The Moroccan Sahara offers far more than sand dunes. For visitors who find the time to travel to this area of great beauty and peace - we suggest a minimum of 5 days - the reward is an exciting mix of scenic gorges and valleys, dunes, beautiful oasis towns and a culture distinct from that in the north of Morocco. Many areas have a stunning backdrop of the Atlas Mountains, which you need to cross to access the desert from Marrakech, Taroudant and Fez.

The Sahara, the largest arid desert in the world, starts in Morocco with a mixture of sand and rock. It is a vast area, but one that is readily accessible from other parts of Morocco if a visitor has sufficient time to travel the vast distances involved.