6 Days Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour

After breakfast, depart early for Ouarzazate, a former caravan town on the silk and salt route in the eastern foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Ouarzazate is known as the Gateway to the Sahara. First of all, we will travel through the dramatic landscape of the High Atlas Mountains passing through the berber town of Taddert and over the 2260 meters high Tizi-in-Tichka pass. We will stop at the famous Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, 30 kilometers from Ouarzazate. The kasbah is one of the most intriguing red earth castles lining the ancient road of the Kasbahs, and is a UNESCO world heritage site.We continue on our way to Ouarzazate. We will stop to visit the Taourirt kasbah former home of the famous Pasha Glaoui. The painted ceilings, arches, beautiful small windows with wrought iron works and woodwork have helped make it another UNESCO site. The local guide will explain lifestyle of the pasha in the former feudalistic Moroccan society, stressing the status of his women, the favourites and common-law wives as well as the slaves. In the afternoon, enjoy a private visit of the Atlas Corporation Studio, a well –known cinematographic centre renowned for blockbuster productions including Asterix and Cleopatre directed by Alain Chabat; and the Oscar-wining Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott. Overnight accommodation will be at the hotel or riad in Ouarzazate.

You will leave Ouarzazate to Todra Gorge by driving through the “Road of the thousand Kasbahs”- the fascinating “sand castles”.we will continue in our journey to stop at Kalaat Mgouna, “the rose’s city” known for roses and its annual festival during the roses harvest in May.After when we reach Boumalne Dades we will turn left to follow the valley to see the amazing rock formation “the monkey toes”, and the still-standing 19th century Kasbah of Ait Yul. Leave the Dades valley towards Tinghir and the Todra valley. Watch the panoramic views of the old mud Berber villages overlooking the valley. Get to the Gorge and walk under the 300m high red cliff,our trekking guide will take you in a short walk between the palmes trees “1 hour and half” where many Rock-climbers come to enjoy their preferred sport.Overnight accommodation will be in guesthouse.

Today our trip will lead us to Erfoud and Rissani where we have lunch; afterwards, we leave for the village of Merzouga , where your camel will be awaiting you. before you mount your camel, guided by an experienced Camel man, to explore within the mysterious sand-sea of the Erg-Chebbi. Here you will spend your night under the stars, or if you prefer, in a traditional Berber nomad tent.

After breakfast in your hotel you will start discovering Merzouga. We will drive all around Merzouga and the sand dunes and visit the nomads in their tents. Moreover you will visit the Gnawa house (live music of black people) in village called Khamlia. You will meet Gnawa people and hear their music and experience their lifestyle. Afterwards you will head to Rissani, and in this town you will visit traditional market that was in the pasr main station for the trades Caravans where they sell dates, clothing and some of the finest Moroccan handcrafts…. After lunch in Rissani you will drive back to Merzouga where you will find the camels waiting for you .you start your trek from there to the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi enjoying the sunset and spend a night in traditional Berber camp.

After wonderfull sunrise in Merzouga we will travel to Midelt via Errachidia along the magnificent Ziz Gorges carved through volcanic rock, and through the Tizi Ntalghamt Pass to Midelt. where we will spend the night.

During this journey you’ll experience glimpses of the Middle Atlas and Higher Atlas mountains. Stopping at Azrou, a Berber village in the middle of the famous cedar forest – the largest in Morocco – where you may well sight Barbary apes. After sometime within the forest, your journey continues to the Middle Atlas Mountains and the berber village of Immouzer Kandar and Ifrane, a wonderful mountains village, referred to as “the Switzerland of Morocco”On to Ifran “the French village”, stop for a picture or a drink then drive to Fes where the tour ends.