DAY 1: Arrival in Marrakech, Transfer to your Hotel

Upon your arrival to Marrakech airport we will meet you and take you to your hotel in the center of the city. Afterwards you will be free to wander into the chaos and color of Djemaa el Fna, the vibrant marketplace in the center of the medina which comes alive at night.

DAY 2: Marrakech to the bosom of Dades Valley

‍Marrakech → Atlas Mountains → Ait Benhaddou → Ouarzazate → Skoura Oasis → Roses Valley → Dades Valley

After breakfast your guide will pick you up directly from your accommodation before escaping the hustle and bustle of Marrakech. We will cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, which reaches an altitude of 2,260 meters (7,415 feet) and is the highest mountain pass in North Africa. The road passes through various villages typical of the northern slopes of the Atlas, where corn can be seen ripening in the sun on the packed-earth roofs of the stone houses.

We will continue across the territory of the powerful Glaoua tribe where a number of ancient kasbahs and fortified granaries can be seen dotting the countryside before we reach Ait Benhaddou, a fortified village classified by UNESCO as one of the world’s cultural treasures. At Ait Benhaddou we will stop for lunch and to give you some time to explore the kasbah for yourself.

Our journey will continue towards the Skoura Oasis, filled with dense palm groves crossed by a network of tracks running between kasbahs, ksours, and farms. We will head towards the Roses Valley and into the Dades Valley on the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs”, passing the fortresses of M’Goun and the countless traditional Berber adobe houses that perch along the riversides, sometimes barely distinguishable from the rocks themselves. We will spend the night in the Dades Valley.

DAY 3: Dades Valley surroundings exploration

Dades Valley, Bouteghrar, and the Roses Valley

After enjoying breakfast, we’ll embark on a full-day excursion through the enchanting landscapes of Dades Valley and Roses Valley. We’ll traverse terraced crops and marvel at the lush greenery of M’Goun Valley. Continuing our journey, we’ll ascend to a pass leading us through a juniper forest into the scenic valley adorned with numerous adobe kasbahs.

Next, we’ll explore the heart of the Roses Valley, admiring the burgeoning fields of roses intermingled with cereal crops. These rose gardens serve as the source for producing rose products. Along the way, we’ll visit local villages, explore the town and market, and witness the process of distilling rose oil.

Finally, we’ll return to your hotel in Dades Valley, where you’ll spend the night, reflecting on the day’s unforgettable experiences.

DAY 4: From the Valley to Todra Gorges

After having breakfast and checking out of our hotel, we will drive to Tinghir, a former military outpost on the banks of the Oued Todra, where olive, pomegranate, and orange trees flourish. The road through the Todra Gorges follows the right bank of the river, which is covered with palm trees and is one of the most beautiful oases in Morocco.

You will then continue farther east into the narrowest and most spectacular section of the gorges, where we will take some time to wander among the towering rock walls of the narrow corridors.

DAY 5: Rock walls crystal river to the bosom of the golden sand dunes

After having breakfast you will have more time at leisure before we leave for Erfoud, crossing the palm grove of Tinjdad and Touroug, and visit a workshop where local fossils are produced. Afterwards we will continue straight to the desert village of Merzouga, which lies right on the edge of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes.

Upon your arrival, you will be greeted at the kasbah. You’ll have the opportunity to freshen up from the drive and enjoy a refreshing glass leave all unnecessary luggage behind in safe rooms in our kasbah. Afterward, you’ll take on a 3 mins 4WD ride to meet your camels and begin the ride, you have the option to continue with the 4WD ride upon your request in case you get tired (or 4WD transfer if you can’t do the camels).

Our camel trek experience is adjustable, allowing you to choose a duration ranging from a brief 10 minutes to an immersive 2 hours. Both options include ample time for pausing to witness the breath-taking sunset and capture stunning photographs before reaching your private tent in our luxury camp or similar in the middle of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes.

Upon reaching the camp, you’ll be shown your tent and treated to the dinner, followed by traditional music around the campfire. Assistance will be available in arranging any possible additional excursions or activities of your interest during your desert stay experience.

Overnight in the silence of the desert, and you can relax outside stargazing and marvel at the Milky Way spreading across the pitch-black night sky.

DAY 6: Off-road desert discovery tour & Tea with Nomads

If you would like to wake up early so that you can watch the spectacle of sunrise, when the colour of the sand contrasts beautifully with the play of shadows on the dunes – after which you might want to try your hand at sand-boarding down them.

On the tour we will visit the oasis of Merzouga, the nomadic depository, and Khamlia Village, where we will be able to hear gnawa music from the local people who are descendants of ex-slaves that found their way to Morocco from Senegal via the Salt Route. We will continue on to meet desert nomads in their tents and discover their way of life.

We will also visit the nearby Lake of Merzouga, with its diverse population of birds. Afterwards we will leave for Rissani. Once called Sijilmassa, this was the meeting place for the salt caravans coming from Timbuktu, Mali. Here you’ll be able to walk through the souk, where you will be able to find spices, vegetables, and clothes. After having a pizza lunch in Rissani we will drive back to our Kasbah, where we will be greeted with a glass of tea or glass of wine and have some time to relax before we go to the camp where you will enjoy a second enchanting overnight.

DAY 7: Desert Sunrise, Oases, Monkeys, and the Cultural Capital of Morocco Fes

Merzouga → Erfoud → Ziz Valley → Midelt → Azrou forest → Ifrane → Fes

After breakfast, we will retrace our steps through Erfoud to the dramatic Ziz Valley, a spectacular gash in the hills that surround the Ziz Oasis, the largest oasis in Morocco. The region is dotted with deserted kasbahs, palm trees, and mud-brick villages, and is a photographer’s paradise. After passing through a barren plain of scrub and desert on the other side of the mountains, we will stop for lunch in the town of Midelt, from which we will have a fantastic view of the dramatic peaks of the High Atlas Mountains rising behind the town.

The different landscapes we will cross is unbelievably diverse, ranging from rocky, sun-baked plains to cedar-covered mountains and deep, spectacular canyons. In the hills south of Azrou we might be lucky enough to spot a troupe of the Barbary Apes that still make their home in the local forests. We head onward to Ifrane, the Switzerland of Morocco. After having crossed the plains we will arrive in the evocative city of Fes, which is the cultural capital of Morocco and one of the most complete medieval Islamic cities in the world. Our guide will help you find your riad and leave you to settle in for the night.