Between Marrakech and the Desert

Our first stop on this Morocco Desert Tour is the High Atlas mountain range, and more specifially Tzi Tichka (2260m). We will take the highest asphalt road in Northern Africa to get there, a road that used to be only for suitable for mules until the French reconstructed it. During our ride, we will be able to see the ancient towns hiding in the valleys and a great variety of scenery. While heading to Ait Ben Haddou, we will cross the southern side of Atlas where you will find  completely different, strikingly green, view. In Ait Ben Haddou we will visit the famous Kasbah which is declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

After lunch, we will continue our adventure towards Dades Gorge, but first, we will pass through palm groves of Skoura to discover small villages and gardens hidden under the palm trees.

Haven’t had enough? Don’t worry there is loads left on this Morocco Desert Tour! We still need to see Dades Gorge, breathtaking scenery known as the fingers of the monkeys or the brain of the Atlas.

Did you know that…

-The word Marrakesh actually means “the land of God” in Bereber. This city is between the desert and the summit of High Atlas

-The legendary land of the 1000 moroccan kasbahs can be seen from the south of High  Atlas. The kasbahs, or fortresses, are built for defensive purposes

– Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou are also known as “the door of the desert” due to their picturesque character. Many well-known movies such as Gladiator, The Jewel of the Nile, and Sahara were shot here.

After having breakfast, we will take off to our next destination of this Morocco Desert Tour, Todra Gorge, which is a paradise for rock-climbers! The river Todra formed the daunting vertical walls that make up the beautiful scenery and will make you feel tiny! After having lunch in a local restaurant we will pass by Erfoud, also known as the “Gate of the Sahara Desert”, known for its film appearences and its location by Erg Chebbi. From here we will mak eour way to the Merzouga Dunes.

Once we reach Merzouga, we will ride some friendly camels to get us to the camp Haimas which is surrounded by dunes.  Before having dinner, we can climb up the dunes and feel the tranquil and peaceful atmosphere of the desert. Then, we will sleep under thousands of stars in the middle of the desert.

Did you know that…

– The Dades Gorge gets its name from the river that passes through it

– It’s an enormous gorge or gap that extends many kilometers above sea level

– It is also known as the “Route of the 1000 Kashbahs”, showing the importance of this place

– Rissani is famous for its market. Locals initiated the market centuries ago and it still opens now on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays

– Rissani was the commercial center of the country in th 14^th century and this tradition still stands

–  Even though Merzouga is in the middle of the desert, it is still full of tourism so you will be able to find every type of hotel and activity you could want!

Sabías que…

• The Dades Gorge gets its name from the river that passes through it
• It’s an enormous gorge or gap that extends many kilometers above sea level
• It is also known as the “Route of the 1000 Kashbahs”, showing the importance of this place
• Rissani is famous for its market. Locals initiated the market centuries ago and it still opens now on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays
• Rissani was the commercial center of the country in th 14th century and this tradition still stands
• Even though Merzouga is in the middle of the desert, it is still full of tourism so you will be able to find every type of hotel and activity you could want!

After enjoying the grandeur of the desert under millions of stars on this Morocco Desert Tour, we will head back to the hotel early in the morning via camel to see the sun rise. We’ll have a chilled breakfast before we spend another wonderful day exploring the secrets of the desert. You could choose to go on a trip, for example exploring the desert in a 4X4, or ride up the dunes on a quad bike, or surf down them on a sandbord…or jump!

A real treasure in the desert in a small jewel which has bocome very popular: Merzouga, a small town in the south east of Morocco, lies 35 k to the south east of Rissant, 45k from Erfoud, and 30k from the border of Algeria.  It is well known for its great sceneries and sand dunes you can easily fall in love with. Consequrntly, Merzouga is also a great place to watch the sun set.

Did you know that…

– Erg Chebbi, with 30km length and 8km width, is actually the biggest desert in Morocco. Inside the area surrounded by dunes, there are a lot of Haimas belonging to the hostels which are often visited by tourists.

After another incredible night under the Saharan stars on this Morocco Desert Tour, we will once again head back to the hotel by camel! After having breakfast, we will start our trip back to Marrakesh passing through the silent city of Ouarzazate (nicknamed the door of the desert), thecapital of the Ouarzazate Province in the Drâa-Tafilalet region of south-central Morocco. This city is famous for its Kasbah Teloulet and its movie studios. It is now the administrative centre of Morocco and is also the starting point for the 52-day route to Timbuktu. The Valley of Draâ and the Oasis are famous here due to its high production levels of date palms. From here we will head back towards Marrakesh.