Itinerary

Day 1

We will meet you at your riad or hotel at 8:00 a.m., depart Marrakech, and transport over the High Atlas mountains Tizi nTichka pass. We will have time to stop and enjoy the impressive landscapes, and coffee and fresh-squeezed orange juice breaks. We will spend the morning visiting the World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou This village of clustered Berber Kasbahs has been used as a backdrop for more than 20 films and was one of the most important fortress strongholds on the old Salt Road where caravans brought slaves, gold, ivory and salt from Saharan Africa to Marrakech and beyond. After lunch we can visit the Atlas film studios where many big box office adventure films were made (ie; The Mummy, Black Hawk Down, Cleopatra, Gladiator, Moses, and more) before stopping at our hotel in Ouarzazate. We will have dinner in our Ouarzazate hotel.

Day 2

Our next destination is the Valley of the Rose, famous for the Persian rose; and Dades valley of a thousand Kasbahs. You will pass through many Berber villages, and once in the desert, see riverside oasis and barren hillsides clustered with kasbahs (fortified dwellings that house many families and their livestock). After visiting the Tamnalt hills, we have lunch in fascinating Dades valley auberge (small country inn) in the upper gorge, on the terrace, overlooking the valley gardens. Stay in traditional old kasbah with evening Moroccan dinner.

Day 3

After breakfast we have a one hour drive to walk through a massive fault dividing the High Atlas mountains. Todra Gorge sheer rock walls rises to 300 m in its narrowest part. After lunch you can wander through palmery villages, gardens, and kasbahs for a close look at traditional Berber ways of life. Visit the women's market in Tinihir and old kasbah quarter. Stay in traditional old kasbah with evening Moroccan dinner (as above).

Day 4

Our mid-afternoon destination is the auberge (small inn) in the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga. Along the way we pass through folded exposed rock slabs of fossils and we can stop and explore. Optional visit a fossil factory to see Sahara's wonderful varieties of ancient life. We continue deeper into the desert landscape, until the dunes appear on the horizon. Upon arrival you will meet your camel guide and ride into the dunes to the bivouac (camp), and have a traditional tagine dinner prepared (vegetarians welcome) under the evening stars shining brilliantly in the clear night sky. Climb the dunes and watch the moon rise before retiring to your bed in the nomad wool tent. Or you have a choice of staying in the desert auberge with a sunset camel trek into the dunes, relaxing dinner in the auberge and breakfast early the next morning.

Day 5

Bivouac trekkers return by camel at sunrise to the auberge for breakfast and shower. Depart for long days drive to Fez, traveling into the Middle Atlas mountains. In winter, the alpine town of Ifrane will be covered with snow, a nice contrast from the desert. You can stop here, before descending to the hilly lowlands where the ancient city of Fez is situated. We can arrange for your stay in a traditional old riad in the heart of the Fez medina and arrange for a guide for the next day if you wish. (extra cost[s]).

Extra Information

Inclusions -

private transport by air conditioned 4x4

Exclusions -

tips

Extras -

Tours can depart from Marrakech or Fez, any day of the year.
Marrakech to Marrakech or Fez to Fez also available. Ask for prices.