FROM MARRAKECH: 3 Days Desert Tour: Ait Ben Haddou – Dades Gorges – Todra Gorge – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi

We drive along the road of a thousand Kasbahs and through red Atlas mountains, Berber villages, green valleys, palm groves and pink rose valleys. Each village has its terracotta colored kasbah or ksar and mosque. We pass mountains with amazing “finger-formed” rocks and visit massive canyons. We follow a short stretch of curvy roads and pass date valleys.

You experience the high sand dunes of Sahara, a camel ride into the sunset and sleep in a desert camp.

  • From Marrakech
  • Start/stop: At your hotel or riad
  • Duration: 3 days
  • Transport: Landcruiser 4×4 car with aircondition
  • Language: Driver/guide speaks English and French

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    DAY-BY-DAY PROGRAM
    Day 1: Marrakech - High Atlas Mountains - Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou - Ouarzazate - Skoura - Dades Valley
    At 08:00 in the morning the driver picks you up at your hotel or riad. We drive in comfortable 4×4 car through the High Atlas mountains, via the highest pass Tizi n Tichka (2260 m), towards Ouarzazate.

    We pass berber villages and we stop along the way to take pictures of the beautiful landscapes. In mid day we arrive the old ksar Ait Ben Haddou, where you have free time to visit the ksar by foot. The Ksar Ait Ben Haddou is a fortified city, listed on UNESCO World Heritage site and several famous Hollywood films have been shot here.

    After lunch we make a stop in Ouarzazate to visit Taourirt Kasbah, before we continue to Dades valley and the city of roses. On the way we pass the beautiful oasis of Skoura with its impressive 17th century Amerhidl Kasbah, among others.

    The tour along the valley of thousands kasbahs is mythical and an essential taste of Morocco. The landscape is scenic, through the red Atlas mountains, Berber villages and green vallyes with palm groves and pink rose gardens. Each city and village has its red colored kasbah or ksar and a mosque. Colorful carpets are hanging from the windows.

    We arrive to Dades Valley in the evening, where we have dinner and spend the night in a hotel.

    Day 2: Dades Gorge – Todra Gorge – Erfoud – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi – Desert camp
    After breakfast you visit the Dades Gorge and you have the opportunity to take some lovely photos.

    The Dades Gorge is amazing with its finger-formed stones and is separating the Atlas mountain from the Anti Atlas.

    We continue to drive to Tinerhir and Todra Gorges where you have free time to walk around. The massive canyon Todra Gorge is spectacular, with a deep fault of 300 m which splits the red limestone into a deep ravine. The drive through the gorge is amazing.

    Next we continue to Tinjdad town, where we stop for lunch.

    After lunch, we head to Merzouga desert and drive through the city Erfoud, famous for its fossils. We arrive at Merzouga in the afternoon and camels are waiting to take you to the Erg Chebbi dunes. The camels are packed with all the supplies you need for the trip. The camel ride takes us around the Erg Chebbi dunes for about 1 hours and 30 minutes.

    When arriving at our desert camp, you can leave your luggage in your nomad tent and walk to the highest sand dune to watch the beautiful sunset. You can also try the sandboarding down the dunes.

    After sunset, tea and a delicious Berber tagine is served in the camp. After dinner, the local Berbers will entertain you with traditional drums and singing and you can all dance around the camp fire. The night sky is magically filled with stars.

    Sleep in a nomad tent.

    Day 3: Tafilalet – Rissani – Draa valley – Ouarzazate - Marrakech
    Early morning rise, you return by camels to the hostel in Merzouga for a shower and breakfast.

    We continue in our 4wd Landcruiser to the Draa valley, famous for its dates, and further to Ouarzazate. We pass the villages Rissani, Alnif, Tazzarine (appearing in the film «Babel») and the old village N’Kob on the way.

    Lunch in N’Kob.

    After lunch we continue along the palm trees in Draa Valley and follow the former road for caravans. We pass many ancients Kasbahs, and one of the most well-known is Tamnougalte. At the town Adgz we turn into the paved road.

    After crossing the Anti-Atlas mountains and the Tizi n Tinfifite (1,660 m) we cross Ouarzazate and head back to Marrakech with arrival in the evening.

    The tour ends at you hotel or riad in Marrakech.

    Price information

    The starting price is EUR 390 per person when 2 persons travel together on a private basis and transport in 4wd Landcruiser.

    For bigger groups, please contact us for price.

    Included:

    • Private transport in 4wd Landruiser
    • Guide/driver
    • 1 night in guesthouse in Dades Valley
    • 1 night in desert camp
    • 2 dinners
    • 2 breakfasts
    • Camel ride
    • Sandboarding

    Not included:

    • Lunches
    • Drink
    • Tip

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