This is the third of 13 routes in Morocco, we leave the Atlas mountain to enter the most famous deserts of the Moroccan Sahara
The Tizi N Talrhemt pass will act as a watershed between the Middle Atralte and the Sahara desert
Tizi'n'Talrhemt, "the camel pass" at 2900 meters above sea level. A whole new world, a world of oasis and desert. Located between the Sahara Desert and the High Atlas, this vast region gave rise to the Tafilalet, a region in stark contrast between the brilliant vegetation of the oases scattered along the valleys and the immensity of the mountains and plateaus devoid of plant life.
we begin to get to know the river ziz, which will accompany us for several kilometers
The Ziz River is a river in southern Morocco and Algeria. It has its source in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco and flows 282 kilometers (175 miles) into the Sahara Desert of Algeria. Although water flow is intermittent along the Ziz River bed, its waterway has long been used to facilitate human transit through the mountainous region.
The Hassan Addakhil Dam is located in Foum Rhour on the Ziz River, about 10 km from the city of Errachidia, in the Moroccan province of Tafilalet. The purpose of the dam is to regularize the wadi to realize the agricultural development of the Ziz valley and the Tafilalet lands, as well as to provide protection from flooding.
The River Ziz gives its name to the valley of the same name. Winding its way down through the spectacular Ziz da Rich gorges, the Oued (river) Ziz creates the last southern valley of the Ziz and Tafilalt oases before flowing into the rose gold dunes of Merzouga. Starting just south of the Middle Atlas town of Rich and about 30km north of Errachidia, the impressive Ziz Gorges provide a rocky passage south through the Tunnel du Légionnaire (built by the French in 1928). To the south the valley widens, presenting a spectacular sight: a thick canopy of wedge-shaped palm trees.
after passing the city of Erfoud you arrive at the most famous desert in Morocco, Merzouga is a village set in a lush oasis, the last outpost before entering the spectacular dunes of the Moroccan desert. Totally immersed in the magic of silence, at dawn or sunset, you reach the iconic and majestic dunes of Erg Chebbi. Surrounded by spectacular terrain, subject to the whims of the wind, the desert is constantly evolving. The fine sand dunes change color with every movement of the sun's rays, from golden yellow to delicate pink shades up to the intense red of the sunset.
The route ends at Nasser Palace Hotel, a hotel right at the gates of the desert and very close to the oasis, in this hotel we parked right inside the building. However, there are numerous other hotels nearby to choose from, excursions depart from Merzogua for all tastes, by quad or camel, by off-road vehicle or by motorbike. Of course there is the possibility of sleeping in tents in the middle of the desert and admiring the spectacular starry sky, a stay of at least a couple of days is recommended.