Itinerary
- Day 1
Marrakech to Dades Valley
Your journey starts with a scenic drive over the Tizi-N-Tichka pass, where you'll pass through traditional Berber villages and get a sense of the landscape. Along the way, you'll stop at a local women's cooperative to see how Argan oil gets produced from start to finish. After that, the route takes you to Kasbah Aïft-Ben-Haddou, the famous fortified clay city that's been used as a filming location for major movies. Grab lunch somewhere in the area, then you have the choice to either check out Ouarzazate's old kasbah or visit the movie museum before heading onward. From there, you'll drive through the Valley of Roses and continue into the Dades Valley where you'll spend your first night.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Drive over Tizi-N-Tichka pass
- Visit women's Argan oil cooperative
- Visit Kasbah Aïft-Ben-Haddou
- Local guide tour of Kasbah
Optional Activities
- Taste and purchase Argan oil products
- Visit Taourirt kasbah in Ouarzazate
- Visit movie museum in Ouarzazate
Landmarks/POIs Tizi-N-Tichka Pass Kasbah Aïft-Ben-Haddou Taourirt Kasbah - Day 2
Dades Valley to Merzouga Desert
After breakfast, the day involves driving along the road of the Kasbahs to reach the Todra Gorges, where you can get out and walk around the enormous stone walls carved by the river over time. Photography opportunities are good here if you're into that. Next, you head toward Merzouga where you'll meet your camel driver and start riding into the Sahara Desert. By evening you'll reach the desert camp, climb up the high dunes to watch the sunset, have mint tea and a traditional meal, then settle into your private tent for the night. There's a chance to watch for shooting stars or dance around the campfire if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional dinner at desert camp)
Included Activities
- Visit Todra Gorges
- Short walk in Todra Gorges
- Camel ride to desert camp (approximately 1 hour each way)
- Climb sand dunes
- Sunset viewing
- Traditional dinner in desert camp
Landmarks/POIs Todra Gorges Merzouga - Day 3
Merzouga to Fes
This morning starts early so you can catch the sun's first light over the desert, and breakfast happens right at the camp. After eating, you'll ride your camel or take a 4x4 back to Merzouga. The route then heads toward Fes through the Middle Atlas Mountains, passing through typical villages where nomad families sometimes have their tents set up. You'll stop for coffee in Ifrane, which locals call the 'Switzerland of Morocco' because of its chalet-style houses and cooler climate. Later on, there's time to visit a cedar forest where you can feed bananas to the monkeys hanging around. By evening you'll arrive at your Riad in Fes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Desert sunrise viewing
- Camel or 4x4 ride from desert camp to Merzouga
- Pass through Middle Atlas Mountains
- Visit nomad villages
- Coffee stop in Ifrane
- Monkey feeding in cedar forest
Landmarks/POIs Ifrane Middle Atlas Mountains - Day 4
Fes to Marrakech
This morning after breakfast in your Riad, your local guide will take you on a half-day city tour of Fes starting at the Bab Boujloud gate. You'll visit the beautiful ancient Medersas of Bou Inania and El-Attarine, then walk through the University and Mosque of Karaouine area. The Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts is in a restored caravanserai and worth checking out if you're interested in local craftsmanship. One of the highlights involves heading to the famous tanneries where you can watch leather getting processed from a lookout point. After lunch, you'll drive back to Marrakech via highway, arriving back in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Half-day guided city tour of Fes with local guide
- Visit Bab Boujloud gate
- Visit Medersas of Bou Inania and El-Attarine
- Visit University and Mosque of Karaouine
- Visit Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts
- Observe traditional tanneries from lookout
Optional Activities
- Purchase leather goods from tannery workers
Landmarks/POIs Bab Boujloud Medersas of Bou Inania Medersas El-Attarine University and Mosque of Karaouine Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts Fes Tanneries
