Hear about travel to Southern Morocco as the Amateur Traveler talks to Ady from Hit The Road Music Studio about an area he fell in love with while touring it in a mobile recording studio.
Ady recommends a detailed itinerary for a week-long trip exploring Southern Morocco, starting and ending in Marrakesh. Here’s a breakdown of the suggested trip:
Day 1: Marrakesh
- Arrive in Marrakesh and spend the night. Experience the bustling city, try a mix of European and Moroccan cuisine, and get a taste of the local culture.
Day 2: Travel over the Atlas Mountains
- Travel from Marrakesh over the Atlas Mountains, experiencing the dramatic change in landscape and climate. Spend the night in Ouarzazate, a city famous for its film studios and proximity to the film location for movies like “Gladiator” and “Star Wars.”
Day 3: Aït Benhaddou
- Visit Aït Benhaddou, a well-preserved kasbah that’s a UNESCO World Heritage site. This site is known for its classic Moroccan earthen clay architecture and has been a popular filming location for many movies.
Day 4: Zagora
- Travel from Ouarzazate to Zagora, a city that acts as a gateway to the Sahara Desert. Explore the local culture, and possibly stay at a recommended place like Ecolodge du Draa in Ouled Otmane for unique local hospitality.
Day 5: Agdz
- Visit Agdz to experience the vibrant market life and the local Amazigh (Berber) culture. Stay at the guesthouse Rose du Sable to enjoy the local hospitality.
Day 6: M’hamid El Ghizlane and the Sahara Desert
- Continue to M’hamid El Ghizlane, the last town before the Sahara begins. Here, you can experience the vast dunes of Erg Chigaga and stay in a desert camp to immerse yourself in the serene desert environment.
Day 7: Return to Marrakesh
- Travel back to Marrakesh, possibly stopping again in places like Ouarzazate or other towns for any final explorations or relaxation before ending the trip.
Throughout the journey, Ady emphasizes engaging with local cultures, trying regional cuisines, and exploring both the natural landscapes and the historic sites of Southern Morocco. This itinerary offers a blend of adventure, culture, and relaxation, with a strong focus on authentic experiences.
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Show Notes
Hit The Road Music Studio
Morocco
Aït Benhaddou
Ayouze Auberge, Aït Benhaddou
Taman’art Space
Ait Ben Haddou Women’s Cooperative
Ouarzazate
Musée du Cinema – All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Ecolodge L’ile de Ouarzazate
Dar Chamaa, Ouarzazate
Tajine
Agdz
Culture and Market – Rose du Sable (Guesthouse Agdz)
Zagora, Morocco
Ecolodge du Draa, Ouled Otmane
Kasbah Oulad Othmane
Restaurant Chez Omar, Zagora
Café Restaurant Littéraire, Zagora
Terres De Café (@terresdecafe) • Instagram photos and videos
Hotel La Palmaraie, Zagora
Kasbah Sirocco, Zagora
Tamegroute
Tagounite
Kasbah Aitisfoul, Tagounite
Chigaga Desert Camp (Mhamid El Ghizlane)
Desert Camp Chraika (Mhamid El Ghizlane)
Nomad Music Festival
Playing for Change Music School
Erg Chebbi
Dar Mhamid – Familly Guest House and Desert Camp
Community
I went to Norway a few weeks ago and had some of your Norway podcasts downloaded! I needed to reference one of the Oslo podcasts on the spot for a recommendation on a place to visit that I had forgotten before I left on my trip.
Barry
thorough and constantly growing!
I love this dad-vibe podcast that offers great tidbits in a detailed and consistent format. Amateur traveler is my first stop on a long quest when I begin my next trip research. Chris and his guest(s) whet my appetite for the destination and give me good jumping off points, a big picture to wrap my head around, and some specific places or unique things to get excited about. From there, I go to blogs, google and more to dig deeper, but I appreciate that this is an approachable place to begin without feeling overwhelmed. The last few parts to the episode are some of my favorites because they make me reminisce about my own trips and what I would also list as my number one thing, and how I would describe the place in three words, etc. The wrap-up is concise and memorable and a great way to end the show. Thanks Chris!
review by DeeKelly21
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