5 Days Morocco Tour “Thousand Kasbahs and the Sahara Desert”

Day 1: Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Dades Gorge

After your breakfast, we will depart for Ouarzazat through the famous Tizi Ntichka pass (2260m), over the High Atlas Mountains, snow on its peaks most of the year; appreciate the beauty of the landscape on the twisted road through the Berber villages, then you’ll get to Ait Ben Haddou village, where stands the famous kasabah, built by the last Berber chieftain El Glaoui Ethami, late 19th century.

The Kasbah is recognized as a UNESCO matrimonial historical site, now a house of many Glaoui family members lunch at the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou and continue to Ouarzazat, “the Hollywood of Africa”, where you have the option to visit and see many props used in movies you may already have seen such as Gladiator, Kondon and Alexander the Great, you will leave to explore the fascinating Dades and Rose Valleys, our first stop will be at Skoura to walk within the Birds Valley and visit the beautiful and well preserved Kasbah of Ameridil, then we’ll continue to the famous village of Kalaa M’gouna, famous for its roses and rose products, a rose festival is held here every May, when the roses are harvested. Since this is the road of the thousands Kasbahs you’ll have plenty of opportunities to take some beautiful pictures.

Then continue to our hotel overlooking the Dades Valley.

Day 2: Dades Gorge – Todra Gorge – Merzouga

After breakfast, you will go from Dades Vally to Merzouga where the golden dunes, After the town of Tinghir , you get to the Todra Gorge, the narrowest and the highest in the region, 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, and then you will pass through Tinjdad, Jorf and Erfoud and Rissani where we have lunch; you’ll enjoy the beginning of the Saharian oasis Palms of Tafilalet.

Your journey continues to to Merzouga, after relaxing in your riad where you will be welcomed with a glass of mint tea,

Day 3: Merzouga area and the Camel trek

After breakfast in the riad you will start an explorative journey of the area, today we will explore the desert region we will make a circuit of the desert dunes where you will have the opportunity to visit the nomads in their goat hair tent and learn about the desert life, afterwards to Khamlia, village of Gnawa people, originally slaves brought from Sudan; here you will have the opportunity to listen to their music and learn about their culture and lifestyle, you may also visit the nomad wire house where many Berber handicrafts are priced lower than in the big cities.

On the afternoon you will ride your camel, guided by an experienced Camel man, to explore within the mysterious sand-sea of the Erg-Chebbi, on your way, pause to watch the sunset then continue your ride – seemingly in the middle of nowhere! we will have a traditional dinner and delicious mint tea in front of the camp where you will spend your first night under canvas – or if you prefer, under the stars. For your convenience,

(the camp in equipped with flash-toilets and shower).

Day 4: Merzouga – Ait Ben-haddou – Ouarzazate

If you like, early in the morning, your camel man will wake you up to see the spectacle of the sunrise – what well may be the best sunrise of your life -over the dunes of the Sahara, you’ll peacefully camel-trek back to your riad for luxurious breakfast and a shower.

After breakfast, you will leave for Rissani, if it is a Sunday, Tuesday or Thursday this is an opportunity to explore the souk, once a meeting place for many caravans coming from Timbuktu in Mali, Rissani, once Sijilmassa, is the foundation of the Alaouite Aynasty, 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 Ouarzazate, Ouarzazate “the door to the Sahara desert”, it’s the main Berber city in the south known for its spectacular sunsets and dramatic mountain and desert scenery, surrounded by breathtaking valleys, Ouarzazate was once crossing point for African traders seeking to reach northern cities in Morocco and Europe.

Ouarzazate it’s “the Hollywood of Africa”, where you will meet locals and learn about the culture and geography, after a tradition lunch in the heart of the gorge, then you’ll continue driving towards Agdez, via the fascinating Draa Valley at the edge of the Atlas Mountains, along which lay hundreds of Berber Kasbahs.

Get to your accommodation in the evening. Overnight at riad Dinner Bed and Breakfast.

Day 5: Ouarzazate – Ait ben-haddou – Marrakech

After breakfast and shower in your riad, you’ll take the way from Ouarzazate to Marrakesh via Tizi n’Tichka; there is the fortified Kasbah of Aït Benhaddou, which was built in the 11th century by T-hami El Glaoui (Now one of the UNESCO heritage site).

You will 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 Tizin’tichka Pass (2260m) over the High Atlas Mountains, before arriving at your accommodation in Marrakech, where the tour ends at your hotel.