5 days to the DESERT from MARRAKECH
Classic Tour
Day 1: Marrakech - Ait Benhaddou - Dades valley
From your Hotel or the airport in Marrakesh, we will set off for the Dades Gorges. Passing through Tizi-n-Tishka in the high Atlas Mountains we will then visit the UNESCO World heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou which has also been the backdrop for many films including Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator and Alexander. After lunch we’ll enjoy the beautiful natural landscapes and historical monuments of Taourirt Kasbah in Ourzazate, Skoura and the Valley of the Roses, famous for its annual Festival of Roses. We’ll also pass through the Berber villages of El Kelaa des M'Gouna and Boumalene du Dades where we will spend the night.
Day 2: Dades Valley- Merzouga via Todra Gorge
Today's target point is arriving to Merzouga which is known for the highest sand dunes in North Africa. THE DESERT! It is called Erg Chebbi Sahara desert and it is about 20 kms long and 5 kms wide and is a unique, multifaceted environment. On our way, we will have the chance to see many oases such as the oasis of Tinjdad. We will continue our tour passing through the little Berber towns of Mellab and Touroug. Arrive to Rissani where we will have lunch. After this break, we will continue our way enjoying the green oasis of palm trees of Ziz –Tafilalet and the black Hamada before arriving to Merzouga. Later we will enjoy bathing in the warm waters as well as having a local dinner and listen to Berber music. Night in a Riad
Day 3: Merzouga area, culture and tradition
After breakfast, you will go all the way round the dunes via the oasis of MERZOUGA, the nomadic depository, KHAMLIA village (Blacks’ village You’ll visit the Gnawa people, originally slaves brought from Sudan, to experience their music and lifestyle. Not far away there’s the lake of Merzouga, with its bird populations, you’ll leave for Rissani. Once called Sijilmassa, this was the meeting place for the salt caravans, coming from Timbuktu in Mali. Here you’ll walk through the souk, selling spices, vegetables and cloths. After a lunch pizza in Rissani you will travel back to your riad where where your camel will be awaiting you. After a glass of mint tea. After lunch we will make our way to start our camel trek. All unnecessary luggages can be left in safe rooms at the hotel. The 90 minute camel trek will take us to a Berber camp in the middle of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes, the highest in North Africa. The camp consists of several comfortable Berber tents equipped with mattresses and linen, a restaurant, a kitchen. The evening will consist of dinner followed by entertainment provided by Berber drums.
Day 4: Merzouga - Ouarzazate
Before sunrise, you will be woken up to climb the sand dunes for fantastic photo opportunities. We will then make our way back to the hotel for showers and breakfast before we continue our journey to Ouarzazate, passing through Alnif, Tazzarine, Nkob, and the Draa Valley. We will spend the night in a guest house in Ouarzazate.
Day 5: Ouarzazate - Marrakech
After breakfast, we will set off for Marrakech, passing through the spectacular High Atlas Mountains. Our journey will continue through the majestic Tizi ‘n’ Tichka Pass (2260m) over the High Atlas Mountains, before arriving at your accommodation in Marrakech, where the tour ends.
Authentic trip
Day 1: Marrakech - Ait Benhaddou - Dades valley
From your Hotel or the airport in Marrakesh, we will set off for the Dades Gorges. Passing through Tizi-n-Tishka in the high Atlas Mountains we will then visit the UNESCO World heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou which has also been the backdrop for many films including Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator and Alexander. After lunch we’ll enjoy the beautiful natural landscapes and historical monuments of Taourirt Kasbah in Ourzazate, Skoura and the Valley of the Roses, famous for its annual Festival of Roses. We’ll also pass through the Berber villages of El Kelaa des M'Gouna and Boumalene du Dades where we will spend the night.
Day 2: Dades Valley- Ramlia village via Todra Gorge. (Paris – Dakar racing offroad)
After breakfast, we start our journey to the Toudra valley where we will have a short visit of famous Toudra gorges. We leave Toudra Gorges; today's target point is arriving to Ramlia, a hidden Berber village. We will have our picnic under an acacia tree. We will pass through Alnif, then off road through Tazoulate, Fzou and finally Ramlia. It is a place that still unexplored to most travellers seeking the real Morocco, a place where you can meet local people and experience the rural Morocco with a very old Irrigation system in South of Morocco. We spend the night in a small Berber Guesthouse in the middle of desert (budget accommodation)
Day 3: Ramlia Village Merzouga. (Off-road)
After breakfast, you will go all the way the oasis of MERZOUGA, the nomadic depository, KHAMLIA village (Blacks’ village you’ll visit the Gnawa people, originally slaves brought from Sudan, to experience their music and lifestyle. Not far away there’s the lake of Merzouga, with its bird populations, you’ll leave for Rissani. Once called Sijilmassa, this was the meeting place for the salt caravans, coming from Timbuktu in Mali. Here you’ll walk through the souk, selling spices, vegetables and cloths. After a lunch pizza in Rissani you will travel back to your riad where where your camel will be awaiting you. After a glass of mint tea. After lunch we will make our way to start our camel trek. All unnecessary luggages can be left in safe rooms at the hotel. The 90 minute camel trek will take us to a Berber camp in the middle of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes, the highest in North Africa. The camp consists of several comfortable Berber tents equipped with mattresses and linen, a restaurant, a kitchen. The evening will consist of dinner followed by entertainment provided by Berber drums.
Day 4: Merzouga - Ouarzazate
Before sunrise, you will be woken up to climb the sand dunes for fantastic photo opportunities. We will then make our way back to the hotel for showers and breakfast before we continue our journey to Ouarzazate, passing through Alnif, Tazzarine, Nkob, and the Draa Valley. We will spend the night in a guest house in Ouarzazate.
Day 5: Ouarzazate - Marrakech
After breakfast, we will set off for Marrakech, passing through the spectacular High Atlas mountains.Our journey will continue through the majestic Tizi ‘n’ Tichka Pass (2260m) over the High Atlas Mountains, before arriving at your accommodation in Marrakech, where the tour end.