8 Day Tour From Marrakech to the Desert

Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech

Reception at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you can have your first contact with Jemaa el-Fna Square and its surroundings, enjoying dinner at the open-air food stalls before resting at your Riad.

Day 2: Marrakech – Tizi n’Tichka – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate

We cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m). We will visit the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where you will have free time to explore its narrow alleys. After a local lunch, we continue toward Ouarzazate.

Day 3: Ouarzazate – Rose Valley – Dades Gorges

We visit the Taourirt Kasbah and the Pacha Glaoui Palace in Ouarzazate. We continue through the Skoura palm grove and the Rose Valley until we reach the Dades Gorges, where we will enjoy dinner surrounded by impressive rock formations.

Day 4: Dades Valley – Todra Gorges – Merzouga

We travel along a road dotted with historic kasbahs until we reach the Todra Gorges, a paradise for climbers with stunning vertical walls. After lunch, we head south toward the Merzouga dunes. At sunset, you will have free time to climb the dunes and enjoy a drum performance after dinner.

Day 5: Merzouga – Erg Chebbi (Nomadic Culture)

We circle the dunes following part of the old Paris-Dakar Rally route. We will visit nomadic settlements to learn about their customs and stop in Khamlia to enjoy Gnawa music. In the afternoon, we set off on dromedaries toward the heart of the desert to sleep in a traditional haima (tent) under a spectacular blanket of stars.

Day 6: Merzouga – Rissani – Alnif – Zagora

After watching the sunrise over the dunes, we return to Merzouga for breakfast. We visit the Rissani market and continue through arid landscapes toward Zagora, the historic departure point for caravans to Timbuktu. We will explore the immense Draa Oasis, the richest region for date production.

Day 7: Zagora – Draa Valley – Agdez – Marrakech

We cross the sublime Draa Valley, flanked by thousands of palm trees. We visit the Berber village of Agdez and cross the Anti-Atlas mountains (1,660 m). After lunch in the village of Taddart, we cross the Atlas once more to arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon.

Day 8: Marrakech – Airport

Free morning in the Red City for final shopping or sightseeing. At the agreed time, we will provide the transfer to the airport for your return flight. End of our services.