Day 1 : Fez – Ifrane – Cedar Forest – Midélt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga Desert
Pick up at your hotel at 8 am and departure south to cross the Middle Atlas Mountains to reach Ifrane, called ” the little Moroccan Switzerland ” for its 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 stop and take some pictures. Then we will cross the famous cedar forests and we can 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 or Rich and from here the land becomes arid and full of spectacular geological formations and deep green valleys, such as the Ziz Valley. We will begin to see the typical adobe architecture, palm trees, some distant Kasbahs… we are at the gates of the desert. After an hour after Erfoud we arrive at the impressive dunes of Merzouga and after the Hospitality Tea, we will leave the luggage in the rooms and climb the first dunes that are next to the hotel and take the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful sunset. Dinner and overnight at the hotel located a few meters from the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
Day 2 : Merzouga – Nomadic Families – Camel ride and night in Nomadic Tents.
We are already in the desert and 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 we will 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 contemplate 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 night 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, it is advisable to get up early to walk to the highest dune around the camp to enjoy the sunrise and this relaxing landscape that nature offers us, we will return on camels to the village of Merzouga. After a delicious breakfast, it is time to say goodbye to the desert and depart to 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 continue our route 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 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 advisable to see and enjoy in detail the Gorges. In the afternoon we will continue to the Dadès Valley, known for the Valley of figs, passing through Boumalne Dadès we will stop at the ” monkey’s paws ” Dinner and overnight in the Dadès Gorges.
Day 4 : Dades Valley – Roses Valley – Boutagrar – Skoura Palm grove – Ouarzazate
After breakfast, we will enjoy one of the best views of the Dades Valley. We will do it from one of the most strategic places offered by the mountains. From there we can observe the number of kasbahs and the picturesque of each of them, then departure to a road dotted with various Kasbah of great interest to reach the Kasbah of Aït Youl where we will make a detour and we will enter by tracks in the depths of the Central High Atlas, discovering spectacular scenery. We will visit a nomadic family that still lives in caves in the Boutagrar Valley where time seems to have stopped. We will see mountains, canyons and valleys as well as the caves where nomads still live in the mountains. Arrival at the Vallé des Roses to join Kelaa M’ gouna. Lunch in the village and in the afternoon we will pass through the palm grove of Skoura, then arrive in Ouarzazate, dinner and overnight in hotel.
Day 5 : Ouarzazate – Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou – High Atlas Mountains – Marrakech
The morning is dedicated to the visit of Ouarzazate: kasbah of Taourirt, film studios. Then departure to the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, where we will visit its famous Kasbah (declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986). In this spectacular setting have been filmed films as renowned as Gladiator, Obelix, Sahara with Penelope Cruz or Jewel of the Nile.
Lunch in the village and in the afternoon we will leave for Marrakech crossing the mountain pass of Tizi Ntichka with photo stops. Here we will leave behind the lunar landscape that will give way to the predominant colors of green, ocher … etc.. Arrival in Marrakech around 18h more or less, transfer to the hotel and end of our services.