Marrakech - Ait Benhaddou - Ouarzazate - Valley of Roses - Dades Gorges

Atlas Mountains - At approximately 8:00 am, your driver and tour guide will collect you from the nearest point to your hotel or Riad. As you travel through the Tizi- N’Tichka pass (2260m) in the High Atlas Mountains, you will experience a winding road (medication is advised if you are prone to car sickness), stunning landscapes with varied colors, and Berber villages along the route. The first stop will be in Ait Barka village around 10:00 am, where you can capture beautiful photos and enjoy a cup of mint tea. This marks the beginning of the highest Atlas Mountains in Morocco. The second stop will be at the top of Tizi n’Tichka, arriving at Ait Benhaddou, an 11th-century UNESCO-protected red mud-brick ksar that has served as a backdrop for numerous Hollywood productions such as Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and many others. Here, you will have time to explore the rich history of this remarkable heritage site.

Vallee Des Roses - Afterward, enjoy lunch before proceeding through Ouarzazate, known as “Ouallywood” studio, and Taourirte Kasbah. Journey through the Valley of Roses and continue straight to Dades Gorges, characterized by rust-red and mauve mountains. A series of crumbling Kasbahs and Ksours line the valley in the Berber villages leading to the Monkey Fingers Mountains.

Dades Gorges - Todgha Gorges - Tinejdad - Erfoud - Risani - Merzouga Desert

Todgha Gorge - This morning, travel southeast towards Merzouga, the gateway to the golden dunes of the Sahara Desert. Before reaching there, you will experience the awe of being surrounded by towering rock walls in the Todgha Gorges.

Erfoud - Continue to Tinejdad, where a local Berber culture museum is a worthwhile lunch stop. Afterward, proceed to Erfoud, where you can admire the area’s renowned million-year-old fossils.

Merzouga Desert - Next, head to Merzouga, home to Morocco’s highest dunes. You can store any luggage and pack an overnight bag. Experience a camel ride, the “ship of the desert,” into the sandy expanse. After an hour-long camel ride, you will be among the fortunate to witness the sunset over the Sahara dunes. Tonight’s accommodation will be a Bedouin-style tent.

Merzouga - Alnif - n’Kob - Agdez - Taznakht - Taliouine

Taliouine - Arrive at Agdez, meaning “place of rest,” and take a break before continuing to the village of Taliouine, the African center of saffron, known as “red gold,” the most expensive spice. This journey takes you through southern Morocco’s capital of carpets and rugs.

Taliouine - Taroudant - Tizi n’Test - Marrakech

Taroudant - Travel from Taliouine to Marrakech via Taroudant, considered one of Morocco’s most elegant purely Berber towns, with its majestic, tawny-brown, and honey-gold 7km circuit of walls. As you explore, observe the distinctive, beautiful blue veils worn by many of the older local women.

Tinmel - Later, travel along the road carved through the High Atlas Mountains by the French in the late 1920s, renowned for Tizi n’Test, offering one of Morocco’s best panoramic drives. Heading north to Marrakech, stop at Tinmal village to visit the 1156-year-old mosque.

• Private transportation
• Home-cooked meals with local families
• On-board WiFi
• Inclusive of all meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Engage in a local experience with an opportunity to give back
• Visit to local women cooperatives

• Gratuities

This product might not be ideal if you’re solely seeking a “quick desert excursion.” However, if you’re eager to fully immerse yourself, indulge, and truly explore the untouched Moroccan desert while experiencing the authentic Berber lifestyle, we are here to guide you and help you travel like a local.

The journey will take you through the remarkable engineering marvel of Tizi n’Tichka, with its thrilling series of switchbacks. You’ll pass through the UNESCO-protected red mud-brick Ait Benhaddou and travel along the Route of a Thousand Kasbahs to the stunning gorges of Dades and Todgha.

Upon reaching the golden dunes, you’ll discover the Berber lifestyle in the Sahara desert, where you can choose to fall asleep under the twinkling stars amidst a breathtaking expanse of golden sand. Awaken at dawn to witness the sun beginning its daily journey, with a cool blue morning sky replacing the Sahara shadows before it transforms into a radiant ball of fire.

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.