We will welcome you at Marrakesh airport or in your hotel, in order to drive to Ouarzazate, a former caravan town on the silk and salt route in the eastern foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Ouarzazate is known as the Gateway to the Sahara. First of all, we will travel through the dramatic landscape of the High Atlas Mountains passing through the berber town of Taddert and over the 2260 meters high Tizi-in-Tichka pass. We will stop at the famous Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, 30 kilometers from Ouarzazate. The kasbah is one of the most intriguing red earth castles lining the ancient road of the Kasbahs, and is a UNESCO world heritage site. Lunch by the Kasbah and continue on our way to Dades Gorge via Ouarzazate, “The Hollywood of Africa”. On through the “Road of the thousand Kasbahs” - the fascinating sand castles. We will continue in our journey to stop at Kalaat Mgouna, “The roses 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.
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; afterwards, we leave for the village of Merzouga , where your camel will be awaiting you. 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 night under the stars, or if you prefer, in a traditional Berber nomad tent.
Our camel man will awaken us early in the morning to admire what well may be the best sunrise of your life. Then we will trek back to the village of Merzouga to have breakfast appreciating the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg Chebbi dunes – changing with the light as the day progresses. Continuing to the holy city of Er Rissani, a site where the Alauite Dynasty are buried in the Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Sheriff. We will start exploring the area, visit the ruins of Ksar Abbar, a kasbah that dates from the 17th century. Rissani is surrounded by 360 ksars (fortified village with many towers) and it has a big souk (an open market) held three times a week. Tour Er Rissani’s famed palmeria and enjoy a glimpse of life as it is lived on the fringe of the Sahara Desert. Stay overnight at the village of Merzouga in auberge or riad.
After breakfast, we will leave for Rissani (once Sijilmassa) is the foundation of the Alaouite dynasty, the current ruling family. 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. We will pass through Agdez to end our journey in Ouarzazate.
After breakfast we will depart to Marrakesh through the famous Tizi–in-Tichka pass over the High Atlas Mountains. The range has snow on its peaks most of the year. Appreciate the beauty of the timeless landscapes on the twisted roads through Berber villages. Arriving Marrakesh where the tour ends.
