CASABLANCA TO OUARZAZATE VIA THE HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAINS AND AIT BENHADDOU KASBAH.

Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou - Your private driver for the Casablanca desert tour will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Ouarzazate. You’ll travel on the motorway to Marrakech and then take a national road through the High Atlas Mountains. Along the way, you’ll pass through several villages typical of the northern slopes of the High Atlas, where corn can be seen drying on the packed earth roofs of stone houses. There will be stops for photos and breaks. You’ll also see the village of Tdarat, nestled among walnut trees, which used to be the first staging post on the caravan route between Marrakech and Ouarzazate. You’ll then drive through Tizi-N-Tichka, the highest pass in Morocco at an altitude of 7,415 feet. Lunch will be at a local restaurant in the High Atlas Mountains. In the afternoon, you’ll arrive at the UNESCO site of Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, famous for movies like ‘The Sheltering Sky’ and ‘Gladiator.’ You’ll take a walk inside the Kasbah and visit a Berber family who has lived there for centuries. After the visit, you’ll drive 28 km to Ouarzazate for an overnight stay in a hotel.

OUARZAZATE TO THE SAHARA DESERT VIA THE ROSE VALLEY AND TODRA GORGES.

Merzouga Desert - At 8:00 AM, you’ll start the day by visiting one of the cinema studios in Ouarzazate and the Taourirt Kasbah. Then, you’ll head to the desert through the Rose Valley, stopping at El Kelaa Mgouna, known for its large group of ruined Kasbahs with lavish decoration and its famous roses. This town is also the starting point for various trips into the Mgoun Mountains. You’ll see a demonstration of how roses are distilled. The drive continues to Tinghir, 70 km away from the Dades Valley. From the town of Todra, you’ll take a 14 km dirt road to see the beautiful Todra Gorges, passing palm tree-covered riverbanks. On the way to the Sahara Desert, you’ll stop in the town of Tinjdad or Touroug for lunch, then drive through Erfoud, where you’ll see some of the Tafilalet Oasis. Erfoud is one of the largest oases in Morocco, fed by the Oued Ziz and the Oued Rheris. You’ll then drive through Rissani, where you’ll see the surviving ruins of Sijilmassa, the first Muslim city in North Africa and the prestigious capital of the Tafilalet region, before heading to the desert. Upon arrival, you’ll have a cup of tea and prepare for a camel ride to spend the night in the middle of the dunes. Overnight in a Berber tent.

SAHARA DESERT TO FES VIA ZIZ VALLEY, ERRACHIDIA, MIDELT, CEDAR FOREST, AND IFRANE

Fez Mellah - In the morning, 30 minutes before sunrise, you’ll wake up and walk up the dunes to watch the sunrise and take pictures. Then, you’ll return to the hotel by camel for breakfast and a shower before driving to Fes. You’ll pass through the Ziz Valley and the city of Errachidia, seeing the Ziz Gorges, which are carved through imposing rock faces that hint at the rise of the High Atlas in the west. After crossing the Tizi N Talremt, the road leads into Midelt, built at the foot of Jebel Ayachi, whose summit (12,260 feet) is covered in snow for much of the year. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. After lunch, you’ll continue driving through the Middle Atlas Mountains and the barren plateau of Timhadite, reminiscent of lunar landscapes. You’ll stop at the Cedar Forests of the Middle Atlas, home to trees several hundred years old and Barbary apes. After that, you’ll drive to Ifrane, built as a mountain health resort in 1929. With its chalet-style tiled roofs, Ifrane has a distinctly European appearance and is a winter sports resort for the country’s elite. Finally, you’ll drive 60 km to Fes for an overnight stay in a riad in the old medina.

EXPLORE FES THEN DRIVE BACK TO CASABLANCA

New Medina of Casablanca - Before returning to Casablanca, you’ll have time to explore Fes, the oldest imperial city in Morocco and its religious, intellectual, and cultural center. Fes is also renowned for its traditional crafts. You’ll visit the royal palace and see its tightly closed doors, eggshell façade, and pine-green Saracen tiles. Then, you’ll visit Mellah, the Jewish quarter of a Moroccan town, and see Fez pottery, known for its tin-glazed earthenware decorated with predominantly cobalt-blue designs. You’ll also visit the colorful tanners’ quarter, where the view from the rooftops is memorable: clusters of stone vats filled with red, yellow, and brown dyes, and skins hanging everywhere, drying in the sun. After visiting some of the sites in Fes, you’ll drive back to Casablanca via the motorway, a journey of about three and a half hours.

• Transport by air-conditioned vehicle with a private driver
• Complimentary hotel pick up and drop off service
• Includes fuel and gas costs
• Camel ride adventure - one camel per person
• Dinner and breakfast provided

• Lunches and Drinks and none mentioned dinners
• Entrance to monuments fees
• Gratuities

For those with limited time who still wish to experience the enchanting Sahara Desert of Morocco, this 4-day tour from Casablanca offers the perfect getaway. Enjoy the highlights in just a few days.

◉ Discover Ouarzazate, the Atlas Mountains, valleys, and the golden dunes of the Desert over 4 days.
◉ Explore the Sahara Desert, Dades Valley, Todgha Gorge, and Erg Chebbi.
◉ Visit the Ait Ben Haddou World Heritage site.
◉ Experience a camel ride and stay in a luxury desert camp.
◉ Tour the Imperial City of Fez.
◉ Enjoy private service throughout the journey.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.