on foot or by camel.

Zagora
Starting in Ouarzazate, the Draâ Valley leads south, carving a narrow oasis more than 200km long. Among the towns and villages

it passes through, Zagora and its famous road sign "Tombouctou 52 jours" (Timbuktu 52 days) is often the point of departure when heading off to explore the south. Just where there is a bend in the Draâ before it continues its course west, the first two dunes rise up, a foretaste of the desert. Making camp and spending a night under the stars, is the beginning of an unforgettable adventure.

Tinghir
This terraced town is built at the exit of the famous Todra gorges and their 250m-high cliffs in the heart of a very varying countryside, combining stony desert, various mountains, a luscious green oasis and a palm grove. West of Tinghir, climbing

back up the Dadès Valley towards Ouarzazate, you pass through Kelaat M’Gouna, the valley of roses, where the flower is grown, distilled and especially celebrated every spring during a famous moussem.

Tafilalt
To the east of Tinghir stands Errachidia, an ancient garrison city and capital of Tafilalt, the largest oasis in the Moroccan Sahara which fans out from the river Ziz. Head south and 20km further on the blue source of Meski feeds a vast palm grove and also supplies a lake: an enchanting site suitable for bathing. Even further south, Erfoud is the departure point towards the dunes of the Chebbi erg. At the end of the main street, the tarmacked road ends. And a long line of dunes announce the desert. The highest, Merzouga, can reach up to 150m! This is where, it is said, you can enjoy one of the most beautiful sunrises in the world. Each year the village of the same name welcomes the desert music festival, bringing together musical groups and dance troupes from various countries: an awesome testament to the universality of the emotions of the desert. And an opportunity to experience the magic given out by desert music.

To remember
From sand dunes to luxuriant gorges, give in to the call of the south.