DAY 1: Marrakech to the bosom of Dades Valley

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

We will meet you upon your arrival in Marrakech or directly from your accommodation, and escape the hustle and bustle of the city towards the High Atlas Mountains. Through the highest mountain pass in North Africa and across the Glaoua territory, we will pass countless ancient kasbahs and fortified granaries that dot the countryside.

From there we continue on to Ouarzazate, a bustling southern city often referred to as “The Hollywood of Morocco” owing to the many famous films shot on location such as Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and Kingdom of Heaven, as well as several seasons of the hit show, Game of Thrones. Here, we will stop for lunch and explore the nearby Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, the most famous kasbah inMorocco, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the backdrop for many of the films and shows shot on location. As the afternoon sun wanes, we will wind through several oases and end our drive for the day in the lush Dades Valley.

DAY 2: Dades Valley to the Golden dunes of the Erg Chebbi, Merzouga

Dades Valley → Todra Canyon → Rissani → Merzouga → Camel Trekking into the Erg Chebbi Sand Dunes

Following breakfast we continue our drive along the banks of the Oued Todra, where olive, pomegranate, and orange trees flourish, until we reach the Todra Gorge, where we will take some time to wander among the towering rock walls of the narrow corridors. As we descend into the desert plains, the landscape gives way to a vast stony plain that marks the edges of the Sahara.

Upon our arrival, we will leave all unnecessary luggage behind in safe rooms at a nearby hotel before mounting our camels and trekking into the towering dunes of the Moroccan Sahara. Here we will have ample free time for you to explore and take in the beauty and vastness of the desert dunes. Once the sun sets, a Moroccan dinner will be served alongside live music around the campfire, after which you are free to explore again – this time in the company of a million stars exploding against the pitch-black sky, and the all-encompassing silence of the Sahara at night.

DAY 3: 4WD Desert exploration and tea with nomads

Merzouga → Berber Culture and Traditions → tea with nomads.

At your request, our staff will wake you at the crack of dawn to witness the spectacle of the desert sunrise, the colour of the sand contrasting beautifully with the palette of shadows on the dunes. After some light breakfast and tea we will ride the camels back across the desert to the Kasbah to freshen up before taking an off-road tour of the dunes.

Along the way, we will visit local villages to hear a performance of Gnawa music; explore the shores of Dayet Srji, a Salt Lake home to many migratory birds including flamingos; and wander through the souks of Rissani known for Berber pizza – a local speciality. Late in the afternoon we will return to our Kasbah in Merzouga, where you will be able to relax beside the swimming pool, watch the sunset over the dunes, and enjoy the tunes of a desert blues band well into the evening.

DAY 4: Desert Sunrise, Oases, Monkeys, and the Cultural Capitol of Morocco Fes

Merzouga → Erfoud → Ziz Oasis & Gorges → Midelt → Azrou → Ifrane → Fes

After some light breakfast and tea we will begin our journey to retrace our path across the High Atlas ranges, through the oasis of Erfoud dotted with palm trees, ancient kasbahs, and Berber villages. By mid afternoon we will catch glimpses of Southern Morocco’s unique architectural style, and stop for lunch overlooking a breathtaking view of the dramatic peaks of the High Atlas rising behind the town of Midelt.

We will make another stop in the alpine village of Ifrane, a mountain town known for its uncanny resemblance to villages in the Swiss alps. Finally, as the day comes to a close we will arrive in Fes, the cultural and spiritual capital of Morocco, where your guide will escort you to your riad or hotel to settle in for the night.