Through the valley of river Draa
From High Atlas to the desert
More difficult one-day car trip along the longest river in Morocco promises beautiful views of the oases along its shores, old castles, sand dunes, vast table mountains and upland plains. In addition, you can extend this trip by seeing the second most famous dunes in Morocco Erg Chigaga.
Schedule of the trip through the valley of Draa
The trip to Draa valley begins in a bigger town of Ouarzazate lying below High Atlas at the crossroads of major highways. After passing quite interesting pass Tizi-n-Tinififft you get to the river valley itself and you will be able to enjoy views of the oasis and typical villages. Once you pass around the isolated dunes Tinfou, second crossing of the mountains will await you – you'll have to overcome mesa Jbel Bani before arriving to the remote border landscape around Mhamid (260 km from Ouarzazate).
Drive across Tizi-n-Tinififft pass
Gateway to the Draa valley
On the way from Ouarzazate to the river Draa valley stands in the way the barren rocky plateau with lots of interesting rocky formations. The road culminates in the pass Tizi-n-Tinififft (1693 m asl). Definitely more interesting than the pass itself is the descent through a few twists over the canyon and through small oases in the direction of the town Agdz. continue reading
Drive through valley of Draa
Along the longest river in Morocco
After overcoming the barren rocky pass Tizi-n-Tinififft by the town with a strange name Agdz the road N9 /connecting Casablanck with Mhamid at the Algerian border/ approaches the river of Draa, which is Morocco's longest river. The road continues further through this beautiful valley full of palm trees, mesas, ancient castles up to Tagounite, from where is the river bed dry most of the year. This 120 km long route along the river Draa is full of beautiful views and is worth making at least one day trip during the visit of Morocco. continue reading
Visit of Dunes de Tinfou
Lone pile of sand in the stony desert
There are nice „pocket“ dunes Tinfou on the way between Zagora and the end of the road near the algerian border in Mhamid. At first glance, it almost seems as if this was not the work of nature, but of man. All around is a desolate rocky plain and right in the middle a huge pile of sand. continue reading
Drive across Jbel Bani to Mhamid
Starting point to the dunes Erg Chigaga
The way to Mhamid, which lies at the end of N9 road, leads through desolate mountains Jbel Bani. Draa river flows in these areas only as a seasonal stream and the water is already practically gone in the summer. Mhamid itself lying just a few kilometers from the Algerian border is a popular starting point to the dunes of Erg Chigaga. continue reading
Oulad Driss
Forgotten kasbah
Just in front of the end of the road in Morocco-Algerian border lies the ancient kasbah, where you meet other tourists only very rarely. continue reading
Other places to visit in the valley of Draa
- Trip to Tizgui: A few kilometers before the town Agdz turns the dusty pista to the gorge of Draa river leading to village Tizgui. Along the way there are beautiful canyon sceneries.
- Kasbah du Caid Ali: renovated century old castle rebuilt to hotel in the oasis north of Agdz
