🌟 5-Day Morocco Desert Tour: Marrakech to Fes 🌟
DAY 1 🏔️
Marrakech → Atlas Mountains → Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah → Ouarzazate
We will pick you up from your lodging in Marrakech, Riad or Hotel in the Medina, in order to drive to Ouarzazate, a former caravan town on the silk and salt route in the eastern foothills of the Atlas Mountains.
🏔️ First thing first, we will travel through the dramatic landscape of the High Atlas Mountains passing through the Berber town of Taddert and Follow the winding road to the Tizi n’Tichka pass and stop to appreciate the panoramic view.
🏰 We will stop at the famous Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, 30 kilometers from Ouarzazate. The kasbah is one of the most intriguing red earth castles lining the ancient road of the Kasbahs, and is a UNESCO world heritage site. Then head to Ouarzazate, on through the “Road of the thousand Kasbahs” – the fascinating “sandcastles”.
DAY 2 🌹
Ouarzazate → Roses Valley → Dades Valley
After breakfast at the hotel, you will depart toward Dades Valley. You will visit the incredible Kasbah of Amerhidil located in Skoura Oasis where you will be mesmerized with the immense Palm Groves and beautiful sights of the Atlas Mountains.
🌾 You will pass many small towns where you can see traditional farming methods in use. We will continue in our journey to stop at Kalaat Mgouna, “the rose’s city” known for roses and its annual festival during the roses harvest in May before we achieve Dades Valley a major town bridging the Dades River and your home for the evening.
DAY 3 🏜️
Dades Gorges → Todra Gorges → Erfoud → Rissani → Merzouga
After breakfast in the hotel, Leave the Dades valley towards Tinghir and the Todra Gorges, the highest oasis valley gorge in Morocco, Watch the panoramic views of the old mud Berber villages overlooking the valley.
🧗♂️ Get to the Gorge and walk under the 300m high red cliff, where many Rock-climbers come to enjoy their preferred sport. Continue our trip to Erfoud famous for its fossilized marbles, before we head down to Rissani, (once Sijilmassa) – the foundation of the Alaouite dynasty, the current ruling family.
🏜️ With most of the women veiled, and men hooded, this is a very traditional Moroccan town. Then leave for Merzouga, where you will have a relaxing night in the hotel, you’ll be fully rested for the next day’s Sahara adventure.
DAY 4 🐪
Merzouga → Berber families → Merzouga (Camel Ride & Night in Sahara)
Spending a night under the stars in the Sahara Desert is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you’re unlikely to experience anywhere else in the world. But With two nights, you will be able to explore the desert at a more relaxed pace and fully immerse yourself in the traditional ways of the local tribes.
🏜️ Today we will explore the desert region and the marvel that is the Erg Chebbi desert dunes, the largest dunes in the desert of Morocco. You’ll have this morning to explore Merzouga before preparing for a memorable night under the stars.
🎵 We will visit the Gnawa people, originally slaves brought from Sudan, to experience their music and lifestyle. Enjoy the panoramic view behind the Erg Chebbi of sand dunes. Afterward, we will head to the nomad’s families in their tents and having tea with them, absolutely you will discover a new sense of life.
🐪 In the afternoon, meet your camel, trek through the desert, over the red dunes, until all you see is sand and sky, and the quiet is only broken by the occasional snort of the camels and the soft sound of their steps on the sand. Stop to watch the sunset along the way, to arrive at your camp, After some time to admire the sand dunes and the surrounding landscapes, get ready for a Moroccan dinner served under the stars next to the campfire.
🔥 After dinner, you will gather around the fire to admire a typical Berber music performed using drums under the sky full of stars.
DAY 5 🌅
Merzouga → Ziz Valley → Azrou → Ifrane → Fes
If you wish to rise with the dawn to watch the sun beginning its daily arc with a cool blue morning sky as it illuminates the desert shadows before becoming a glowing ball of fire then your desert camp hosts will wake you up very early to witness it don’t forget to take iconic photographs for the gram.
🚿 You’ll return to a local hotel, where a welcome hot shower and breakfast await. After breakfast, drive along the Ziz River with its amazing oasis lined with palm trees and fortified Ksours (castles) all the way to Midelt, a small town in the middle of the Atlas Mountains, where you will stop for lunch.
🌲 In the afternoon, continue crossing the Middle Atlas Mountains towards Fes. You will notice a dramatic change in the landscape: snow-capped mountains, cedar forests, and rich vegetation, a complete 180 from the arid and rocky landscapes of the rest of the tour.
🎯 Your Marrakech to Fes desert tour will end in the early evening and your driver will take you to your riad or hotel in Fes. We do truly hope you enjoyed the trip with our team! ✨
