Enjoy the desert in all its splendor, Depart from Marrakesh and head through Morocco’s southern regions and desert before ending in Fez or returning to Marrakech.
The Best Of Morocco can help you put together the perfect customized Morocco desert tour. Explore the magic of the rolling dunes of the Sahara Desert and the great sights of the south of Morocco. Departing from Marrakech to Fes or the other way we’ll help you put together the desert camel trek excursion of a lifetime!
Itineraries are flexible and routes can be altered to fit your travel needs. Free to contact us with any of your Morocco travel requests.
Option 1: Marrakech round trip via Sahara
Day 1: Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Dades Gorge
Meet you in Marrakech and drive to Ouarzazate through the dramatic Tizi ntichka pass (2260m), over the High Atlas Mountains, appreciate the beauty of the landscape on the twisted road through the Berber villages. Get to the famous Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, the largest Kasbah in Morocco, a UNESCO matrimonial historical site, now, a house of many Glaoui family members. Lunch by the Kasbah and continue to Dades Gorge via Ouarzazate, “the Hollywood of Africa”. On, through the “Road of the thousand Kasbahs”- the fascinating “sand castles”. Stop at Kalaat Mgouna, “the rose’s city” known for roses and its annual festival during the roses harvest in May and then continue to our hotel in the heart of the Dades Gorge.
Day 2: Dades Gorge – tinrher – Todra Gorge – Merzouga
After breakfast in the hotel, drive back through the valley to see the amazing rock formation “the monkey toes,” and the still-standing 19th century Kasbah of Ait Yul. Leave the Dades valley towards Tinrghir and the Todra valley. 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 and Rissani where we have lunch; afterward, we leave for the village of Merzouga – the home of your guide Said – where your camel will be awaiting you. You will be welcomed with a glass of mint tea and a turban (desert scarf) before you mount your camel, guided by an experienced Camel man, to explore within the mysterious sand-sea of the Erg-Chebbi. Here you will spend your first night under the stars, or if you prefer, in a traditional Berber nomad tent.
Day 3: Merzouga – Draa Valley – Agdz
After breakfast with the Bedouin family, you’ll peacefully camel-trek back to the village of Merzouga. En route, you couldn’t fail to appreciate the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg Chebbi dunes – changing with the light as the day progresses. Arriving late morning back in Merzouga. After a shower in the guesthouse, we will leave for Rissani – once Sijilmassa – is the foundation of the Alaouite dynasty, the current ruling family. With most of the woman veiled, and men hooded, this is a very traditional Moroccan town. We’ll continue driving towards Agdez, via Alnif and Tazarine, before we get to the fascinating Draa Valley at the edge of the Atlas Mountains, along which lay hundreds of Berber Kasbahs. Get to your hotel in the evening.
Day 4: Agdz – Ouarzazate – Marrakech
After a luxurious breakfast at the Kasbah, head to Marrakech via Ouarzazate, enjoy seeing the panoramic view of the palm grove and the scenic moon-like landscape with the beautiful contrast of the Berber villages and the Saghro mountains; an area that has been a popular location for Hollywood films, including The Last Temptation of Christ, Jewel of the Nile, and the Mummy. Our journey will continue through the majestic Tizi n’tichka Pass (2260m) over the High Atlas Mountains, before arriving at your accommodation in Marrakech, where the tour ends.
Option 2: Marrakech to Fes desert tourDay 1: Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Dades Gorge
Meet you in Marrakech and drive to Ouarzazate through the dramatic Tizi ntichka pass (2260m), over the High Atlas Mountains, appreciate the beauty of the landscape on the twisted road through the Berber villages. Get to the famous Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, the largest Kasbah in Morocco, a UNESCO matrimonial historical site, now, a house of many Glaoui family members. Lunch by the Kasbah and continue to Dades Gorge via Ouarzazate, “the Hollywood of Africa.” On, through the “Road of the thousand Kasbahs”- the fascinating “sand castles.” Stop at Kalaat Mgouna, “the rose’s city” known for roses and its annual festival during the roses harvest in May and then continue to our hotel in the heart of the Dades Gorge.
Day 2: Dades Gorge – Todra Gorge – Merzouga
After breakfast in the hotel, drive back through the valley to see the amazing rock formation “the monkey toes”, and the still-standing 19th century Kasbah of Ait Yul. Leave the Dades valley towards Tinrghir and the Todra valley. 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 and Rissani where we have lunch; afterward, we leave for the village of Merzouga – the home of your guide Said – where your camel will be awaiting you. You will be welcomed with a glass of mint tea before you check into your authentic Kasbah hotel.
Day 3: Merzouga area and the Camel trek
After breakfast in the riad, you will start your explorative journey of the area, visiting the village of the blacks, originally slaves from Sudan to experience their music and lifestyle. Not far away there’s the lake of Merzouga, with its bird populations, including flamingos. You may also like to visit the nomad wirehouse where many Berber handicrafts are priced lower than in the big cities. On the afternoon you will mount your camel, guided by an experienced Camel man, to explore within the mysterious sand-sea of the Erg-Chebbi. Here you will spend your first night under the stars, or if you prefer, in a traditional Berber nomad tent. Dinner will be served in the tent where you will spend the night.
Day 4: Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Cedar Forest – Fes
Your camel man will wake you up early in the morning to watch what well may be the best sunrise of your life. Afterward, you’ll peacefully camel-trek back to your riad. En route, you couldn’t fail to appreciate the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg Chebbi dunes – changing with the light as the day progresses. After breakfast in the local guesthouse we’ll travel to Fes via Errachidia along the magnificent Ziz Gorges carved through volcanic rock, and through the Tizi Ntalghamt Pass to Midelt. Stop in Zaida to enjoy a barbecue and refresh with a glass of mint tea then continue our journey to Azrou, a Berber village in the Middle Atlas Mountains, before which we stop to see the Barbarian apes in the famous Cedar forest. On to Ifran “the French village”, stop for a picture or a drink then drive to your accommodation in Fes where the tour ends.
