1-Day Guided Quad Tour of Ait Ben Haddou and Kasbah of Telouet

Summary

After your guide gave a brief explanation on the control of our quad and road safety, we depart from Ait Ben Haddou around 9am. On the way to Glaoui Kasbah, we will drive along the beautiful Ounila Valley where many old Berber villages are located. There are many viewpoints where you can enjoy panorama views of this expansive valley, clutters of clay buildings with small kasbahs and mosques in between. You may see locals in traditional costumes walking on the side of road to visit friends and family on special days. (Please be sensitive when taking photos of locals especially women.) We will also pass through a small mine where workers extract precious minerals out of the colorful rocks in this area in the past. Old post stations for defense on top of small hills can be seen from the road. Further on, we will pass a small forest on the side of the road, a rare sight in this semi-desert region. After a few hours, we finally arrive at this famous yet non-touristy Kasbah of Glaoui in Telouet, one of the most extraordinary sights of the Atlas. We will have lunch here at a guest house restaurant outside the kasbah first. After lunch, you can buy a ticket and visit the inside of this complex at your leisure. Lies at an elevation of 1,800 m (5,900 ft), the Kasbah of Glaoui is a glimpse of the style of Moroccan political government and power still within living memory. Pasha Glaoui was ousted from the Bahia Palace and died of cancer shortly after exile in Telouet after independence. As a palace of El Glaoui family, 300 artisans worked on salons faceted with stucco, zellij and painted cedar ceilings during construction. Although some of the rooms have fallen into ruin after over a half-century of decay, the 2nd-floor reception rooms still remain its glory as Telouet’s former position as the center of a trans-Saharan trading empire. Work was underway to restore the property in 2010. After your visit, we will drive back to Ait Ben Haddou through the windy road of the Ounila Valley.

Tour info

Duration
7 hours
Group Size
Pricing (From)
Commentary
Meeting Point
Dropoff location

Why take this tour?

On this full day guided quad/ATV excursion, we will visit a magnificent kasbah which belongs to the last royal family's of the Atlas Region in Morocco. We will drive along the beautiful Ounila Valley with many traditional Berber villages. This tour is perfect for those who wants some excitement but also interested in the history and architecture of the Atlas region. Lunch in included. This tour is recommended only between October and March since part of the roads from Ait Ben Haddou to Telouet is not off-road (tarmac). It will be very hot (>40c) in the summer for both the driver and the quads.

What’s included?

  • Lunch in restaurant close to Kasbah of Teluoet (No alcohol)

  • Local English or French speaking guide

  • Use of helmet

  • Use of Quad bike

  • Private tour

  • Gratuities

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

  • Transportation to/from attractions

Things to know

Before you book

  • Duration: 7h

  • Mobile tickets accepted

Cancellation Policy

    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Operated by:

The Desert Wanderer

About operator:

We are a quad/ATV bike tour agency located in the UNESCO world heritage kasbah site of Ait Ben Haddou. We specialize in short day excursions to nearby oasis and historical sites for anyone who wants to experience our desert landscape and traditional Berber hospitality. We also offer longer expedition tours to the Sahara desert passing through small towns, oasis and gorge in the south of Morocco. We provide gloves, helmet and goggles for safety and regularly check our quad/ATV bikes for safety. All our quads are insured. Our guides speak both English and French. We design our routes to allow our clients to enjoy driving on both tarmac, also on dirt and desert tracks which were used for caravan for centuries, while having enough time to enjoy the historic sites or landscape every day.

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