| Duration: | 10 Day(s) - 9 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Desert Tours |
Day 1: Marrakech
Welcome to Morocco and transfer to your hotel/riad.
Day 2: Marrakech – Telouet – Ait Ben Haddou
Departure to southern Morocco. We will head to the Tizi Tichka Pass, the highest mountain road pass in Morocco. The road beneath us turns to red clay as we reach Telouet. This rustic town was once a principal stop on the main caravan route to Mali. Here we visit the crumbling kasbah that was once the palatial residence of the powerful warlord, the Pasha Glaoui. Then arrival in Ait Ben Haddou. (B, D)
Day 3: Ait Ben Haddou – Dades Valley
In the morning, visit the UNESCO-protected site of Ait Ben Haddou, the most impressive and well-preserved fortress in Morocco. Walk along the streets and get transported into the history of the ksour. After the visit, we travel to Ouarzazate, from where we take the road to Skoura Oasis and the Rose Valley. We then continue to the spectacular Dades Valley, traveling the zigzagging road upward to overlook the stunning gorge and valley. (B, D)
Day 4: Dades Gorge – Todra Gorge – Merzouga
Today, we journey to Todra Gorge, the stunning, towering gorge where Berber people can often be seen. We will have some time to stretch our legs and appreciate the beauty before making our way to Merzouga, a town built on the outskirts of the desert. Here we arrive at a lovely auberge from where we can see the peach-colored dunes spreading like a sea of sand. (B, D)
Day 5: Merzouga
After breakfast, we take a tour of this beautiful region. We visit a local village where we have the chance to listen to the pulsating rhythms of Gnawa drums echoing in the air. We also visit the ancient city of Rissani. Later in the afternoon, we set out on a camel caravan adventure during sunset. You can spend the night either in a desert oasis camp or return to your hotel. (B, D)
Day 6: Merzouga – Zagora
Today, we say goodbye to Merzouga and make our way to Zagora. The road is bordered by the volcanic mountains of the Saghro, with strange rock formations, and follows the Draa Valley. The views of the valley are spectacular and inspiring, with the most beautiful stretches just before Zagora. (B, D)
Day 7: Zagora – Taznakht – Taliouline
Awake, refreshed, and ready to continue your adventure as you travel to Taznakht, a major crossroads of southern Morocco. Taznakht is known throughout the country for its fine handmade carpets, and it is possible to visit one of the cooperatives if you are interested. Continue to Taliouine, the heart of Morocco’s saffron country, where we spend the night in a local auberge overlooking a stunning kasbah. (B, D)
Day 8: Taliouline – Tin Mal – Asni – Marrakech
In the morning, we make our way across the Atlas Mountains via a different route, the Tizi Test Pass. Although not as high as the Tizi Tichka Pass, it is considered by many to be superior in beauty and vistas. We stop to visit Tin Mal, home to a former royal treasury and mosque that dates back to the Almohad dynasty. We then continue through the charming Berber villages of Asni on our way to Marrakech. (B)
Day 9: Marrakech
Founded in 1066, Marrakech is one of Morocco’s Imperial Cities. On our guided walking tour, we visit the Koutoubia Mosque, the beautiful Bahia Palace, and the ruins of the Badi Palace, where giant storks nest amid its crenelated battlements, as well as the once-hidden Tombs of the Saadian Kings. Other highlights include the Jewish Quarter, the souks, and the famous Djemaa El Fna Square. (B)
Day 10: Marrakech
Transfer to the airport.
