5 Days
Daily Tour
1 person
English, Espanol, Francais
Experience the Magic of the Moroccan Desert
This 5-day desert journey offers an unforgettable escape into Morocco’s most stunning landscapes. From the winding roads of the Atlas Mountains to the golden dunes of Merzouga, you’ll witness the rich culture, cinematic scenery, and timeless traditions of desert life. Sit down for tea with nomads, explore ancient kasbahs, and follow the legendary road of 1000 Kasbahs as you travel through oasis towns, dramatic gorges, and the vast silence of the Sahara.
Marrakech → Atlas Mountains → Ait Benhaddou → Ouarzazate → Skoura Oasis → Roses Valley → Dades Valley
On this first day in your 5 days desert tour your guide and driver will pick you up directly from your accommodation or port of entry before escaping the hustle and bustle of Marrakech. You will cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka Pass, which reaches an altitude of 2,260 meters (7,415 feet) and is the highest mountain pass in North Africa. The road passes through various villages typical of the northern slopes of the Atlas, where corn can be seen ripening in the sun on the packed-earth roofs of the stone houses and snow during wintertime.
On the way you will cross the territory of the powerful Glaoua tribe where a number of ancient kasbahs and fortified granaries can be seen dotting the countryside before you reach Ait Benhaddou, a fortified village classified by UNESCO as one of the world's cultural treasures. At Ait Benhaddou we will stop for lunch and to give you some time to explore the kasbah for yourself.
Our journey will continue towards the Skoura Oasis, filled with dense palm groves crossed by a network of tracks running between kasbahs, ksours, and farms. We will head towards the Roses Valley and into the Dades Valley on the "Road of a Thousand Kasbahs", passing the fortresses of M'Goun and the countless traditional Berber adobe houses, sometimes barely distinguishable from the rocks themselves, that perch along the riversides. We will spend the night in the Dades Valley.
Dades Valley → Todra Canyon → Erfoud → Erg Chebbi Sahara Desert
After having breakfast and checking out of our hotel, we will drive to Tinghir, a former military outpost on the banks of the Oued Todra, where olive, pomegranate, and orange trees flourish. The road through the Todra Gorges follows the right bank of the river, which is covered with palm trees and is one of the most beautiful oases in Morocco.
You will then continue farther east into the narrowest and most spectacular section of the gorges, where we will take some time to wander among the towering rock walls of the narrow corridors. That afternoon we will leave for Erfoud, crossing the palm grove of Tinjdad and Touroug, and visit a workshop where local fossils are produced. Afterwards we will continue straight to the desert village of Merzouga, which lies right on the edge of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes.
Upon your arrival, you will be greeted at our kasbah. You'll have the opportunity to freshen up from the drive and enjoy a refreshing glass leave all unnecessary luggage behind in safe rooms in our kasbah. Afterward, you'll take on a 3 mins 4WD ride to meet your camels and begin the ride, you have the option to continue with the 4WD ride upon your request in case you get tired (or 4WD transfer if you can't do the camels).
Our camel trek experience is adjustable, allowing you to choose a duration ranging from a brief 10 minutes to an immersive 2 hours. Both options include ample time for pausing to witness the breathtaking sunset and capture stunning photographs before reaching your private tent in our luxury camp or similar in the middle of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes.
Upon reaching the camp, you'll be shown your tent and treated to the dinner, followed by traditional music around the campfire. Assistance will be available in arranging any possible additional excursions or activities of your interest during your desert stay experience.
Overnight in the silence of the desert, and you can relax outside stargazing and marvel at the Milky Way spreading across the pitch-black night sky.
If you would like to wake up early so that you can watch the spectacle of sunrise, when the color of the sand contrasts beautifully with the play of shadows on the dunes - after which you might want to try your hand at sandboarding down them.
On the tour we will visit the oasis of Merzouga, the nomadic depository, and Khamlia Village, where we will be able to hear gnawa music from the local people who are descendants of ex-slaves that found their way to Morocco from Senegal via the Salt Route. We will continue on to meet desert nomads in their tents and discover their way of life.
We will also visit the nearby Lake of Merzouga, with its diverse population of birds. Afterwards we will leave for Rissani. Once called Sijilmassa, this was the meeting place for the salt caravans coming from Timbuktu, Mali. Here you'll be able to walk through the souk, where you will be able to find spices, vegetables, and clothes. After having a pizza lunch in Rissani we will drive back to our Kasbah, where we will be greeted with a glass of tea or glass of wine and have some time to relax before we go to the camp where you will enjoy a second enchanting overnight.
Merzouga → Rissani → N'Kob → Tazarine → Draa Valley → Agdz → Ouarzazate
A refreshing shower and breakfast before starting our journey into the Draa Valley. Besides the natural, historical, and architectural wonders found in the valley, there are also countless villages that seem to have remained untouched by the modern world. Our road will take us through the millions of palm trees of the Draa Valley and Agdz, a village on the ancient caravan route that linked Marrakech to Timbuktu.
In the afternoon we will arrive in Ouarzazate (pronounced Warzza-zat), a city in the middle of a barren plateau at the crossroads of all routes going north, south, east, and west, a geographical position which has made it an important trading post since ancient times. Known as the "Hollywood of Morocco", the film studios of Ouarzazate have produced films including "Alexander the Great", "The Last Temptation of Christ" and "The Living Daylights". After checking in at our hotel, you can enjoy an afternoon beside the swimming pool and enjoy the clean desert air before spending the night in Ouarzazate.
Ouarzazate → Atlas Mountains → Marrakech
After breakfast we will visit Ouarzazate's museum of cinematography before leaving the city and continuing our journey into the Ounila Valley. From there we will have an amazing view of the imposing mountains that our route will lead us into, winding up their spectacular valleys and over the Tizi n'Tichka Pass, which offers stunning views over the mountains before descending past Berber villages to the plains surrounding Marrakech. We will arrive in Marrakech in the early evening, and your guide will escort you through its winding streets to your Riad.
Member Since 2024
Leave a review