6 days
We will visit Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Valley of Roses, Dades Gorges, Todra Gorges, Erfoud, Merzouga, Erg Chebbi desert where we will make the adventure route by track through sandy rivers, visiting villages located within the desert and fossil quarries 360 million year old sailors, to continue touring Merzouga, Ouarzazate, Aït Ben Haddou and finish at the Marrakech airport
Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech.
Reception at the airport and transfer to the riad, located 5 minutes from the square. From there it is easy to reach the minaret of the Koutoubia, an architectural treasure known as the “twin of the Sevillian giralda”. Later the square is filled with jugglers, water heaters, corkscrews, fortune tellers, henna tattooists, snake charmers and dancers. There are also groups of storytellers in Arabic, which preserve the authenticity of the square. At dusk small lighted and outdoor food stops are mounted, where you can taste all kinds of typical dishes. Dinner for free and accommodation in a riad.
Day 2: Marrakech – Ouarzazate – Valley of Roses – Gorges of the Dades.
We begin the journey crossing the High Atlas and passing through the port of Tizi n’Tichka, at an altitude of 2260 meters, and through the Berber villages of this area. We pass through the city of Ouarzazate, located on top of a large plateau, and we enter the so-called route of the Thousand Kasbahs. Passing through the valley of roses until reaching the valley of Dades. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in the middle of the gorges.
Day 3: Gorges of Dades – Gorges of Todra – Erfoud – Merzouga.
We continue along the Dades Valley until we reach the Todra Gorges, famous for its high walls and palm grove. View of the gorges and continue on the way to the desert. Stop in the city of Erfoud, one of the cities closest to the desert. Finally, we arrive at Erg Chebbi, a desert of fine sand dunes, where we change 4×4 vehicles for others of animal traction, dromedaries, to enter the deepest of the dunes and contemplate an unforgettable sunset. Berber dinner and party under the stars in a haimas camp in the middle of the desert.
Day 4: Merzouga – Erg Chebbi desert (“back of the dunes”).
You can get up early to see sunrise from the top of the great dune. We return to the lodge to spend some time resting in the pool, breathing tranquility, then we will take a shower and have breakfast. We left to visit the “village of the blacks”, Khamlia, where its people will give us traditional dances of their country and a mint tea. Then we will do the adventure route along the track, crossing rivers of sand, visiting villages located within the desert and quarries of marine fossils 360 million years old. Tour of the tracks used in the Dakar Rally. Visit to the Tissardmine oasis, where the exteriors of films such as Sahara, starring Penelope Cruz and Matthew McConaughey were filmed. Accommodation and dinner at the lodge at the foot of the dunes.
Day 5: Merzouga – Ouarzazate – Aït Ben Haddou.
Return from the dunes early in the morning to return to the lodge, where we will have left our bags, take a shower and have a quiet breakfast. As we continue the trip we discover the route of the Kasbahs of Rissani and we will walk through the market, unique in these latitudes and famous for supplying the desert tribes and nomads. It is curious to see its donkey parking. We will continue on our way to Aït Ben Haddou, but not before visiting the Kasbah Taourirt and the Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou, declared World Heritage by UNESCO. They are one of the largest and best preserved kasbahs in the country. We cross Ouarzazate, with wonderful views full of
contrasts of colors. Dinner and accommodation in a charming hotel.
Day 6: Aït Ben Haddou – Marrakech airport.
We will continue our way to Marrakech and transfer to the airport 2h before the flight. End of the trip at the indicated time.