SHARED MARRAKECH TO FES DESERT TOUR

1ST DAY: MARRAKECH – AIT BEN HADDOU  – DADES VALLEY

On the morning of the shared 3 days desert tour from Marrakech to Fes, our driver will pick you up from your accommodation in Marrakech and set off in the direction of the Merzouga desert by a comfortable 4WD, a route filled with rich scenery.

Near Marrakech we cross the High Atlas mountains, reaching an elevation of 2260m above sea level at the Tizi´n Tichka pass, the highest mountain pass in North Africa.

On our way of this shared Marrakech to Fes desert tour, we will stop at the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is a fortified village made up of kasbahs, which are built out of adobe (sand, clay, water, and sometimes organic material such as straw or manure) which, once molded, are left to dry in the sun. This particular way of building and the materials used give the sensation that the Kasbah emerges from the landscape. We will tour the site on foot and then have lunch near Kasbah. After, we continue our journey toward Ouarzazate. With a long and great tradition of filmmaking, Ouarzazate is known as the Moroccan Hollywood, because it is frequently used in film and television productions. You may recognize it from Game of Thrones.

From Ouarzazate, we will continue to Skoura, one of the few palm groves that is still inhabited and cultivated in Morocco. It was founded in the 12th century under the Almohad dynasty. The palm grove takes its name from the Berber tribe that lived there at that time, the Haskourene. Since then, several populations have followed one another, including the Arab tribes from the Tafilalet, making Skoura an Arab territory in the Berber country.

After Skoura we continue through the Road of 1000 Kasbahs, the drive is spectacular, with hundreds of typical fortified Berber villages lining the route, winding through stunning desert landscapes, villages, and palm groves. On this road, we will traverse the so-called Valley of Roses. In spring, the terraced fields that hang above the threaded M’Goun River will be a riot of pink blooms that strike a stunning contrast to the orange, purple, yellow, and red-banded mountains.

The final stop on this journey is Boumalne Dades, where we will overnight in a riad: a traditional Moroccan house converted into tourist accommodation where you will feel into the Tales from One Thousand and One Nights

=►Driving Distance: Approximately 350 km            =► Driving time: Approximately 6 hrs

2ND DAY: DADES – TODRA GORGES – MERZOUGA (NIGHT IN ERG CHEBBI DESERT)

After having breakfast in the hotel, we will start the 2nd day of our small shared 3-day Marrakech to Fes desert tour. Today the Tafilalt Oasis, Valleys, and old Berber Villages are waiting for us on our journey. Our first stop will be the Todra Gorges where you will discover one of the most spectacular canyons in the world. After, we depart for Tenhir andTinjdad, small Berber cities. We will stop for lunch in one of them.

The tour of the Sahara Berber Villages and the desert Oasis starts with Erfoud which is also the starting point of the Tafilalt Oasis, the largest Saharan oasis in Morocco. It includes the fortified villages of Erfoud, Arab Sebbah du Ziz, Rissani, Seffalat, Aoufous, and Jorf, along with palm groves stretching 30 miles (50 km).

On our way out of the Oasis, we will enter the Sahara desert, specifically the dunes of the Erg Chebbi,. Our desert adventure starts by riding camels crossing the sand dunes (you can also choose to go by 4×4). We will watch the sunset at the dunes, which is an amazing opportunity to photograph this truly magical scene.  This is a great opportunity to take magical photos of the sunset over the dunes.

The camel ride will take us finally to a luxury desert camp. When we get to it, you’ll have time to walk around and admire the sand dunes. In the desert, the time stops and you feel a deep tranquility. We will have dinner. Afterwards, Berber music around a fire camp and you’ll have free time to walk to the nearest dunes to look up at the blanket of stars. You can find more information about the Sahara experience in the camp.

=►Driving Distance: Approximately 310 km            =► Driving time: Approximately 5 hrs

3RD DAY: MERZOUGA DESERT – IFRANE – FES

On the last day, we will drive to Fes and on the way discover Midlet and Ifrane, the so-called Moroccan Switzerland. We will leave you in your riad (traditional Moroccan accommodation) in Fes.

=►Driving distance: Approximately 500 km            =► Driving time: Approximately 8 hrs