Overview

This 5-day journey from Marrakech to the Merzouga Desert takes you on an unforgettable adventure through Morocco’s diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Starting with the scenic drive through the High Atlas Mountains, you’ll visit UNESCO World Heritage sites, explore ancient kasbahs, and travel through picturesque valleys and gorges. As you reach the Sahara Desert, enjoy a camel trek and spend nights under the stars in a Berber camp. The trip also includes visits to traditional Berber villages, fossil workshops, and the famous Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate, before returning to Marrakech.

Highlights

Explore the UNESCO-listed Kasbah Ait Benhaddou and Taourirt Kasbah
Drive through the stunning Tizi n'Tichka Pass and the Dades and Todra Gorges
Camel trek through the Erg Chebbi dunes with a night in a Berber tent
Experience traditional Berber music, dance, and cuisine under the desert sky
Visit Gnaoua village and experience their unique music culture
Discover the historic town of Rissani and explore its traditional market
Visit the Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate, known as the "Hollywood of Morocco"

Day 1 :

Marrakech – Tizi-n-Tichka - Ait Ben Haddou - Ouarzazate - Skoura – kelaa Mgouna – Boumalne - Dades Gorges.

Heading south through the mountainous Tizi NTichka at an altitude of 2,260 meters, we will experience stunning and breathtaking scenery. About 40 kilometers from Ouarzazate, we will arrive at the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou that is a declared UNESCO World Heritage Site. This fortified city or ksar is a traditional pre-Saharan habitat that exhibits the amazing architecture of Morocco still used today. Ait Benhaddou is also used in media as a backdrop to movies and series such as Game of Thrones, Kingdom of Heaven, Babel and so forth. Continuing south, we will arrive at Ouarzazate, the Hollywood of Morocco where will visit the Kasbah of Taourirt which was controlled by the Glaoui for the Saharan Caravan Route to West Africa. Marked by intricate ceilings, this renovated Kasbah will give you a chance to embrace the historical monument giving tribute to the pashas of Marrakech. After this visit, we will head east to the Dades Gorges driving through breathtaking roads and villages such as Skoura, K’laat M’Gouna, and Boulmane Dades. Skoura has one of the largest oasis’ giving it the name of the ‘Oasis of 1000 Palms.’ In K’laat M’Gouna we will have a chance to explore the home of the roses whose petals are used for perfumes, lotions, and oils. Our next stop will be the Dades Gorge in Boumalne Dades which follows a windy road and limestone cliff with shaped erosions and superb scenery.

Day 2 :

Dades Gorge - Todra Gorge - Merzouga

With its savage grandeur, Todra Gorge is known to be the Moroccan Grand Canyon with its naturally pink-grey gigantic rock walls that change colors depending on the time of the day. At Erfoud, the City of Fossils, we will take a tour at a local cooperative that exhibits to process to fossils into beautiful furniture, home décor, and personal items such as bracelets, key chains and necklaces. Continuing our trek to the Saharan desert we will have the opportunity to ride dromedary camels through the dunes for two hours before the watching of the sunset. After dinner we will spend the night under the starry sky listening to local music and dance until we reside into our tents for the night.

Day 3 :

Merzouga - Khamlia - Merzouga

We will wake up early to see the spectacle of the sunrise over the dunes of the Sahara , we will make a tour of the desert dunes ( rally Paris –Dakar path) where you will have the opportunity to see the amazing changing contrasts of the of the desert. We will visit the ‘Gnaoua village’ of Khamlia to see the Gnawa musicians before having a traditional Berber pizza for lunch in the same village. After lunch you can visit the traditional markets and/or drink coffee at one of the many cafes while watching the day to day life of the city. Dinner and overnight in a hotel in the desert.

Day 4 :

Merzouga - Rissani - Alnif - Tazarine - Nkoub - Draa Valley - Agdez – Ouarzazate

After breackfast you will start your journey with a first stop in Rissani one of the oldest cities in Morocco and the capital of destiny Alaoui family, it’s well know also of its traditional market after that you will continue your way via prosperous berber villages as Tazarine and Nkob where you will have lunch, In the afternoon, we will drive along the Dra’a Valley towards Agdez, passing by some oases and Kasbahs, beside the river. The oldest Kasbah of Tamnougalte, in the Dra'a Valley is situated near Agdez, and you will have some time to visit it. Some parts lie in ruins and some parts are still fully occupied. The last part of the day's journey is across the Anti Atlas Mountains to Ouarzazate. Here you will spend the night. Night in the riad.

Day 5 :

Ouarzazate – Kasbah Taourirt – High Atlas Mountains - Marrakech

Before heading back to Marrakech, we will take some time to visit what is known to be the ‘Hollywood’ of Morocco. With this, we will visit three important sites, all of whom have actually been filmed in popular movies. The first stop will be to Kasbah Taourirt, once controlled by the pasha and his wives. This amazing castle shot screens from Rules of Engagement. While most movies have since been stopped shooting here, you can still enjoy beautiful ceilings with their original artwork. If you’re a movie buff, the next place will definitely be your favorite. The Atlas Film Studies gives you an opportunity to see sets from past movies, casting selections and who knows; maybe you can run into Brad Pitt filming a new movie. We will head to high Atlas Mountains where we will have lunch before continuing to Marrakech.