4 Days: Private Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga & Camel Trek

Ziua 1 · Marrakech - Aït benhadou - Ouarzazate - Dades Gorges

1. 1

   Tizi n Tichka

   10 min

   Tizi n´Tichka is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.260m (7410ft) above the sea level in Morocco, linking the south-east of Marrakesh to the city of Ouarzazate through the High Atlas mountain.

   At the summit visitors will have the changes to enjoy stunning views of the surroundings landscapes.

2. 2

   Ksar Of Ait-Ben-Haddou

   o oră

   Ait Ben Haddou has been used as the backdrop for many popular movies including Lawrence of Arabia (1962), TheLast Temptation of Christ (1988) and Gladiator (2000), to name a few. But there is more to this ksar than just Hollywood blockbusters. Ait Ben Haddou is a massive fortification made up of six kasbahs all protected by UNESCO. You can spend several hours in its maze of winding streets until reaching a fortified granary at the top which provides an amazing view of the valley.

3. 3

   Taourirt Kasbah

   30 min Intrarea nu este inclusă

   Taourirt Kasbah, a citadel set against the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains. As far as fortifications are concerned in Morocco, this is one of the most impressive of its kind. With almost 300 rooms and a true maze of passageways, steps, and keylock doors, it’s easy to feel lost within this immense structure that only connects to the outside world through a narrow entrance doorway.Originally built in the 19th century, the Taourirt Kasbah was owned by the el Glaoui clan, a family that had a powerful stronghold of one of Morocco’s most significant southern caravan routes to West Africa. This power and wealth made the clan one of the country’s most influential families. Its most notable member was Thami El Glaoui, also known as the Lord of the Atlas, who was the Pasha of Marakesh between 1912 and 1956.

4. 4

   Valley of the Roses

   20 min

   Roses are mainly farmed to produce and sell rose water, a bi-product of making rose oil through the distillation of pure, fresh rose petals. High in vitamin E, rose water is popular in Morocco and internationally for both its cosmetic and culinary use. The rose season and harvest is so important to the Dades region that a special festival celebration is held each year in Kelaat Mgouna – a small town in the Dades region which is named the valley of roses. During full bloom it’s not hard to see how it got its name; its possible to smell a strong rose fragrance to the air even when passing through the main town.

5. 5

   Boumalne Dades

   12 ore

   the Dades Valley is scattered with oases, palm groves and elaborate kasbahs. The valley itself is made lush and green by the Dades River, which rises from the High Atlas Mountains before emptying into Morocco’s largest river, the Draa. The waters of the Dades provide life for a variety of almond, fig, walnut and birch trees on the valley floor offering a spectacular contrast to the earthen-colored rocky formations rising from the valley floor.

Overnight in an authentic Riad with private bathroom heater & A/C

Ziua 2 · Dades Gorges - Todra Gorge - Erfoud - Rissani - Merzouga

1. 1

   Oprirea 1

   30 min

   The Todgha Gorges are a series of limestone river canyons, or wadi, in the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco, near the town of Tinerhir. Both the Todgha and neighbouring Dades Rivers are responsible for carving out these deep cliff-sided canyons, on their final 40 kilometres (25 mi) through the mountains. The height of the canyon walls can vary, but in some places can be up to 400 metres (1,312 ft) high.

2. 2

   Erfoud

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   Located on the Ziz River, it is different than most Moroccan villages. It does not have century-old buildings, but was instead built in the early 1900s by the French as an administrative headquarters. Buildings are made of red sand of the area mixed with lime. The settlement with its high walls and tightly packed houses were constructed as protection from the marauding nomadic tribes.

   Erfoud has the usual winding streets and alleyways. Near Erfoud are large palm groves that have been used by travelers for respite. Not far away is the desert and sand dunes of Merzouga. Erfoud is known for its precious, unique fossils.about 500 million years ago, the sahara desert was submerged under water producing the many fossils hidden in its dunes. it also have a flourishing marble industry. Marble from this area is red, brown and black.

3. 3

   Erg Chebbi

   12 ore

   Erg Chebbi is one of two ergs (large areas of windblown sand dunes) in Morocco. Most of Morocco’s desert is made up of flat, rockier terrain known as hamada, but Erg Chebbi has sweeping dunes that reach 525 feet in height. Both the 1999 movie The Mummy and 2005’s Sahara were filmed at Erg Chebbi. over night with dinner and breakfast

Your home for the night will be a Bedouin-style tent in a private tented area.

Ziua 3 · Merzouga - Rissani - Alnif - Tazarine - Daraa valley - Agadez - Ouarzazate

1. 1

   Rissani

   30 min

   Wake up early to catch the spectacular desert sunrise then have leisure breakfast and shower after that you take the camel ride back to the car where you will find you driver waiting for you. We depart for the ancient city of Rissani is a town in Errachidia Province in eastern Morocco, located near Erfoud. It is the closest town of significant size to the Erg Chebbi, the largest sand desert in Morocco. It was once home to the Alawite dynasty as they took power, as well as Moulay er Rachid. It is a cultural destination in Morocco boasting beautiful examples of early Moroccan architectural styles and noteworthy palaces and temples.

2. 2

   Alnif

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   Is a little oasis nestled on the southeast edge of the Anti Atlas Mountains is starkly picturesque, one would likely keep driving through were it not for one thing: For fossil hunters, this is paradise. Alnif and the surrounding basin is the best place in Morocco, and one of the most renowned in the world, for collecting the prehistoric creatures known as trilobites.

3. 3

   Oprirea 3

   15 min

   Located in the deep south of Morocco, the Draa Valley stretches from the city of Ouarzazate into the Sahara Desert. The Draa Valley is a stunning oasis home to Berber villages, sumptuous Kasbahs, streaming sand dunes, lush green plains, snow-capped Atlas Mountains, endless stretches of palm trees and the Draa, Morocco’s largest river.

   During ancient times, the river of Draa crossed the desert and traveled hundreds of kilometers west until it joined the Atlantic. Today, most of this river has dried but its path still leads through one of the most fascinating landscapes in Morocco.

4. 4

   Ouarzazate

   12 ore

   Ouarzazate is a popular spot to film movies in Morocco. Many well known movies, such as, Cleopatra, Kundun, Gladiator, and many others were filmed on location here. The Palace of Glaoui, the highest spot in the city has been is a popular spot for movie makers.

   The Glaoui family, the last ruling family of southern Morocco, built this palace. An impressive looking building, the family never actually lived there. Parts of the building are open to the public.

   Ourzazate was built to attract tourists. The streets are wide and many modern hotels attract traveler of all types.

   Ouarzazate’s name translated means “without noise”. While the city seems to be quiet, once you enter the city walls, it is filled with residents going about their business. A typical Moroccan market is found in the city’s center. Overnight in ouarzazate with dinner and breakfast

Overnight in an authentic Riad with private bathroom heater & A/C

Ziua 4 · Ouarzazate - Valley Ounila - Telouet - High Atlas Mountains - Marrakesh

1. 1

   Trek Ounila Valley

   o zi

   After leaving Ouarzazate, you'll be traveling to Marrakesh through The Ounila Valley links the Tizi n Tichka pass to Ait Ben Haddou and was originally the main thoroughfare for the trans-saharan trade route between Marrakesh and sub-saharan Africa. Today, evidence of this once highly important role is reflected in the numerous crumbling kasbah’s and ksar which are dotted all throughout the valley.

2. 2

   Kasbah du Pacha el Glaoui

   40 min Intrarea nu este inclusă

   The Kasbah of Telouet which was occupied by the Pacha Glaoui during his reign and is frequented by Moroccan travellers. It sits in the village of Telouet nestled outside the Onilla Valley. The Harem and reception hall areas give one a good idea of the former luxury in which El Glaoui lived, as well as a look at the Andalusian style of decorating.

3. 3

   High Atlas Mountains

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   High Atlas, also called the Grand Atlas, is a mountain range in central Morocco, North Africa, the highest part of the Atlas Mountains.

   The High Atlas rises in the west at the Atlantic Ocean and stretches in an eastern direction to the Moroccan-Algerian border. At the Atlantic and to the southwest the range drops abruptly and makes an impressive transition to the coast and the Anti-Atlas range. To the north, in the direction of Marrakech, the range descends less abruptly.

4. 4

   Marrakech

   Trecere fără oprire

   End of Your trip and drop off in Marrakech at accommodation/airport