After an early morning departure from Marrakech, we head south through the High Atlas Mountains, climbing to the Tizi n’Tichka Pass at 2,260 meters above sea level — one of the most scenic mountain roads in Morocco. Along the way there will be stops for refreshments and photos as the landscape shifts from red earth to snow-capped peaks.

The first stop is the Kasbah of Telouet, a grand fortress built by the powerful Glaoui tribe in the 19th century, with elaborately decorated interiors and sweeping views over the mountains.

We then continue to Ait Ben Haddou, the iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site (listed 1987), an ancient fortified village built by the Almoravid Dynasty in the 11th century and one of the most photographed kasbahs in Morocco — a filming location for Gladiator, The Mummy, and Game of Thrones. Lunch is available here or in Ouarzazate, at your choice.

Next, we visit the Atlas Movie Studios in Ouarzazate, where original sets from internationally acclaimed productions are still standing. A short break in Ouarzazate — the gateway to the Sahara — before the return journey to Marrakech.

Return: Marrakech hotel drop-off, evening