Itinerary
Our driver guide will pick you up from your accommodation and drive through the Atlas Mountain Passes. On the road we will make stops to enjoy the stunning views of the Atlas Mountains and Tizi N’tichka pass (2260m). We will arrive in a small Berber village, Telouet, where we’ll visit the Telouet Kasbah built in the 18th and 19th centuries for the powerful el Glaoui family. Telouet Kasbah is a rare sight to behold; adorned in colorful mosaics and red stucco, the Kasbah had a strategic location on the caravan trail.
You can take a rest there to have lunch in a local restaurant. Later we will drive to Ouarzazate city along the stunning Ounila valley, passing via Berber villages to reach the ancient Kasbah Ait-Benhaddou. This fortified walled city was built right on the caravan path between Marrakech and the Sahara and was once a thriving trading post during the 17th century. Inside the high mud walls are 6 Kasbahs and a small number of homes. Ait Benhaddou has appeared in several movies, including Gladiator & Lawrence of Arabia. In the afternoon we will visit Atlas Studios in Ouarzazate. Dinner & overnight will be in a hotel or Riad in Ouarzazate.
After breakfast we will initiate our journey from Ouarzazate, known as “the door of the Sahara desert,” to Merzouga. We will stop to discover the beautiful architecture of Kasbah Taourirte situated in Ouarzazate city. After that we’ll drive along the Road of One Thousand Kasbahs, Rose valley, Dades valley and Todra Valley. We will enjoy the green views full of palm groves and almond trees. Later we arrive at Todra Gorge, a chilly and natural place with orange towering cliffs - the canyons of Todra Gorge are almost 1,000 feet deep. It’s also a preferred place for climbers, and we will take time to discover this incredible place. In the afternoon we continue our way to Sahara desert along many Berber villages such as Tinjdad, Melaab and Erfoud. We will have free time for lunch before arriving at the magical land of sand dunes, where you will have dinner and overnight in a hotel/Riad in Merzouga.
After breakfast, we will start our journey around Erg-Chebbi sand dunes. We will explore many interesting places of the area such as Merzouga Lake (not always full of water) to see the kinds of birds (ducks & flamingos) that come to live in this lake especially in spring time. We will visit Khamliya village where you will listen to African music (Gnawa) and then we will continue our off-road desert tour to the black desert behind Erg-Chebbi sand dunes. We will visit an abandoned village where there are mineral fossils, then drive to visit a nomadic Berber family to see their lifestyle. Afterwards, we’ll trek back to khamliya to have a delicious lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon you will start the Camel Trekking Adventure across the beautiful, unique, orange-colored sand dunes to a desert camp. This is an amazing experience where you can feed your soul and enjoy the wonderful sunset from the middle of the dunes. Dinner & overnight will be in camp, where music will be played and you can frolic on the sand dunes under zillions of stars.
In the morning your camel man will wake you up early to climb the sand dunes to see the beautiful sunrise. After breakfast and a shower in the camp, you will ride a camel back to Merzouga village while enjoying and appreciating the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg-Chebbi sand dunes. Next we will travel to Rissani, where we will stroll around the famous, traditional and biggest Market of the area to explore the local-made goods and art crafts. It’s better to visit Rissani on Sunday, Tuesday, or Thursday because these days are the Souks, market days for the people of desert area that want to do shopping.
Then, we continue our way passing by villages Erfoud and Aoufous to reach Ziz valley situated in Errachidia city. It is a big valley, where we will definitely stop to enjoy the green oasis full of thousands of palms. After that we will continue through Errachidia and the plateau of the middle Atlas Mountains Tizi N’talghoumte pass (1907m), to Midelt for dinner and overnight will be in a hotel.
After breakfast in the hotel, we will leave Midelt and continue our journey to Fes via the Middle Atlas Mountains where you can enjoy amazing views. Next, we will make a stop in the Cedar forest known for the huge apes. Then, we continue to Ifrane city referred to as “the Switzerland of Morocco” where we can stop for a while. After that we will reach Fes, the oldest city in Morocco. At the end of our 5 days Marrakech to Fes via Sahara desert tour, we will drop you off in Fes at your Riad, Hotel or airport.