Trip to the South Moroccan desert 8 Days

Day 1. Arrival in Marrakech and transfer to the hotel

Pick up at the airport and transfer to the hotel with the possibility of catching a glimpse of the famous Plaza de Jamaà el Fena. Dinner and Lodging

Day 2.  Marrakech

Visit the city starting with the Menara Gardens with its pool, the Saadian tombs (where you will find the founders of the city), the Palace of the Bay (the former residence of the vizier),  and the Koutobia with its splendid minaret. The visit ends in the impressive Plaza de DJemma el-Fná; by day a fabulous souk, but in the evenings transforms into a magical spectacle. Dinner and lodging.

Day 3. Marrakech-Ait Ben Haddou-Ouarzazate

Leaving Marrakech at 8:00 in the morning and, after picking you up wherever you stayed, we will leave for Ouarzazate. On the way we cross the Atlas Mountains by the amazing pass Tizi N’Tichka, up to 2,260 meters above sea level. Shortly after crossing the Mountain we will take a trail to visit the Kasbah of the Pacha Glaoui in Telouet. Passing through various Berber villages we will arrive at the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. This is an incredible fortified city dating back more than 800 years, which films such as Gladiator or Kingdom of Heaven were shot. At the end of the visit we will head to Ouarzazate, where you can visit the film studios. Here we will spend the first night.

Day 4. Ouarzazate-Agdez – Draa Valley-Gorges de Mharech (Dakar track)

After breakfast and a visit to the Kasbah Taourirt, we will leave in the direction of Zagora, crossing the Anti-Atlas Mountains and passing through the Tizi N Tinifift Pass, 1,600 meters above sea level. Entering in the Draa Valley by a track we will see various Berber villages and Kasbahs. Leaving behind the villages of N’kob, Tarazine and Alnif, we will take another track that passes lost villages until reaching the gorges of Mharech. Many of these are the areas tacckled during the world-famous Dakar Rally.

Day 5. Mharech-Oasis Ramlia-Dunes of Ouzina-Merzouga

Continuing along the Dakar Rally track we will cross more solitary villages, cross wadis (dry riverbeds), oases and the dunes of Ouzina. Following this route we will visit the famous village of Khamlia. This village is populated by the descendants of slaves who came from West/Central Africa, and you can enjoy its amazing folk music. From Khamlia we will then take the road towards Erg Chebbi, the highest dunes in Morocco. Night at the Lodge.

Day 6. Merzouga-Erg Chebbi-Merzouga

This will be a stage where, after breakfast, we travel along another of the tracks used in the Dakar Rally. We will visit desert nomads, with whom we will take tea and see the oasis where they filmed Sahara, starring Penelope Cruz. We will visit the village of Los Negros, named for the slave trade which came from the Sudan. After eating we will change our mode of transport, from 4×4 to camel. The camels will enter the dunes of the desert, allowing you to contemplate an unforgettable sunset. Tonight will be special; we sleep in the dunes in nomadic tents (Jaimas), as the Berbers do. Here we will enjoy a Berber dinner, music and a starry sky as you have never seen. Dinner and lodging in the unforgettable Jaimas.

Day 7. Merzourga – Rissani – Gorges del Todra-Dades Valley

After seeing the amazing sunrise in the desert we will take the camels back to “civilization”. We’ll stop at a hotel so you can shower and freshen up. Then we will leave in the direction of Rissani, origin of the Alawite dynasty and first imperial city of Morocco. We will take the road in the direction of Erfoud, rich in black stone and marine fossils – if you want, we can stop at a fossil factory – and arrive at the Palm Grove of Tafilalet. We will visit the gorges of the Roda and arrive at the Dades Valley, where we’ll spend the fourth night.

Day 8. Dades Valley-Roses Valley-Skoura-Marrakech

Leaving the Dades Valley behind on the “Thousand Kasbahs” route, we will pass through the amazing Valley of the Roses and arrive at the Palm Grove of Skoura, where the most famous Kasbah in the area is located. From here we will start to return to Marrakech and eat along the way. It’s the end of the route with us. We hope it was a good trip.