Itinerary
- Day 1
Fes to Merzouga
You'll start early with a pickup from Fes heading toward the Middle Atlas Mountains. Stop in Ifrane for coffee, then head to the cedar forest where you can feed the local monkeys. The drive takes you through traditional villages where you'll spot nomad families going about their day. After lunch in Midelt, you'll cross through panoramic mountain passes before reaching Merzouga. Stop to catch the sunset in the black desert, then settle into your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in Midelt), Dinner (Dinner in desert lodge)
Included Activities
- Stop in Ifrane (Switzerland of Morocco)
- Feed monkeys in cedar forest
- Drive through typical villages and spot nomad families
- Panoramic crossing of Tizi N' Talghoumt pass
- View of Ziz Valley with date palms in Erfoud
- Sunset stop in black desert with red dunes views
Landmarks/POIs Ifrane Cedar Forest Tizi N' Talghoumt Pass Erfoud Ziz Valley Black Desert of Merzouga - Day 2
Merzouga Desert Exploration
Following breakfast, you'll explore the desert around Merzouga by 4x4, starting with Khamlia village where local music and dance performances give you a sense of desert culture. Cross through desert plateaus and have lunch with a Berber family in their tent, where they'll share stories about their life with animals and livestock. If it's November through May, you'll visit Lake Merzouga to look for desert birds and flamingos. Later, a one-hour camel ride takes you to the desert camp at sunset. You'll dine in a Berber tent under the stars and sleep in a nomad tent for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast in your lodge), Lunch (Lunch with Berber family in their tent), Dinner (Evening dining in Berber tent at desert camp)
Included Activities
- 4x4 exploration around Merzouga
- Visit Khamlia village with music and dance
- Cross desert plateaus
- Lunch with Berber family in their tent
- Learn about nomad life with goats, sheep and working donkeys
- Visit Lake Merzouga (Tamezguida) for bird watching
- One-hour camel ride to desert camp at sunset
- Evening dining in Berber tent
- Campfire and stargazing
Landmarks/POIs Khamlia Village Lake Merzouga (Tamezguida) Merzouga Dunes - Day 3
Merzouga to Dades Valley
Wake up early to catch the Sahara sunrise and have breakfast. If you're interested, try sandboarding up the large dune next to camp before heading back to the lodge by camel or 4x4 for a shower. Visit Rissani market to see its unique 'donkey parking' setup and check out fossil shops. After lunch, follow the river road toward Todra Gorges for a scenic hike between the 300-meter high rock walls. Stop at Boumalne Dades for photos of the rock formations that resemble monkey hands, then arrive at your riad in the Dades valley for dinner and overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Typical breakfast at desert camp), Lunch (Lunch break during the journey), Dinner (Dinner at Riad in Dades Valley)
Included Activities
- Sunrise viewing over the Sahara
- Sandboarding (optional during activity)
- Return by camel or 4x4 to lodge
- Shower at lodge
- Visit Rissani local market and donkey parking
- See fossils near Rissani
- Hike in Todra Gorges between 300m high rock walls
- Stop at Boumalne Dades for rock formation photos
- Rock formations resembling monkey hands
Optional Activities
- Sandboarding on dune next to camp
Landmarks/POIs Rissani Market Todra Gorges Boumalne Dades Dades Valley - Day 4
Dades Valley to Marrakech
You'll travel through changing landscapes on the way to Marrakech, passing the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs and the Valley of Roses. In Ouarzazate, explore the Kasbah of Taourirt, an ancient structure built during the Glaoui dynasty. Next, visit Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified clay city with multiple ksars and kasbahs that's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and filming location for movies like Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven. After lunch and exploring, continue through the High Atlas Mountains and stop at Telouet Kasbah. Cross the scenic Tizi n'Tichka pass with photo stops before arriving in Marrakech around 7:00 pm.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch in Ait Ben Haddou)
Included Activities
- View Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs
- View Valley of Roses
- Explore ancient Kasbah of Taourirt in Ouarzazate
- Visit Ait Ben Haddou fortified clay city with ksars and kasbahs
- UNESCO World Heritage Site tour
- Stop at Telouet Kasbah
- Cross scenic Tizi n'Tichka pass with photo opportunities
Landmarks/POIs Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs Valley of Roses Kasbah of Taourirt Ait Ben Haddou Telouet Kasbah Tizi n'Tichka Pass
