Wonders of the Desert 8 Days

We start our journey early in the morning and head for the Middle Atlas Mountains. Stop for a coffee in Ifran, also known as «Switzerland of Morocco» with its chalet like houses. Shortly after it’s time to feed the monkeys! They life in a cedar forest and love the sweet bananas which you can buy at the roadside. From here we are heading south through several typical villages and you will have the opportunity to spot nomad families living in their tents along the road.
After our lunch in Midelt we continue our drive and enjoy panoramic views crossing the Tizi N’ Talghoumt pass (1’907 m). In Erfoud, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the valley of the river Ziz lined with thousands of date palms. Now we’re almost at the dunes! After arriving in Merzouga, you will enjoy a traditional dinner in the lodge where you’ll spend the night.

After breakfast, we hop on our 4×4 to explore the area around the desert city Merzouga: visit the black people in the village of Khamlia and enjoy their music and dance; cross desert plateaus, and visit a Berber family in their tent for lunch. You can learn how they live in their tents with their goats, sheep and working donkeys.
Afterwards, we catch a 4×4 gravel road to the lake of Merzouga (also named Lake Tamezguida), which appears seasonal from November to May when it is rainy season in the Middle Atlas. It is the best spot to observe desert birds and sometimes even Flamingos.
After returning to your lodge, you will experience a one hour camel ride to reach the desert camp while the sun sinks down behind the dunes. Enjoy your evening dining in a berber tent, look for shooting stars at the camp fire and sleep in a nomad tent!

After an early breakfast in the desert camp, we will return to the lodge on the back of our camels or by 4×4. Today, we will explore the country of the Berber people from the Ait Khebbach tribe. We will visit the city of Rissani, the economic capital of southern Morocco. In Rissani we will have the opportunity to visit the local market with the «donkey parking», which takes place 3 times per week (Sun/Tue/Thu). This market is very authentic and you can observe the men from the area bargaining about birds, sheep and silver jewelry.
After the lunch break we follow the road further in direction Taouz.There is a hidden 1-hour-track only accessible by 4×4 to the dunes of Ouzina. Ouzina lies on the Paris-Dakar-Ralley route and has some photogenic and less visited dunes to offer. Dinner and overnight in a lodge in Ouzina.

After breakfast in your lodge we start our daily journey through a moon-like stone desert which is rarely travelled by tourists. We will pass by several Berber families which still live in their tents and follow the Ziz river until Ramlia. The next highlight is the dried lake Maider where you’ll have the feeling to be in another world. Now it is only a short drive until the Oasis Foum Mharech.
After your picnic lunch along the way we will soon reach the concrete road again which leads us over the Tizi-N-Tifrkhinn pass to the Todra Gorges. Overnight with dinner in a Riad in Todra.

Today after breakfast we leave Todra Gorges with its up to 300 m high rock walls in direction Dades valley. We head to Boumalne Dades where you can make some nice pictures of the special rock formations which look like monkey hands and the spectacular winding road in the middle of the gorge landscape.
We will see a lot of different landscapes on our way direction Marrakech. Admire the views of the Valley of a thousand Kasbahs and the famous Valley of Roses along the road, where you will enjoy your lunch.
We continue to the desert city Ouarzazate, also known as «Hollywood of Morocco». You can explore the acient Kasbah of Taourirt, which was built in the Glaoui dynasty and the film museum. Dinner and overnight in Ouarzazate.

A little outside of Ouarzazate lies Aït Ben Haddou, the fortified clay city with its numerous ksars and kasbahs, where several famous movies such as Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven and Prince of Persia have been shot. This photogenic city is also listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After the visit and enjoying your lunch in Aït Ben Haddou, we take a detour to the bizzare Telouet Kasbah which once belonged to the great Glaoui family and has a stratetic position with a fantastic view. Nowadays, it is fast crumbling into the red earth, but still an extraordinary site to visit.
After we pass the High Atlas mountains over the Tizi n’Tichka pass with scenic views along the road and many opportunities to take photos. Early evening arrival in Marrakech at your Riad or Hotel. Individual dinner at the Jemaa el Fna-square.

In the morning after breakfast, you’ll visit the famous Palais de Bahia, with its fantastic courtyards and mosaic walls built for Bou Ahmed. Stroll through the Jewish Quarter and notice thedifference in architecture in this district. Visit the hidden Saadian tombs built during the reign of Sultan Ahmed El Mansour in 1557.
You’ll arrive at the Koutoubia mosque and the Djemaa el Fna-square, where you can drink some fresh pressed orange juice while observing the bustle of the snake charmers, henna tatoo artists and water sellers.
In the afternoon, you’ll visit the beautiful Majorelle Garden. This botanical garden is a quiet oasis and the former home of the famous french designer Yves Saint Laurent. Nowadays, the bright blue villa contains a Berber Museum.
Last but not least, you will visit the Medersa Ben Youssef school with its magnificent Arab-Andalusian architecture.