4 day Tour from Fez to Marrakech

Day 1: Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Middle Atlas – Ziz Valley – Merzouga Desert

Pickup from your Hotel, Riad, or Airport. We depart for Ifrane, known as the “Switzerland of Morocco,” where we will stop to photograph the stone Lion. This landmark was carved by a German soldier during WWII in honor of the last Atlas Lion. We will cross the Middle Atlas Mountains, passing through Azrou to see the region’s largest ancient Great Cedar and the monkeys that inhabit the forest. We continue toward Midelt and cross the fascinating Ziz Valley, stopping for lunch to enjoy Berber hospitality. Finally, we arrive in Merzouga to mount camels for a trek through the dunes to watch the sunset from a high peak. We settle into our nomad camp for dinner and traditional Berber music under the stars.

Day 2: Exploring Merzouga – Desert Activities

After breakfast, we set out on a desert excursion following the original “Paris-Dakar Rally” route. We will visit desert nomads to share tea with a local family and see the oasis where films such as *Sahara* (starring Penélope Cruz) were filmed. We will also visit Khamlia, known as the “village of the blacks,” a community settled by people originally brought from Sudan.

After lunch, our next adventure begins: a camel safari into the heart of the dunes to witness another spectacular sunset. Tonight will be special; we sleep in typical Berber tents (jaimas) and enjoy dinner to the sound of drums beneath a starry sky. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Merzouga Desert – Rissani – Erfoud Fossils – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley

We rise early to enjoy a spectacular sunrise. After breakfast, we return to Merzouga by camel before departing for Rissani to visit the largest traditional market in the region. We then continue to Erfoud to visit a marble and fossil factory. Our journey takes us through the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad to reach the Todra Gorges—a riverbed forming vertical limestone cliffs that are a major attraction for rock climbers. After lunch and a walk through the gorges, we continue to the Dades Valley for dinner and an overnight stay at a hotel.

Day 4: Dades Valley – Rose Valley – Skoura – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – High Atlas – Marrakech

We will enjoy the best views of the Dades Valley, home to a large number of historic Kasbahs. We then cross the Rose Valley and the vast Skoura palm grove before arriving in Ouarzazate to visit the Taourirt Kasbah, the former residence of the Pacha Glaoui. Next, we head to Ait Ben Haddou to visit its famous Kasbah, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986. Many blockbusters have been filmed here, including *Gladiator*, *The Mummy*, *Asterix & Obelix*, and *The Jewel of the Nile*. After free time for lunch, we continue toward Marrakech, crossing the Tizi n’Tichka mountain pass with several stops for photos. Arrival in Marrakech around 6:00 PM, transfer to your hotel, and end of the trip.