Overview
A 3 days desert excursion from Fez to the Merzouga dunes and camel ride, including a visit to Kasbah Ben Haddou and the film studios in Ouarzazate, visiting the Dades and Toudra Gorges, with one night in a desert camp under a Berber tent.
Itinerary
Pick-up from your hotel or riad in Fez, airport, or your preferred location at 8 a.m. We head south to cross the Middle Atlas Mountains until we reach Ifrane, known as the "Little Moroccan Switzerland" for its resemblance to that country. One of the animals that used to inhabit here was the Atlas lion, hence it has become the city's symbol and a stone statue has been dedicated to it in the city center. We will take advantage of a stop to take some photos. We will cross the famous cedar forests, visit the region's largest thousand-year-old cedar, and also feed the hundreds of Barbary macaques living in the area. Lunch in Midelt, and in the afternoon, we will pass through the Ziz Valley. With more than 20km of palm groves and 10 millions palm trees, it is one of the largest in the world. Arrival at the Merzouga desert and hospitality tea at our hotel, then we will enjoy our first contact with the desert by climbing the nearest dunes to relax and watch a spectacular sunset before returning to the hotel near Erg Chebbi dunes. (Dinner and accommodation at the hotel)
Today will be a day of total desert exploration. After a hearty and rich breakfast, we will circle around Erg Chebbi, a vast expanse of sand desert where the Great Dune of Morocco, over 250 meters high, is located. We will connect by track with part of the route followed by the former Paris-Dakar rally and with the mountains bordering Algeria in the background. Stop at the Tissardmin oasis where we can find fossil races still present in this region, and then continue towards a nomadic settlement where we will learn some of the secrets of their life and customs. Later, we will stop at a panoramic point where we can contemplate Erg Chebbi as a whole. We will reach the village of Khamlia, originally from Mali, where we will relax with tea while enjoying a small concert of Gnawa spiritual music. Then return to the hotel to embark on a camel caravan to enter the heart of the dunes and witness an unforgettable sunset. We will arrive with the camels at the camp located in a wild oasis where we will stay in Berber tents made of camel hair, similar to those used by desert nomads. Dinner and night in tents in the heart of the desert under a spectacular blanket of stars.
"Appointment with the Sunrise" since you are in the desert, it is recommended to wake up early to walk to the highest dune near the camp to enjoy the sunrise and the relaxing landscape that nature offers us. We will return on camels to the hotel for breakfast, shower...etc. Once ready, we will head north crossing the Tafilalet Palm Grove where, in 20km, we can see countless palm trees, making it one of the largest palm groves in the world. Crossing it, we will reach the Ziz Valley, named after the river that descends from the High Atlas and feeds the palm grove. Here we will make a stop to observe the Valley from above. Planned stop in Midelt, right in the heart of the Atlas, to rest for a while and have lunch. Later, we will continue our journey passing through the Cedar Forest again. Arrival in Fez around 6 p.m. approximately, transfer to where you indicate, and end of our services.
3 Days Circuit from Fez to the Merzouga Desert
This includes:
- Tour in a 4x4 vehicle/Minibus with A/C.
- Spanish-speaking driver/guide.
- Fuel.
- Hotel/riad where you will spend the night (including breakfast and dinner).
- Camel ride and night in the desert.
- One camel per person.
- Sandboarding on the dunes.
Not included:
- Drinks.
- Lunch.
- Entrance fees to monuments.