4 Days Desert Merzouga Erg Chebbi From Fez

Day 1: Fez – Ifrane – Cedar Forest – Middle Atlas – Ziz Valley – Merzouga Desert

Pick up at the hotel or Riad where you are staying at 8am and head south to cross the Middle Atlas Mountains to reach Ifrane, called ” the small Moroccan Switzerland ”for its great resemblance to that country. One of the animals that once lived here was the Atlas lion, which has become the symbol of the city and has been dedicated a stone statue in the center of the city. We will take the opportunity to take some pictures. We will cross the famous cedar forests. We will be able to admire the Great Cedar Gouraud, the largest ancient cedar in the region and also feed the hundreds of Gibraltar monkeys that inhabit the area. Lunch in Midélt and in the afternoon we will pass through the Ziz Valley. More than 20km of palm groves and 10 million palm trees makes it one of the largest in the world. Arrival in Merzouga and hospitality tea in our hotel, then enjoy our first contact with the desert, climbing the nearest dunes and relax with a spectacular sunset. Dinner and overnight in hotel very close to the dunes of Erg Chebbi.

Day 2: Merzouga Desert – Nomadic Families – Khamlia – Overnight in Nomadic Tents

Today will be a day of Total Desert. After a hearty and rich breakfast, we will surround the Erg Chebbi, an extension of sandy desert where the Great Dune of Morocco is located, over 250 meters high, and connect by track with part of the route followed by the old Paris-Dakar and with the mountains bordering Algeria in the background. Stop at the oasis of Tissardmin where we can find Fossil race that is still found in this region and continue to a nomadic settlement where we will know some of the secrets of their life and customs. Later stop at a panoramic point where we can see the Erg Chebbi as a whole. We will arrive at the village of Khamlia, originally from Mali, where we will relax with a tea while enjoying a small concert of spiritual music of Gnawa. Return to the hotel to leave in a camel caravan to enter the heart of the dunes and watch an unforgettable sunset. We will arrive with the camels to the camp where we will stay in Haimas ” Tents made with dromedary hair ” as those used by the nomads of the desert. Dinner and overnight in Haimas in the heart of the desert under a spectacular blanket of stars.

Day 3: Merzouga Desert – Rissani Market – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley.

Rendezvous with the sunrise ” since you are in the desert is advisable to get up early to walk to the highest dune that is around the camp to enjoy the sunrise and this relaxing landscape that nature offers us, we will return on dromedaries to the village of Merzouga. After a hearty breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to the desert and we will leave for Rissani where we will visit the market (if we are lucky and it is one of the market days: Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday) we will follow the road to Erfoud where there is also the possibility to visit the fossilized marble factory before continuing to the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad. 1 hour later we will arrive at one of the strongest points of the High Atlas: The Todra Gorges. The Todra riverbed has formed a gorge of vertical walls of enormous proportions and great beauty; it is a climber’s paradise and a unique place. Lunch on site and a half hour walk would be recommended to see and enjoy in detail the Gorges. In the afternoon we will continue to the Dades Valley, also known as the Valley of figs, passing through Boumalne Dades we will stop at the ” monkey’s paws ” Dinner and overnight at the Dades Gorges.