On this exciting 4x4 tour we head south from Marrakech towards the foothills of the High Atlas mountains to the Agafay Desert (also known as the Marrakech Desert due to its closeness to the Red City). Within an hour of leaving the city you'll arrive in a surreal landscape of rolling stone plains, contorted river valleys, lush palm-lined oases and steep sandy summits.

This ancient landscape was once a prehistoric seabed and is still scattered with fossilized sun-bleached seashells. First we drive south across the desert to its southern boundary then make a detour to take in a view of Lalla Takerkoust, a beautiful man made reservoir formed after the building of a hydroelectric dam. We return to Agafay and navigate desert trails to the north east.

We arrive at Nkhila, an adobe traditional village with a palm oasis situated on a high point above a twisting river valley (usually dry until heavy rains fall). Here there is the option to ride a camel to Nkhila Lodge (half hour), walk or travel by 4x4. After a tasty lunch at Nkhila, with super views of Agafay and High Atlas, we recommend a 1 hour circular walk to a nearby river gorge and stone plateau.