is at a guesthouse here in Taroudant.

After breakfast we head for the Atlantic Coast with superb scenery of valleys and vistas to accompany us.

We pass through Agadir – Morocco’s most popular seaside resort. The agreeable year-round climate makes for good bathing along the vast swathe of beaches.

Before arriving at Essaouira, we stop off at the surf resort village of Sidi Kaouki and then Taghazoute where you can breathe in the crystal freshness of the cool Atlantic air on the beach – always a great prelude for lunch!

We arrive in Essaouira for you to check into your hotel and spend the evening at your leisure.

Today, you can enjoy a relaxing morning at your own pace wandering around Essaouira.

You’ll have the opportunity to stroll around the harbour as the day’s catch of fish and seafood is brought ashore and presented for sale in a basic but practical manner, amidst a sea of blue fishing boats that adorn the inner harbour.

You can even choose your own lunch from here to have cooked by one of the local restaurants a little later.

Adjoining the harbour are the 18th century Portuguese ramparts and fortifications with their commanding views of the port, the town, the wide sandy beach and the Island of Mogador in the distance.

From this superb vantage point you are just a couple of minutes walk to the entrance of the UNESCO-listed medina and Place Moulay Hassan where your can explore Essaouira’s souks and squares. In all, a far more relaxing and intimate atmosphere than Marrakech – but still offering that amazing combination of colours and aromas entwined with locals and tourists inspecting the fascinating array of stalls, kiosks, galleries and shops that are at the heart of Morocco’s artisan culture.

After lunch in the Medina we begin our journey back to Marrakech where we will return you to your accommodation.