Overview
This is a 5 days desert excursion from Marrakech to the Merzouga dunes and camel ride, which includes a visit to the Kasbah Ben Haddou and the film studios in Ouarzazate, visiting the Dades and Toudra gorges, and a night in a desert camp under a Berber tent.
Itinerary
Pick-up at 8:30 am at the Hotel or Riad where you are staying in Marrakech. We leave for the High Atlas crossing the Tizi N'Tichka pass with stops for panoramic photos. Continuation to the south to the kasbah of talouat valley ounela and village of Ait Ben Haddou where we will visit its Kasbah (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO). In this spectacular setting, films of such renown as Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia have been filmed. Lunch in the village and continuation to Ouarzazate, considered the gateway to the great desert of Africa.
After breakfast we will leave for the Draa Valley, where there is one of the longest rivers in Morocco. We will make several stops to contemplate the adobe kasbahs and Berber villages of the Draa Valley and take a track that passes through the oasis and villages until we reach the kasbah of Caid Ali in Tamnougalt. Then we will go to Alnif where we will have our lunch. Then we will head to the impressive Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga, where we will have tea and enjoy the pool. We will leave our luggage and what we will not use in the desert at the hostel and leave on a camel caravan of an hour and a half that will take us to the haimas in the middle of the dunes. Then we will climb the dunes to practice sandboarding and watch the sunset. Dinner in the haimas, with live music and a campfire, where we can dance and contemplate the stars.
We will wake up before sunrise to watch the sunrise. Camel ride back to the hostel, where we will shower and have breakfast. We will rest and then leave for the village of Khamlia, which is originally from Mali, where we will have a cup of tea while they offer us a small concert of Gnawa music. Return to the hotel, we will have lunch and have the afternoon free. Before sunset, we go by car to the highest dune to contemplate a romantic sunset. Then we will have dinner, and enjoy a Berber show with drums. Accommodation in the hotel.
We leave for Erfoud to visit the fossilized marble factory before continuing to the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad. We will arrive at one of the highlights of the South: The Todra Gorges. The Todra River bed has formed a canyon with vertical walls of enormous proportions and great beauty; it is a paradise for climbers and a unique place. Lunch on site and a half-hour walk to see the Gorges quietly. In the afternoon we continue to the Dades Valley passing through Boumalne. Arrival at the Dades Gorges where we stay in a riad hotel.
After breakfast we leave the Dades Gorge for the Rose Valley with a photo stop. After several stops we will head towards the Thousand Kasbahs route, The great palm grove of Skoura. Arrival in Ouarzazate, visit the Kasbah of Taourirt which was the former residence of the Glaoui or Pasha of Marrakech. Lunch on site. We leave by the Tizi N'Tichka mountain pass with stops to enjoy the spectacular views it offers. We will arrive in Marrakech in the afternoon, accommodation in a riad hotel. End of our service.
5 Days Circuit Through the High Atlas and Sahara Desert of Merzouga
This includes:
- Private high-end vehicle with gasoline and A/C.
- Driver/guide speaks Spanish
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation in Marrakech.
- Free time to explore the sites such as the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, photo stops
- 4 nights accommodation in hotel/kasbah haima with dinner and breakfast (private haima)
- 1 hour camel ride at sunset or sunrise.
- One camel per person.
Not included:
- Drinks
- Lunch
- Entrance fees to monuments
