Culture Morocco Tours

5 Days Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert

5 Days Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert

5 Days Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert

Overview:

In this 5 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert, immerse yourself in the rich cultural tapestry of Morocco and experience the traditional lifestyle of desert communities. Our journey begins in Marrakech, traversing the scenic Tizi-n-Tichka pass in the High Atlas Mountains. Along the way, we’ll explore captivating destinations including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou village, Ouarzazate, Roses Valley, and quaint Berber villages like Skoura, El Kelaa des MGouna, and Boumalne Dades. The following day, we’ll venture through the breathtaking Todra Gorges and Erfoud before reaching Merzouga, where a night in a Berber camp awaits, offering a glimpse into nomadic Berber life. In the ensuing days, immerse yourself in local culture with visits to Khamlia, a nomad family, as well as stops in Rissani, Alnif, Agdz, Tazarine, and the enchanting Draa Valley with its myriad Berber Kasbahs. On the final day, we’ll return journey to Marrakech, where our unforgettable tour end. Book your trip today!

Itinerary:

Day 1: Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah – Ouarzazate

The first day of our best 5 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert, we will pick up in the morning from the hotel in Marrakech. Welcome and the route begins! We will cross the High Atlas (Tizi N’Tichka) with panoramic view stops. Optional: We will visit the argan oil cooperative, where they will teach us the production process. We will go through the fertile Zat valley (most of the potatoes, turnips, olives, figs and tomatoes from Morocco are grown here). We will visit Ait Ben Haddou ksar here the movies such as Gladiator, the Jewel of the Nile, Game of Thrones were shot. After lunch we will continue to Ouarzazate (Great Desert door) where the most important film studios in Morocco called Atlas Studios are located. Here we will visit Kasbah of Taourirt (former residence of the pacha of Marrakech). At the end of the day we will arrive in Ouarzazate. Bed and dinner at the hotel

Day 2: Ouarzazate – Dra Valley – Rissani – Merzouga Desert

Today we dive into the Draa Valley, one of the most beautiful roads in Morocco. The valley of the Draa River has more than 100 kilometers, between Ouarzazate and the gates of the desert. It is a very green valley, with date palms. It is the road very pleasant because the temperature is lower than on the road, due to the shadow of the palms. On the bank of the Draa River, we will be able to see the impressive adobe fortifications, which served to defend the region / the Ksar. Although the Draa River begins in Ouarzazate, it remains invisible for 60 km, until Agdz where the true beginning of the Draa valley can be seen. The Berber village of Agdz, dominated by Mount Jebel Kissane of 1535 meters of altitude, is a small agricultural town, offers magnificent Kasbas and beautiful palm groves. In the afternoon we will cross the Hammada (stony desert) to reach Rissani where we will visit authentic village souk. At the end of the day we will arrive in Merzouga we will take the dromedaries to reach our camp in the Erg Chebbi desert (150 m high dunes). Along the way we will contemplate the sunset over the dunes and then the starry night. We have a dinner accompanied by Berber music with drums. We will sleep in the desert in the jaimas.

Day 3: Tour around Merzouga Desert

It is worth getting up early to contemplate sunrise in the desert. Around 9 a.m. we will take the dromedaries again to return to the hotel where we can take a shower and have breakfast. After breakfast we will leave for the Great Dune of Morocco and take the route along the old Paris-Dakar road. We will rest in the oasis of Tissardmine and visit authentic nomadic jaimas along the way. We will stopper in Khamlia, a town originally from Mali. There, we will enjoy a small gnawa music concert while we have a tea with mint. We will stop for lunch and free afternoon to climb the dunes and watch the unforgettable sunset in the desert. Bed and dinner at the hotel/riad.

Day 4: Merzouga Desert – Todra Valley – Dades Valley

After breakfast, we will go out to the gorges of the Todra, a gorge with a crystalline river surrounded by palm groves and Berber villages. We will pass through the town of Boumalne Dades (with souks on Wednesdays and Sundays) to reach the Dades valley, a grazing area for nomadic tribes; it is a strip of greenery enclosed among red mountains of great natural beauty. There, wheat, almond, fig and poplar crops stand out. On the route we will see the spectacular kasbahs, the valley of Dades is known as the “valley of a thousand kasbahs”. Accommodation and dinner at the hotel in Valle de Dades.

Day 5: Dades Valley – Teluat Valley – High Atlas – Marrakech

Today we will cross the Valley of the Roses, which leads to the capital -Kelaa M’ Gouna, famous for its roses (waters of roses) and its daggers. In May, the Rose Festival is celebrated coinciding with the rose harvests. We will pass between the palm trees and the adobe castles in the oasis of Skoura and the kasbah of Amridil towards Ouarzazate. We will continue through the High Atlas, crossing the port of Tizi N’Tichka with stops with panoramic views. We will visit the argan oil cooperative, where they will teach us the production process. We will pass through the fertile Zat valley, a small Berber paradise in the heart of the High Atlas. Here we find the Berber villages with traditional architecture built on the hillside. Most of the potatoes, turnips, olives, figs and tomatoes from Morocco are grown here. We will stop for lunch. Arrival in Marrakech. Transfer to your hotel/riad and end of our 5 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert.

Included

  • Private tour & Transportation with A/C and seat-belt.
  • Pick you up & drop off at your accommodation in Marrakech.
  • 1 night hotel accommodation in Dades Valley.
  • 1 night accommodation in desert camp.
  • 1 night hotel accommodation in Merzouga.
  • 1 night hotel accommodation in Ouarzazate.
  • Experienced driver/guide English speaking.
  • Fuel, tolls and all associated expenses.
  • Dinners and breakfasts (Vegetarians are welcome).
  • Camel warden.
  • Camel ride for 1 hour. (If you are not interested to ride the camels, it is possible to drive you to the camp with the 4×4).
  • Sand boards ( available in the camp without charge).

Not Included

  • Airfare (Flight Ticket)
    Noon meal. (Possibility of picnic or restaurants).
  • Drinks at meal.
    Tips and personal miscellaneous expenses.
  • Entry fees to Monuments / Museums / Kasbahs
  • Travel insurance
  • Anything not mentioned in the program

Tour Map: