Desert trip Fez to Marrakech-4 day Moroccan itinerary

DAY 1 : FES – AZROU – MIDLET – ZIZ VALLEY – MERZOUGA :

In this day we will meet you at your accommodation and start travelling south to Merzouga via Midelt and Errachidia. Your first stop will be at Ifrane city, named as “the Switzerland of Morocco”, and then to Merzouga via Ziz Valley. During this journey you’ll experience glimpses of the Middle Atlas and Higher Atlas mountains. Stopping at the famous cedar forest – the largest one in Morocco – where you will have chance to see Barbarian Monkeys. You’ll notice how the scenery changes to reveal hints of the desert as you approach the province of the southeast ; Er Rachidia city. After lunch in Midelt, your tour continues along the fantastic Ziz Valley, stopping for panoramic views along the way. We will drive through Berber villages to Erfoud, and then Rissani, the foundation of the Alaouite dynasty – the current ruling royal family in Morocco. Arriving in Merzouga at the end of the day, you’ll check in to riad (dinner and breakfast).

DAY 2 : MERZOUGA ZONE – CAMEL TREK AND OVERNIGHT IN THE DESERT CAMP:

After a breakfast in your riad we will explore desert in Merzouga. You will visit the Gnawa people – originally from Mali, Senegal and Sudan- in their village Khamlia , where you will learn about their music and their lifestyle . later, we will drive in the desert area to meet nomad families to explore their way of life . Today our lunch will be a traditional meal (Berber pizza) with a local family. You will have the option also to visit the old city of Rissani – the foundation of the Alaouite dynasty – the current ruling royal family in Morocco. Rissani is surrounded by about 360 ksar (a fortified village with many towers) and has a big souk (an open market with four doors), held three times a week. Once called Sijilmassa, this was the meeting place for the salt caravans, coming from Tombouctou in Mali. Here you’ll walk through the souk, selling spices, vegetables and cloths. After that we will Drive back to the village of Merzouga. In the afternoon, you will ride your camel guided by an experienced camel man to explore what is hidden in the middle of the highest sand dunes in Morocco. Dinner will be served in front of the tent where you will spend the night.

DAY 3 : MERZOUGA – TODRA GORGES – DADES VALLEY :

A camel-guide will wake you up to watch what well may be the best sunrise in your life. After that , you will peacefully camel-trek back to the village of Merzouga. Enroute you couldn’t fail to appreciate the unique beauty of the spectacular Erg Chebbi dunes – changing with the light as the day progresses. After shower and breakfast in the riad, you’ll leave for Rissani , Tinghir, and Todra gorges – the highest, narrowest gorges in Morocco. Here you will have the option to hike for an hour within the valley, where you will meet locals and learn about the culture and geography. Then we continue tour from Fes to the Dades Valley, where you’ll see the majestic sand castles and the amazing rock formations known as “monkey toes”. Our accommodation will be a guest house with dinner and breakfast.

DAY 4 : DADES VALLEY – KASBAH AIT BEN HADDOU – MARRAKECH :

Today in the morning we continue our tour through the Dades Valley towards Ouarzazate and then to Marrakech. The route through Dades Valley is called the way of the thousand Kasbahs – providing numerous opportunities to take some of your best photographic shots of the trip. You will stop at Kalaat Mgouna -the centre of roses valley-, where you will have the option to visit the cooperative for the roses, to purchase the rosewater, which will make your linen smell good a long time after your tour is over. Continue to Marrakech via the Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah. Built by Et Hami El Glaoui, one of the last Berber chieftains during the 19th century, now the Kasbah is a house of many Glaoui people. Your journey will continue through the majestic Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2260 m) over the High Atlas Mountains,where you will have the opportunity to explore the process of producing the Argan oil- existing only in Morocco – by Berber women in their cooperative, before arriving in Marrakech and the end of the tour.