Page 268 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Morocco

266  MOROC C O REGION B Y REGION

Exploring Ouarzazate and the Southern Oases Azrou
MIDELT Guercif
The Draa Valley, south of Ouarzazate, and the Tafilalt valley, south
of Er-Rachidia, are the two great routes to the Sahara. The valleys
are interconnected by the Dadès valley, which covers 120 km Cirque de Jaffar
(75 miles) between Ouarzazate and Boumalne du Dadès. It cuts Jbel Ayachi
through a desert plateau at an average altitude of 1,000 to 1,500 m 3737m s
(3,282 to 4,923 ft), set between the High Atlas on its northern side l a
and the foothills of Jbel Sarhro on its southern side. Other valleys, A t Rich
irrigated by wadis flowing down from the Atlas, impinge on the Jbel Aderdouz Amouguèr
Dadès valley. Negotiable on foot or by four-wheel-drive vehicle, 3055m Wadi Ziz
they give access to the interior of the High Atlas. Exploring this Imilchil Âït-el-Rhazi
region, experiencing the scenic oases and visiting the most h ZIZ GORGE
interesting ksour, takes at least a week. i g Tizga Djebel-bou-Hamid
H Agoudal 2252m
Jbel Baddou ER-RACHIDIA Boudnib
2920m Tahemdount
Getting Around SOURCE BLEUE
Roads in a good state of repair run between Âït-Hani DE MESKI
Ouarzazate and Zagora, Er-Rachidia and Erfoud. Msemrir Aoufouss
However, distances are great, and the mountainous GOULMIMA
terrain and passes to be negotiated must be taken TAMTATTOUCHTE
into account. Although certain tracks can be followed
only in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, an ordinary car DADÈS GORGE TODRA Wadi Rheris
GORGE
is sufficient to drive on the major roads. Buses Tinejdad
and grands taxis from Ouarzazate cover the TINERHIR ERFOUD
whole region. Aït Arbi Kasbah TAFILALT
Imiter
Jbel Ougnat RISSANI
BOUMALNE DU DADÈS PALM GROVE
EL-KELAA Erg Chebbi
Toundout M'GOUNA
Tizi-n-Tazazert Achbarou
Pass Ikniounn Tazoulaït MERZOUGA
Marrakech SKOURA Alnif
AÏT
Wadi Dadès J B E L S A R H R O
Amerzgane BENHADDOU Taouz
OUARZAZATE Bab n’Ali
TAOURIRT KASBAH Nekob
Tazenakht Imi-n'Kern Tazzarine
Finnt Wadi Draa
Zaouia
Àït-Saoun Tamnougalt Tafetchna
0 km 20 Agdz
0 miles 20 Jbel Rhart
Igdaoun
D R A A V A L L E Y
Azlag Gorge
ZAGORA Jbel Tadrart
Amazraou
TAMEGROUTE
Zaouia-el-Barrahnia
Jbel Beni
Anagame
Nesrate Dunes
Tagounite

MHAMID
Msemrir, a village at the foot of the High Atlas (see p277)
For hotels and restaurants see pp312–13 and pp329–30

266-267_EW_Morocco.indd 266 09/08/16 11:20 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Explorer template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.4)
Date 5th December 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm