11 Days tour from Marrakech to the Desert

Day 1: Airport – Marrakech

Pickup at the airport upon your flight’s arrival and transfer to your Riad. Free time to settle in and explore the surroundings.

Day 2: Marrakech (City Tour)

Breakfast at the hotel/Riad. Marrakech is one of Morocco’s four Imperial cities, famous for its numerous UNESCO World Heritage monuments and the renowned Jemaa el-Fnaa square. You can explore its distinct neighborhoods, including the modern city (Guéliz, Hivernage), the Palmeraie, and the Mellah (Jewish Quarter). Alternatively, let yourself get lost in the winding streets of the Medina leading to Jemaa el-Fnaa, a stage for endless outdoor activities: jugglers, musicians, fakirs, snake charmers, and storytellers that will awaken all your senses with a symphony of sounds, aromas, flavors, and colors. Overnight in a Riad.

Day 3: Marrakech – Ouzoud Waterfalls

Breakfast at your accommodation and departure. The famous Ouzoud Waterfalls, standing 110 meters high, are located in the Grand Atlas in the province of Azilal. They are considered the most beautiful in Morocco and North Africa, surrounded by idyllic landscapes painted in diverse colors. In the afternoon, you can observe the monkeys that inhabit the area playing together or attempting to steal snacks from tourists. Overnight in Ouzoud.

Day 4: Ouzoud – Ait Benhaddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Gorges

Morning departure from Marrakech toward the Dades Gorges via the “Route of the Thousand Kasbahs.” Along the way, we cross the High Atlas Mountains through the Tizi n’Tichka pass, the highest road point in the country (2260m), passing numerous Berber nomad villages. This spectacular scenery leads us to the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, famous as the filming location for over twenty movies like “Babel,” “Gladiator,” and “Lawrence of Arabia.” Free time to explore this impressive fortified village, where you can wander through craft shops (spice paintings, jewelry, rugs) up to the granary crowning the Kasbah. We continue via Ouarzazate through the Rose Valley to enter the Dades Gorges, the valley with the highest concentration of Kasbahs. We will drive along its winding road, admiring the unique reddish landscape of the Atlas Mountains. Free time for a walk in the valley gardens. Overnight and dinner in the Dades Valley.

Day 5: Dades Gorges – Todra Gorges – Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)

Breakfast at the hotel. We head to the Todra Gorges, north of Tinghir, where you can take a pleasant walk through the towering canyon with walls over 200 meters high to the source of the Todra River. We continue to the desert through the Tafilalet palm grove, leading to Erfoud, the ancient gateway to the desert, now famous for fossil work. Here, we leave the asphalt for a 50 km dirt track to our final destination: the Erg Chebbi dunes. Upon arrival at the desert hotel, our dromedaries await for a 90-minute trek through the dunes to reach the heart of the desert and watch the beautiful sunset. Sheltered by the Great Dune and enjoying drum music, dinner, and Moroccan tea, you can contemplate the immense starry sky and sleep in nomad tents.

Day 6: Desert – Erg Chebbi Route: People and Culture

We wake up early to witness another great spectacle among the Moroccan Sahara dunes: the sunrise. Once again, you will ride your dromedaries back to the hotel. After a hearty Moroccan breakfast, we board the 4×4 to begin our circuit around the Erg Chebbi dunes, a region filled with sand, following the tracks of the old Paris-Dakar Rally. Among many stops, we will discover how and where the local nomads live and share tea with a family, find wild oases in the middle of nowhere, spectacular landscapes, and desert settlements. A must-stop is the village of Khamlia, home to people of sub-Saharan origin, where we will enjoy a traditional Gnawa music concert while sipping delicious tea. We close the loop at the village of Hassi Lbied with a pleasant walk through the palm grove and garden that supply the population. Here, you can see a perfect example of the “Khetarra” irrigation system. Return to the hotel with free time until dinner. Overnight at a hotel at the foot of the dunes.

Day 7: Merzouga – Rissani – Ziz Valley – Midelt

Breakfast and shower, then we continue to Rissani. We will walk through what is known as the most authentic and traditional souk in the region, one of the largest in the south, where all kinds of crafts, food, and livestock are traded. We continue via Erfoud and cross the impressive Ziz Valley. What began as a river eroding the mountain rock is today an immense palm grove over 20 kilometers long with more than 18,000 palm trees. Free time to walk in the palm grove. Later, we continue to Midelt. Dinner and overnight at a hotel.

Day 8: Midelt – Fes

Departure to Fes, enjoying beautiful views of the Atlas and its villages along the way. Free day to get to know the city, another of the four Imperial cities and the religious and cultural center of Morocco. Its university, famous for Islamic and Arabic studies, is a hub for Moroccan students. You will have time to visit different neighborhoods: the new area (Fès el-Jdid) featuring the Mellah (Jewish Quarter), the Ville Nouvelle (French quarter), and, of course, Fes el-Bali, the old walled city. Wander its streets and feel transported to the past where potters, blacksmiths, and donkeys laden with goods coexist with tourists. Also famous for the tanner’s souk, you can witness the medieval tanning process used to give leather its vibrant colors. Overnight in a Riad.

Day 9: Fes – Chefchaouen

Early morning departure for Chefchaouen, a charming small town nestled at the foot of the Tisouka and Megou mountains in the Rif Range. The peaks rise above the town like two horns, giving the city its name (Chefchaouen in Berber means “look at the horns”). It is a city with very little car traffic, where the clean, fresh air invites you to discover the beauty of the surroundings. Overnight stay.

Day 10: Chefchaouen – Marrakech

Breakfast at the hotel. We head back to Marrakech. Overnight in Marrakech.

Day 11: Marrakech – Airport

Transfer to the airport for your scheduled flight departure. Farewell and end of our services.