Great Desert Trip from Fes to Merzouga & Marrakech

Day 1 : Fez – Ifrane – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga (D)

This is a long driving day, where we will meet different colors of the kingdom by leaving the old Moroccan city of Fes. On the way, we will pass through the most modern and clean city in the country Ifran. This Berber name of Ifran means caves and it is nicknamed in Morocco as a little Switzerland since it is a very green town and is a ski resort in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco because of its high altitude at 1665 meters. Ifran is very known as well by The Brotherhood private university, established in 1997 by The King of Morocco Hassan II and the king of Saudi Arabia Fahd. Where all classes are taught in English, it is an international university. Lunch will be scheduled in a Berber village called Midelt which is situated on the foothills of the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains. From the vast plateau, we start crossing up those tough mountains which are still settled by a big Berber community. The landscapes here include palm tree oases at Jbel Ayachi (at 3747 m) before driving down the curves and joining the pre-Saharan zone passing first by Errachidia and Erfoud, which is famous for its pottery and the interesting fossil quarries. Fossils are a major industry in Erfoud, some 350 million years ago the region around Erfoud was a part of the huge ocean. Heading up to the red-colored sand sea dunes of Erg Chebbi at Merzouga via Rissani, the hometown of the Alaouist dynasty, where Moulay Ali sheriff started to unify Morocco under his red flag at the beginning of the 17th century. From a vast plateau, you will get impressed by the huge sand dune of Merzouga appearing from the horizon. in the evening we go on a camel ride for about one hour and a half to meet one of the most fascinating sights we will ever see, the superb sunset in the middle of the high sand dunes of Merzouga. Overnight in Berber-tented desert camp and enjoy a wonderful stars view.

🏚️ Accommodation: Merzouga Dune Luxury Camp. 

Day 2 : Merzouga – Dades Valley – Todra Gorges – Dades Gorges (B, D)

If you wake up early enough, you can see the spectacle of the sunrise, when the color of the dunes and the play of shadow is awesome. Then taking camel again for going back to the hostel shower then departing to see plenty of nomadic black people. We shall stop by a nomadic family to have tea and see what a nomadic life looks like. let’s discover the nomadic life of the Touareg people by visiting Alkhamliya, a village where nothing has been changed through centuries.
Visiting Errisani and the Mausoleum of the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty of Morocco, Moulay Ali Chrif in the 17th century. This silent town was the ancient capital of Tafilalet and its location as a crossroads between north and south brought the city to an important status of a former major caravan center. Up to now, Rissani remains a major commercial center in the region, with a large souk, particularly lively today on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. It was noted for its leather and goatskin trading in ancient ages.127 km from Rissani the great canyons of Morocco Todgha Gorges are situated beyond the central high Atlas Mountains. Here, the contrasting landscapes remind visitors of Colorado, with its high plateau, its gorges, and great canyons, and its peaks sometimes splintered by erosion. Several peaks in this area exceed 4000 m, with Jbel Saghro 2500 m and Jbel Mgoun at 4068 m being the highest peak in this part of the High Atlas. The area is populated by Berbers. Here you can enjoy a hike among those fabulous canyons.
From the great canyons of Todgha, we go along the road of 1000 Kasbahs, since there are enormous Kasbahs on both sides of the road. Some of those old fortified houses are restored but unfortunately, a lot of them are ruins. A visit to one of those Kasbahs is scheduled by seeing Amridil Kasbah. We pass a town called Boumalen situated on the edge of Dades valley which rises in the High Atlas Mountains, giving life to a huge Berber community by its rich agriculture. Along this valley, then visit Todra Gorges and check at the hotel there.

🏚️ Accommodation: Luxury Riad Dades.

Day 3: Dades Gorges – Valley of Roses – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech (B)

َnother valley called the valley of roses appearing with the green colors of its Alfalfa plants, olive trees, fig-trees, and grapes. This valley gives birth to a rose from which locals produce different cosmetic products like soap, perfumes, and skin creams. Locals here celebrate this rose by organizing a national festival at the end of April. Getting to Ouarzazate (Hollywood of Africa, Noiselessly town, The door of the desert), is a city situated in the middle of a bare plateau, south of the High Atlas Mountains. It is mainly inhabited by Berbers, who constructed many of the prominent Kasbahs and buildings for which the area is known. One of those buildings is Taourirt Kasbah diverted in the 17th century. Why this town is nicknamed Hollywood of Africa? Simply because it has been noted as a film-making location, with Morocco’s biggest studios inviting many international film companies to shoot their movies like Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Living Daylights (1987), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Martin Scorsese’s Kundun (1997) and Babel (2005)
30 km from Ouarzazate there is the fortified city of Aït Ben Haddou, built in the 11th century. Once upon a time, this Kasbah was the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. It is situated on a hill along the Ounila River and has some beautiful examples of Kasbahs, which unfortunately sustain damage during each rainstorm and windstorm. Most of the town’s inhabitants now live in a more modern village on the other side of the river; however, around five families are still living within this Kasbah. Aït Benhaddou Kasbah has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and several films have been shot there, including Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Time Bandits (1981), The Jewel of the Nile (1985), Kundun (1997), Gladiator (2000) and Alexander (2004).From this beautiful fortified Kasbah.
we head to Marrakech via high atlas mountains Tizen Tichka Pass (2200 meters of altitude) During the journey we will enjoy many beautiful scenes of the Berber villages, elevated views of the mountains.
After enjoying the spectacular mountains we get to the magical city “Marrakech” where your trip is up to end.