Day 1: Fes – Ifran Azrou – Medilt – imilchil – Todra Gorge
We will meet you at your Riad/Hotel in Fez at 8:00 a.m. and then depart for Todra Gorges, passing through Ifrane. The later is the best small town in North Africa, a Moroccan style built by the French in the 1930’s with a Swiss village style touch. We continue crossing the middle atlas and cedar forest. We stop near Azrou to see the monkeys, rest, and take photos. We will pass through a number of Berber villages. Lunch will be served in the village of “Medilte.” We continue through the Atlas Mountains, admiring the scenery, until we arrive in the small town of Errich. Here, we turn right and travel through the famous town of Imilchil until we arrive at Todra Gorges at sunset, where we dine and spend the night in a nice hotel nestled between mountains, rivers, and valleys.
Day 2: Midelt – Errachidia – Erfoud – Rissani – Merzouga
After breakfast in your hotel you will travel to Merzouga via Errachidia and Erfoud. You will be travelling through the fascinating Tiz Ntalghamt pass and the Ziz Gorge, taking in views of the High Atlas plateau, you’ll notice how the scenery changes to reveal hints of the desert as you approach the city of Errachidia. Afterwards, we will travel along the luxuriant Ziz Valley, stopping for panoramic views along the way to Erfoud and Rissani. Arrive at Merzouga , you will be guided by an experienced Camel man, to explore within the mysterious sand-sea of the Erg-Chebbi. On the way, there will a break to watch the sunset then continue your ride – seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Dinner and overnight will be under the stars, or if you prefer, in a traditional Berber nomad tent, (an unforgettable night).
Day 3: Merzouga – Er rissani – Merzouga
Your camel guide will wake you up early in the morning to witness what could be the most spectacular sunrise of your life. After that, you will peacefully camel-trek back to Merzouga village for breakfast. The spectacular Erg Chebbi dunes, which are a scene of constant change and fascination as sunlight transforms them from pink to gold to red, will dazzle you along the way. After breakfast, we will travel to Rissani, a holy city where the Alouite dynasty is buried in the Mousoleum of Moulay Ali Sherif, and visit the ruins of Ksar Abbar, a 17th century kasbah. Rissani is surrounded by 360 ksars (fortified villages with many towers) and has a large souk (an open market) that is held three times a week. After that, we’ll take a tour of Rissani’s famous palmerie and get a glimpse of life on the outskirts of the desert. Visit the Ksar Oulad Abdelhalim, which was built for Sultan Moulay Hassan around 1900. The journey then continues through the open black desert back to Merzouga. Overnight accommodation will be in Merzouga in a riad or hotel.
Day 4: Merzouga – Rissani – Tinghir – Boumanle Dades – Ouarzazate
After breakfast, you’ll depart for Rissani, Tinghir, and Boumalne Dades, the kasbah line that gives this popular route its name: Thousand Kasbahs Valley, Begin just before Skoura in Kalaat M’gouna, the rose city where you can buy rose water. Then we continue to Ouarzazate, Africa’s Hollywood, whose geography and beautiful landscapes have attracted many world-class movie producers. Possible visit to the movie studio (if there is no production event): a well-known cinematographic center used for blockbuster productions such as Astrix and Cleopatra directed by Alain Chabat and the Oscar-winning Gladiator directed by Ridley Scott. Overnight stay will be at the riad in Ouarzazate.
Day 5: Ouarzazate – Marrakech
We will leave early in the morning for Marrakesh. Today we will visit the famous Ait ben Haddou Kasbah, one of the most intriguing red earth castles lining the ancient Route of the Kasbahs. Our journey will continue through the dramatic landscape of the High Atlas Mountains, passing through the Berber town of Taddart and over the 2,260 meter Tizi Ntichka pass, where we will stop for lunch before continuing to Marrakesh, the end of the trip.
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