#Sahara Desert Tours #Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate
In the morning, we leave Marrakech and travel to Ouarzazate. We make our way through the High Atlas Mountains via the spectacular Tizi n Tichka pass, marvel at the stunning landscape of rugged beauty and the picturesque Berber villages – get your cameras ready! And if the friendly village children wave at you, remember to wave back.
We will stop by the Telouet Kasbah for a visit. After lunch we will continue towards Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou for our next stop. Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been the filming backdrop for Hollywood movies such as Gladiator, which won the 73rd Academy Award for Best Picture, and the fantasy TV series Game of Thrones.
After Ait Ben Haddou visit, we resume our journey towards Ouarzazate, the Hollywood of Morocco. We will rest and have dinner at a hotel in Ouarzazate.
Accommodation
Hotel: Riad Dar Chamaa or similar
* Hotel is subject to availability and may be changed at the end of the tour
(NB. Hotel check-in is usually at any time after 3pm)
Meals Included
Dinner
Day 2: Ouarzazate – Draa Valley – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi
We depart from Ouarzazate in the morning and continue the road of a Thousand Kasbah to visit the beautiful Draa valley. As the name goes, you will see many kasbah along the way, as well as charming Berber villages.
After lunch, we head towards Merzouga, the gateway to Erg Chebbi where the fiery orange sand dunes of the Sahara Desert await. Upon arrival, we will store our luggage at the local hotel and leave our modern transport to become true explorers traversing the Erg Chebbi sand dunes on camel backs to arrive at our camp site. Here, we will sit on the sand dunes to admire the beautiful sunset – but this is not yet the end as the night is about to begin.
At night, we will enjoy dinner at our camp site by the fire with drumming music, laughter, songs, and most of all, be mesmerized by the stars before retiring for the night in your Berber tent.
Accommodation
Desert Luxury camp: Sahara Sky Luxury Camp or similar
Meals Included
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 3: Erg Chebbi – Merzouga – Khamlia Village – Merzouga
Wake up an hour early to live an hour more – we encourage you to rise early to witness the sunrise over the Sahara and welcome a new day of adventure.
After breakfast, we will depart from the desert on our camels and return to the hotel at Merzouga for a shower.
After freshening up, we will travel along the Erg Chebbi to see the giant sand dunes that resemble pyramids. From here, we travel to the Tissardmin, which is rich in fossils and has a varied landscape of mountains ranges, deserts, and sandy dunes.
We continue our journey passing by desert nomadic settlements, where you will have the opportunity to learn about their life in the desert. We will also make a stop to take in the view of the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi before arriving at Khamlia Village.
Khamlia Village, also known as Gnawa Village, is famous for its indigenous dark-skinned inhabitants and “Gnawa music”, a body of Moroccan religious songs and rhythms. At the village, we will be treated to a performance of the enchanting Gnawa’s music before heading back to the hotel. You will have the afternoon free to explore Merzouga at leisure.
Tonight, we will stay at Merzouga with dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation
Hotel: Riad Chebbi or similar
* Hotel is subject to availability and may be changed at the end of the tour
Meals Included
Breakfast
Dinner
Day 4: Merzouga – Todra Gorge – Dades Gorge
After breakfast, we will drive through the Tafilalet region, the largest Saharan oasis of Morocco.
We will explore the Todra Gorge on foot after lunch, which is known to be one of the most spectacular canyons around the world.
We then make our way to the Dades Valley, where the landscape is filled with unique rock formation. After dropping off our luggage at the hotel, we set off on a guided hike through this epic landscape and gain a fascinating glimpse into life in this part of rural Morocco.
After traversing farmland and riverine forest, we will arrive at a series of striking rock formations, aptly named the Monkey Fingers due to their peculiar shape.
Accommodation
Hotel: Hotel Auberge Atlas Dades or similar
* Hotel is subject to availability and may be changed at the end of the tour
Meals Included
Breakfast
Optional
Dinner with Berber family if you would like to explore their way of life.
Day 5: Dades Valley – Ouarzazate – Marrakech
After breakfast, we head to Rose Valley, which is famed for its rose-based toiletries made by the local villagers.
We will also drive through Skoura Oasis as we travel towards Ouarzazate, where you will see numerous kasbahs amongst palm tree groves. At Ouarzazate, we will visit the Taourirt Kasbah before stopping for lunch.
From Ouarzazate, we return to Marrakech via the Atlas Mountains and Tizi n Tichka pass, giving you another chance to feast your eyes on the dramatic landscape.
On arrival at Marrakech, we will drop you off at your hotel.
Meals Included
Breakfast