5-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech — Classic

From your Hotel or the airport in Marrakech, we will set off for the Dades Gorges. Passing through Tizi-n-Tishka in the high Atlas Mountains we will then visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou which has also been the backdrop for many films including Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator and Alexander. After lunch we’ll enjoy the beautiful natural landscapes and historical monuments of Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate, Skoura and the Valley of the Roses, famous for its annual Festival of Roses. We’ll also pass through the Berber villages of El Kelaa des M'Gouna and Boumalene du Dades where we will spend the night.

Today's target point is arriving to Merzouga which is known for the highest sand dunes in North Africa. THE DESERT! It is called Erg Chebbi Sahara desert and it is about 20 kms long and 5 kms wide and is a unique, multifaceted environment. On our way, we will have the chance to see many oases such as the oasis of Tinjdad. We will continue our tour passing through the little Berber towns of Mellab and Touroug. Arrive to Rissani where we will have lunch. After this break, we will continue our way enjoying the green oasis of palm trees of Ziz –Tafilalet and the black Hamada before arriving to Merzouga. Later we will enjoy bathing in the warm waters as well as having a local dinner and listen to Berber music. Night in a Riad

After breakfast, you will go all the way round the dunes via the oasis of MERZOUGA, the nomadic depository, KHAMLIA village (Blacks’ village You’ll visit the Gnawa people, originally slaves brought from Sudan, to experience their music and lifestyle. Not far away there’s the lake of Merzouga, with its bird populations, you’ll leave for Rissani. Once called Sijilmassa, this was the meeting place for the salt caravans, coming from Timbuktu in Mali. Here you’ll walk through the souk, selling spices, vegetables and cloths. After a lunch pizza in Rissani you will travel back to your riad where where your camel will be awaiting you. After a glass of mint tea. After lunch we will make our way to start our camel trek. All unnecessary luggages can be left in safe rooms at the hotel. The 90 minute camel trek will take us to a Berber camp in the middle of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes, the highest in North Africa. The camp consists of several comfortable Berber tents equipped with mattresses and linen, a restaurant, a kitchen. The evening will consist of dinner followed by entertainment provided by Berber drums.

Before sunrise, you will be woken up to climb the sand dunes for fantastic photo opportunities. We will then make our way back to the hotel for showers and breakfast before we continue our journey to Ouarzazate, passing through Alnif, Tazzarine, Nkob, and the Draa Valley. We will spend the night in a guest house in Ouarzazate.

After breakfast, we will set off for Marrakech, passing through the spectacular High Atlas Mountains. 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.