FROM MARRAKECH: 4 Days Luxury Desert Tour: Atlas mountains – Erg Chigaga luxury desert camp
The trip starts in Marrakech and we take you over the highest pass in the Atlas Mountains. We visit Kasbah Ait Benhaddou which is the most famous Kasbah in Morocco. We pass berber villages, Morocco’s Hollywood city Ouarzazate, green date valleys with kasbahs and oases and we visit a ceramic village where colorful, ceramics is made by hand. One night is spent in a hotel in Agdz, before we head to the luxury camp in the Erg Chegaga desert.
In the desert you can let your shoulders down and enjoy this magical place.
The camp offers activities like camel riding, trekking, sandboarding, guided walks, visit to the oasis, doze in the hammock and enjoy the evening’s informal music and drumming around the camp fire.
On the last day we drive for about 2 – 3 hours off-road on the old route of Rally Paris – Dakar. We also visit Morocco’s capitol carpet village.
- From Marrakech
- Start/stop: At your hotel or riad
- Duration: 4 days
- Transport: Landcruiser 4×4 car with aircondition
- Language: Driver/guide speaks English and French
Day 1: Marrakech - Atlas Mountains - Kasbab Ait Ben Haddou - Ouarzazate - Agdz
We head to the spectacular High Atlas Mountains, crossing via the twisting pass of Tizi n Tichka. The drive offers an amazing panoramic view of the Atlas mountains. Coffee/refreshment and photo breaks along the way.
We continue until we reach the famous Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. The kasbah is a well-preserved fortified city which is listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage site. Many famous Hollywood films have been shot here, such as «Gladiator», «Lawrence of Arabia», «Prince of Persia», episodes of «Games of Thrones» etc. A local guide will take you to visit the city, or ksar, on foot.
Lunch in Ait Ben Haddou.
After lunch we continue south, through the city of Ouarzazate, also known as Morocco’s Hollywood and nicknamed the «door to Sahara». We continue until we reach Agdz, which is located at the feet of the characteristic mountain Jbel Kissane (Jbel is Mountain in Arabic). Agdz means resting place and lies along the old caravan route from Marrakech to Timbuktu.
Dinner and sleep in a guesthouse in Agdz which is situated in an oasis amongst the palmeraie. The guesthouse has a beautiful swimming pool area and garden.
Day 2: Draa Valley - Zagora - M'hamid - Erg Chigaga luxury desert camp
We continue further and stop to visit a pottery in Tamegroute, where you see how pottery is made with traditional methods. You can also visit the koranic library and medersa (school) next to the pottery.
Then we continue for about 1 hour until we reach M’hamid and you have your lunch in a guesthouse. There is also time for relaxation by the guesthouse pool.
We then head off-road into the desert and after about 1,5 to 2 hours we reach the luxury desert camp in the sand dunes of Erg Chigaga. You can go on a camel trip around the dunes and try sandboarding.
Back in the camp a delicious dinner is served. After dinner you can sit around the camp fire and listen to traditional drumming music performed by the nomads.
Day 3: Erg Chigaga luxury desert camp
There are plenty of activities to do. You can go on camel riding, trekking, sand boarding, guided walks, visit the oasis, doze in the hammock and enjoy the evening’s informal music and drumming around the camp fire.
The camp is a mix of traditional Berber design, coupled with modern comfort. In the centre of the camp is the Berber lounge. It’s a place to relax and is filled with traditional mattresses and pouffes. Ice-cooled drinks, soft and alcoholic, are always available here. Meals are served outside under the stars, or under cover in a Berber tent. There is also a separate open-sided tent with sun loungers, another with sofa and chairs, and another with hammocks.
The tents are spacious (over 25 sq m) and luxurious. Each tent has a king-size bed (which can be made into 2 singles). There are also ‘wall-to-wall’ plush rugs, a full-length mirror, bedside tables, solar-powered lighting, an armchair and ottoman and space to hang your clothes. Each item has been handmade in Morocco. The beds also have high quality individual sprung mattresses, percale cotton sheets, duck down duvets and you have a choice of synthetic or duck down pillows.
Each bathroom has its own toilet, dressing room and wash area. High quality soap, shampoo, towels and ‘other goodies’ are provided.
Due to the chronic shortage of water in the desert, instead of a shower the camp provide two 20-litre silver pewter buckets with hot and cold water. The bucket wash is incredibly invigorating and uses a fraction.
Day 4: Erg Chigaga - Iriki - Rally Paris-Dakar route - Foum Zguid - Taznakht carpet village - Marrakech
After about 2 – 2,5 hours off-road, we reach the paved roads and the town Foum Zguid where we stop for refreshments. On the way, we also stop in Taznakht village which is famous for its Berber carpets. See how the Berber women weave the beautiful carpets. Lunch is served here.
We arrive in Marrakech late afternoon.
Price information
The starting price is EUR 815 per person, when 2 persons travel together on private basis and transport in 4wd Landcruiser with air-condition.
For bigger groups, please contact us for price.
Included:
- Transport in 4wd Landcruiser
- English speaking driver/guide
- 2 lunches and coffee/tea (in camp)
- 3 dinners
- 3 breakfasts
- Beer and/or wine to meals in camp
- 1 night in guesthouse Agdz
- 2 nights in luxury nomad tent
- Traditional music around camp fire
- Camel ride
- Sandboarding
Not included:
- Lunches and drinks on the roadtrip to/from camp
- Tip
Booking & Payment: Click here