5 days desert tour from Marrakesh

5 days desert tour from Marrakesh

Discover the beauty of Morocco with this exciting 5-day itinerary. Begin and end in Marrakech, visiting the rocky peaks of the High Atlas mountains and the colossal sand dunes of the Sahara. You’ll wander medieval medinas and souks, marvel at palaces and mosques, and explore ancient kasbahs and desert towns.

Day 1: Marrakech, cross the high Atlas mountains, visit Aït Ben Haddou kasbahs and Ouarzazate, night in Dades

After breakfast at the Riad, we will drive to Dades gorges, by crossing the High Atlas mountains and ‘Tizi N’tichka’ pass , which is the highest road pass in Morocco at 2260m altitude, where we will also stop for you at various panoramic views in order to take pictures. Then we will visit one of the oldest beautiful Kasbahs in Morocco called Aït Ben Haddou, a Kasbah of the 16th century recognized by the Unesco, where we will stay for lunch in a local restaurant. After that, we will continue our journey to Ouarzazate (The African Hollywood), where we will visit Atlas Studios of cinema and Taourirt Kasbah. Then we will move to the Roses valley and through the way of 1000 Kasbahs. Overnight and Dinner at Dades Valley, in the upper Gorges.

Day 2: Desert towns, fossil workshops, and camping in the Sahara

After Breakfast we will drive to Todra gorges (the grand moroccan canyon), famous for rock climbing at its rock walls that rise to 300m in a narrow part, here you will have a walk to smell the real nature of green agricultural lands and wide rivers. We will continue down to Erfoud, famous for its fossilized marbles, where you will have the opportunity to visit a workshop that produces Marble fossils. We will arrive in Merzouga in the evening. You will be welcomed with a cup of tea and have a safe room to be prepared to spend an excellent night in the nomad desert camp. You will have about 90 min of camel ride to cross the highest sand dunes in the north Africa, while you enjoying the show of the sunset till you arrive to the Bivouac, you will have a private tent, the tents are well equipped with mattresses, blankets, cushions, hot shower and also private toilet. You will be served a delicious Moroccan dinner, after that you will gather around the fire to admire a typical Berber music performed using drums under the sky full of stars.  

Day 3: The dunes of Erg Chebbi, Khamliya village, Merzouga

Perhaps make the most of your time in the desert with an early-morning walk over the dunes to enjoy the sunrise. We will leave for the village of Khamlia, which is originally from Mali, where we will have a cup of tea while offering us a small Gnawa music concert. Continue along the track of the Dakar Rally until arriving to the nomads where we will have a cup of tea while we make a visit to where they live, Return to the hotel with a stop for a panoramic view of the dunes, we will have lunch and we will have the afternoon free. Before sunset, we go to the highest dune to contemplate a romantic sunset. Accommodation at the hotel in Merzouga.

Day 4: Merzouga, Rissani, Ouarzazate

After breakfast in your hotel, we visit the town of Rissani, the incredible birthplace of Moulay Ali Cherif — founder of Morocco’s ruling Alaouite Dynasty. Get into your air-conditioned minivan and travel to the oasis of Tinghir in the foothills of the High Atlas mountain. In the afternoon, drive out through the Dadès Valley along the famous ‘Road of 1,000 Kasbahs, then join your guest house in Ouarzazate. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel.

Day 5: Return to Marrakech

After breakfast, head back to Marrakech crossing the High Atlas Mountains to your accommodation.