As soon as you leave Marrakech, you’ll follow a well-maintained road to the High Atlas Mountains. After about an hour, the road starts to wind its way up as you drive along one of the most scenic roads in Morocco across a landscape of terraced wheat fields, cacti, waving palm trees and endless views. You’ll pass through tiny villages,. In the distance, you'll be able to make out the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas Mountains. As the road begins to descend, the scenery changes drastically and suddenly you find yourself entering a desert-like area. Soon, the imposing kasbah Aït Benhaddou will loom up like a mirage. A kasbah is a kind of citadel, made up of high-walled buildings of clay mixed with straw. Historically, the kasbahs gave shelter to entire village communities, though these days many of them are no longer inhabited. Deserted or not, the kasbahs are a fascinating sight and  films including Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth and most recently Gladiator, were shot on location here... you'll make your way across the river to explore. At the gate to the kasbah you’ll pay a small entrance fee (approx €1) and enter a medieval world with a warren of narrow lanes leading into the kasbah. At the top of the kasbah, there’s a fantastic view across the citadel and the surrounding countryside . After lunch, you'll set off on your tour again and drive through the fertile valley to Dades Gorges . If you thought the road from Marrakech was beautiful, then wait till you see this. Bizarre rock formations, bright green palm valleys and rugged mountain peaks in all shapes and colours alternated by small traditional villages and breathtaking views.  After 2 hour you’ll pass a restaurant (‘Panoramic’), with an outdoor terrace overlooking the valley and the colourful cliffs. It’s a nice place to stop off for a cup of coffee or mint tea. From here, it’s another 40 minutes drive past yet more weird but wonderful colourful rock formations. When the cliffs begin to get narrower and you enter a kind of gorge, you’ll know you’ve nearly reached your small mountain hotel. Moments later you’re greeted by the friendly owner night and dinner in hotel (Kasbah La Valley) or similar