Day 1: Ouarzazate – Merzouga
After breakfast at your accommodation in Ouarzazate, we head for the Valley of Draa through which runs the River Draa, one of the longest in Morocco. We will make ample stops for you to enjoy the views and take photos of the natural scenery, the enchanting kasbahs and the many Berber villages built of adobe, which are dotted along our route.
Shortly after a coffee break in Alnif, we will arrive at the impressive sand dunes of Merzouga where we will take tea with the local inhabitants while resting after the journey.
A short walk in the dunes will put us in the perfect position to watch the majestic setting of the sun before returning to your hotel.
Day 2: 4×4 Tour, Camel trek and Overnight in Jaimas
Following a relaxed breakfast we will make a tour around the oasis which extends around the dunes of Erg Chebbi. This will include a visit to the village of Khamlia, which is populated primarily by people whose forefathers were brought north from Subsaharan Africa as slaves.
Our next stop will be at the desert town of M’fis and later we will come across tiny villages and isolated dwellings far from civilisation, before meeting up with some hospitable nomadic people with whom we will drink the customary tea, either with or without mint, while sitting under their jaimas (traditional Berber tents).
In the late afternoon you will have the option of trekking on camels into the midst of the sea of sand, to watch the unforgettable setting of the sun before spending a magical evening of dinner and Berber hospitality under a canopy of stars. You will spend the night in jaimas.
Day 3: Merzouga – Ouarzazate
After rising very early in order to be on the camels in time to watch sunrise, we return to the hotel for breakfast and showers.
We will next visit Rissani, previously known as Sijilmassa, and which was a principle stop on the caravan routes from the Sahara to the north. This is where Berbers hold their traditional market 3 times a week, selling everything from clothes to livestock.
Continuing through semi-desert landscape we arrive at the oasis town on Tinghir, possibly one of the most beautiful places in all Morocco. Following the River Todgha upstream, we arrive at the impressive Todra Gorge, which is only 10m wide in places, yet the walls of the gorge are up to 160m high.
After a short stop in the town we resume our route along the Road of 1000 Kasbahs, until we arrive at Dades Gorge. There are some amazing rock formations caused by erosion, making this an ideal location for some fantastic photos.
Finally we return to Ouarzazate, one of the most important towns in southern Morocco which is also famous as a location for the filming of many internationally known films, such as Gladiator, Troy and The Mummy, to name but a few.
What’s included:
► Hotel pick-up and drop of
► Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle. fuel and tolls
► Entrance fees
► Services of a qualified English-speaking driver
► 4 nights Accommodation in well recommended hotels / Kasbahs / Riads
► Breakfast and dinner daily
What’s Not Included:
► Lunch and drinks
► Tips and gratuities
► Meeting Point
► Pick-up from your hotel or riad
