Drâa Valley, Kasbahs and Heading towards the Erg Chegaga desert
After the stark, mineral landscapes of the High Atlas and the spectacular Dadès Gorges, our family road trip through southern Morocco continued towards more desert-like, but equally beautiful, regions. This second leg took us through the Draa Valley , to the edge of the Sahara, passing through numerous mud-brick villages, some abandoned, well-preserved kasbahs, and verdant palm groves.
From Boulmane Dades to Zagora via Knoub and the Draa Valley: a magnificent road
Leaving Boulmane Dades, we drove through arid landscapes before reaching Knoub , a small village nestled between mountains and palm trees. This stretch of road remains relatively untouched by tourism, giving it a raw and authentic charm. Here, life follows the rhythm of the sun, between irrigated fields and quiet villages.
We stopped in Knout for lunch, then drove along the famous Draa Valley , winding through verdant palm groves bordered by ochre mountains. This oasis stretches for hundreds of kilometers, dotted with fortified ksour and ancient kasbahs. We felt like we were traveling through a living postcard of southern Morocco, with a new panorama unfolding around every bend.
Night in the Kasbah Hnini in Oulad Yahia, near Zagora
We arrived in the afternoon at the Kasbah Hnini , in Oulad Yahia , not far from Zagora . We spent the night in this traditional, fully restored house, surrounded by palm trees.
We were welcomed with mint tea and planned to relax and enjoy the infinity pool, which offered a magnificent view of the palm grove, the mountains, and the silence of the desert. But there was a hitch: the pool was a vibrant green and, unfortunately, not at all natural! We had no desire to swim in it. What a disappointment! Finally, we were offered the use of the pool at the hotel just below, owned by the same person: the Dar Hnini Hotel. There was practically no one there, and we were able to read, enjoy the pool, and relax. We returned to the kasbah in the late afternoon and enjoyed an aperitif while watching the magnificent sunset before savoring a delicious tagine.
From Agdz to Foum Zguid: the beginnings of the desert
The next day, after a buffet breakfast, we finished our coffee on the terrace overlooking the palm trees, then set off towards Agdz , a peaceful village at the northern entrance to the valley. We took the opportunity to buy some wine at the Tazarine mini-market so we could enjoy it in the desert under the stars. You'll also find a few shops selling alcohol in Zagora and Ouarzazate (Carrefour Market). It's worth noting that even though alcohol is legal in Morocco, most small hotels don't have a license to serve it. You'll find it without any problem in more luxurious hotels. In fact, we were able to order some at the Kasbah Hnini and at our hotel in Agadir, the Hotel Timoulay.
Then we took the road to Foum Zguid , passing through desert plateaus and jagged terrain: a small taste of the Saharan adventure to come.
In Foum Zguid , a small town at the crossroads between the inhabited world and the desert, we stopped for lunch before setting off again for 3 hours on a 4x4 track. Well, to be honest, the few restaurants in town only serve tourists who are going into the desert, but we still ate delicious kebabs, a good Moroccan salad and freshly squeezed orange juice, surrounded by many stray cats and dogs waiting for our leftovers… Then we left our car a few hundred meters away, in the middle of the old village and loaded our bags into the 4x4 for the long-awaited stage of this trip: Erg Chegaga .
Heading towards Erg Chegaga: at the gateway to the Sahara
From Foum Zguid, we continued our adventure in a 4x4, initially following the old Paris-Dakar track.
👉 In the next part, I'll take you with us for two timeless days in the heart of Erg Chegaga. Get ready for breathtaking landscapes, spectacular sunsets, and magnificent memories. Road trip part 3.
[…] 👉 In the next part, I'll tell you about our journey through the Draa Valley, a stopover before the desert: Road trip in southern Morocco, part 2. […]