Almost every desert trip that starts in Marrakech begins on the same road: the N9, which crosses the High Atlas at the Tizi n’Tichka pass before winding down to Ouarzazate. For us it is not just a transfer. It is the first day of the journey, the day you go from the gardens of Marrakech to the ochre landscapes of the south in a few hours.
The road in figures
- Distance: about 200 km between Marrakech and Ouarzazate.
- Altitude: the pass tops out at 2,260 m, one of the highest road passes in Morocco.
- Time: allow at least 4 hours of driving without stops. With breaks and visits, the drive easily fills a whole day, and that is a good thing.
The stops, from Marrakech to Ouarzazate
The Haouz plain and the climb into the Atlas
Leaving Marrakech, the road crosses the Haouz plain, its olive groves and villages. The Atlas peaks grow ahead of you, often snow-capped in winter and early spring. Then the climb begins, bend after bend, between forests, terraced fields and Berber villages clinging to the rock, where farming and herding still set the pace of life.
Taddert and the pass
Halfway along, the village of Taddert is the traditional stop for tea or lunch. A few kilometres higher, the Tizi n’Tichka pass marks the crossing to the southern slopes: the air gets drier, the colours change, and you can already sense the desert.
Télouet and the Glaoui kasbah
After the pass, a small road branches off to Télouet. The village is home to the kasbah of the El Glaoui family, who long controlled this caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. Its reception rooms, decorated with zellige tiles and painted ceilings, contrast with its crumbling earthen walls. We stop there on several of our trips.
The Ounila valley
From Télouet, the road follows the Ounila valley, a canyon of red rock, streams and earthen villages, all the way to the ksar of Aït Ben Haddou. It is one of the most beautiful stretches in the south, and much quieter than the main road.
Aït Ben Haddou, then Ouarzazate
The World Heritage ksar deserves a guided visit before you continue to Ouarzazate, about thirty kilometres away. The “city without noise”, its film studios and its Taourirt kasbah are described in our article Ouarzazate, gateway to the desert.
Our tips for the road
- In winter, check the weather: between December and March, snow can temporarily close the pass. Check the road conditions the day before and keep some flexibility in the timing.
- There are many bends: if you get car sick, take precautions and sit in the front.
- Bring a warm layer, even in summer: it is much cooler at the pass than in Marrakech.
- Leave early so you can enjoy the photo stops without rushing and arrive before dark.
Travel the road with us
The Tizi n’Tichka is part of many of our trips from Marrakech:
- In one day, there and back: The Road of the Kasbahs, with Télouet, the Ounila valley and Aït Ben Haddou;
- In two days, with a night at a local guesthouse: Oasis Trail, to the Fint oasis;
- On the way to the dunes: Sahara Express or Erg & Reg;
- As a 4x4 tour: the Atlas and Sahara combined tour, which returns to Marrakech via Télouet and the pass.
To find out more about the mountains themselves, see our High Atlas page.
