Tour Highlights from Marrakech to Erg Chegaga:

✔ Cross the High Atlas Mountains
✔ Enjoy stunning panoramic views
✔ Discover authentic Berber villages
✔ Visit the famous Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah
✔ Overnight stay at a charming Riad/Hotel in Dades Valley
✔ Explore the breathtaking Todra Gorge
✔ Experience an unforgettable camel trek
✔ Stay overnight in a comfortable desert camp in Merzouga
✔ Enjoy music around the campfire under the stars
✔ Witness a magical sunrise & sunset over Erg Chebbi Desert

Activities Not Included in the Tour:

❌ Drinks
❌ Tips
❌ Lunches on the way
❌ Optional local guide in Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou – €3 per person
❌ Extras

Important Information to Know Before Your Trip

 

✨ Transport will be provided in a private, air-conditioned 4×4 or deluxe van, including fuel for your comfort and convenience.
✨ Pick-up and drop-off will be arranged from your riad or hotel in Marrakech, ensuring a seamless start and end to your journey.
✨ An experienced driver/guide will accompany you throughout the trip, offering insights and ensuring a smooth experience.
✨ Enjoy a luxurious stay in a Merzouga desert camp, featuring private toilet and shower facilities, alongside traditional Moroccan handmade furnishings.
✨ Relish in delicious breakfast and dinner with options for vegetarian and vegan meals available upon request.
✨ Experience the thrill of a 1-hour camel ride and enjoy free sandboarding on the stunning dunes.
✨ Ample free time will be provided for you to capture memorable photos and take relaxing tea/coffee breaks.
✨ You’ll have the flexibility to request stops during your journey, making the trip even more personalized.
✨ Immerse yourself in the authentic desert atmosphere with traditional Berber drumming and music around the campfire during your desert experience.

Essential Information for Your Erg Chegaga Desert Tour

Day 1: Marrakech to Dades Valley via Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, and Skoura

Pick-up from your accommodation in Marrakech at 8:00 AM, and begin your journey to the High Atlas Mountains, a stunning subrange of the Moroccan Atlas.

Travel through the scenic Tizi N’Tichka Pass, stopping along the way to admire panoramic views and take photographs of the charming Berber villages that blend harmoniously with the landscape.

Continue south towards the Ait Ben Haddou Ksar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the famous Kasbah, a breathtaking backdrop for many iconic films, including Gladiator, Obelix, The Mummy, The Jewel of the Nile, and Sahara (starring Penélope Cruz).

Enjoy free time for lunch in Ait Ben Haddou, immersing yourself in the local culture before continuing the journey.

Next, we’ll head to Ouarzazate, also known as “The Gate of the Desert,” which in Berber means “noiseless” or “without confusion.” Visit the Taourirt Kasbah, one of Morocco’s most stunning ksars, offering a glimpse into the country’s rich architectural history.

Our journey takes us through the picturesque Rose Valley, passing by the lush Skoura Palm Grove, home to over 700,000 palms and numerous kasbahs. This valley is famous for cultivating Damascene roses used in cosmetics, particularly prized for producing rosewater. The annual Rose Festival held here in May celebrates this important aspect of Moroccan culture.

Finally, we’ll reach the Dades Valley, where we’ll spend the night, surrounded by the stunning landscapes of this beautiful region.

Day 2: Dades Valley to Todra Gorges, Tinejdad, Touroug, and Merzouga

After breakfast, we’ll enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the Dades Valley from a strategic lookout point in the mountains. From here, we can admire the many kasbahs and the unique features of each one. A well-paved road leads up the valley from Tinerhir to the gorge and then towards the desert.

After a few stops along the way, we’ll reach the stunning Todra Gorges. The scenery here is breathtaking, and local people reside in the area, living in their traditional adobe villages. The gorges, with their rugged rock faces and uneven surfaces, are a popular spot for rock climbers.

After a short walk through the gorges, you’ll have free time for lunch in Tinejdad or Touroug, before continuing our journey towards the desert, arriving at the spectacular dunes of Merzouga.

We’ll embark on a 1-hour camel ride to our nomad camp, located in the heart of the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Before dinner, we’ll watch the sunset from the top of a dune, then spend the night in a comfortable tent beneath a beautiful, starry sky.

Day 3: Merzouga Desert Exploration and Kamilia Village

This is a full desert day, beginning with a “Date with the Sunrise.” If you’re in the heart of the desert, it’s definitely worth waking up early to witness one of the most spectacular sunrises you’ve ever seen, from the top of a dune close to the camp. Enjoy the landscape, a true natural wonder.

After sunrise, we’ll return to Merzouga on camels, where a hearty breakfast awaits us.

We’ll then skirt the Erg Chebbi, a vast expanse of sandy desert where you’ll find the Big Dune of Morocco, towering at over 250 meters high.

Next, we’ll travel along the historic road once used for the Paris-Dakar Rally, heading towards the mountains that mark the border with Algeria.

Our journey takes us to the Tissardmin Oasis, where you can see fossil quarries that are still present in the area. From there, we continue along a road where we can observe nomad settlements, learning about their way of life and traditions.

We will stop at a viewpoint to admire the entire Erg Chebbi desert. Then, we’ll reach Kamilia Village, a community originally from Mali. Here, you’ll enjoy a relaxing cup of tea while listening to the spiritual music of the Gnawa people, a unique and captivating experience.

Afterward, we’ll transfer you to your accommodation for a free afternoon. You can explore the town or venture to the nearby dunes to catch another breathtaking sunset.

Enjoy dinner and spend the night at the hotel.

Day 4: Merzouga to Fes via Ziz Valley, Midelt, Ifrane, and Fes

After breakfast, we begin our journey north, traveling through the Tafilalet Palm Grove, the largest palm grove in the world. You’ll see thousands of palm trees stretching along the 20 km of road.

This route leads us to the Ziz Valley, where the river flows from the High Atlas and nourishes the palm grove. We’ll stop at a high viewpoint, offering a magnificent view of the valley and the town of Aoufous.

Our next stop will be in Midelt, located in the heart of the Atlas Mountains. Here, you’ll have free time for lunch and a short rest before continuing the journey.

In the afternoon, we’ll travel through the Cedar Woods, where, if we’re lucky, we might spot some Barbary monkeys in the wild.

We then visit the city of Ifrane, nestled on the northwestern slope of the Middle Atlas at an altitude of 1,630 meters above sea level. Known for its broad avenues, pristine cleanliness, well-maintained gardens, green spaces, and Swiss-style architecture, Ifrane is often referred to as Morocco’s Switzerland. The city even boasts an important ski resort, Michlifen.

Around 6 PM, we’ll arrive in Fes and transfer you to your hotel, marking the end of our services.