Marrakech Trip Overview
Rich in scenery, you will never be bored as you will be busy admiring one scene after another. On this 3 days adventurous desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga and Fes. Enjoy the scenic road, beautiful landscapes with different colors, and the Berber villages along the way, from Ouarzazate. you will enjoy the UNESCO site Kasbah in Ait ben Haddou and Taourirt, then continue through the oasis, palm groves, and the gorges, we will cross the valleys and dry rives to reach Merzouga to enjoy a camel trek for a beautiful sunset over the sand dunes experience and overnight in a desert camp under the stars while enjoying a traditional Moroccan dinner. Continue through Midelt and Switzerland of Morocco Ifran then finally reach the beautiful city of Fes.
Additional Info
* Duration: 3 days
* Starts: Marrakech, Morocco
* Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
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What to Expect When Visiting Marrakech, Marrakech-Safi, Morocco
Rich in scenery, you will never be bored as you will be busy admiring one scene after another. On this 3 days adventurous desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga and Fes. Enjoy the scenic road, beautiful landscapes with different colors, and the Berber villages along the way, from Ouarzazate. you will enjoy the UNESCO site Kasbah in Ait ben Haddou and Taourirt, then continue through the oasis, palm groves, and the gorges, we will cross the valleys and dry rives to reach Merzouga to enjoy a camel trek for a beautiful sunset over the sand dunes experience and overnight in a desert camp under the stars while enjoying a traditional Moroccan dinner. Continue through Midelt and Switzerland of Morocco Ifran then finally reach the beautiful city of Fes.
Itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah – Ouarzazate – Dades Gorges.
Stop At: Tizi n’Tichka, Tizi N’Tichka, Morocco
Departure from Marrakech around 07H30 to Ouarzazate we pass over the High Atlas Mountains via col Tizin Tichka(2260 m) of altitude. During the journey we will enjoy many beautiful scenes of the Berber villages, elevated views of the mountains. before to arrive to the fortified Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, there’s another beautiful kasbah of Telouet.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Telouet, Telouet, Souss-Massa
there’s a beautiful hidden kasbah in the middle of the atlas mountains at elevation of (1800 m) Telouet Kasbah is a Kasbah along the former route of the caravans from the Sahara over the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech. The kasbah was the seat of the El Glaoui family’s power, thus sometimes also called the Palace of Glaoui. Its construction started in 1860 and it was further expanded in later years.
TICKET COST 2 EUROS PER PERSON.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou, Douar Ait Ben Haddou, Ait Ben Haddou 45000 Morocco
before to arrive to Ouarzazate of 30 Km there is the fortified Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, built in the 11th century. Once upon a time this Kasbah was the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech. 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 windstorms. Most of the town’s inhabitants now live in a more modern village at the other side of the river; however, around five families are still living within this Kasbah. Ait 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)
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Cinema Studio Atlas, Km 5, BP 28 Route de Marrakech, Ouarzazate 45000, Morocco
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 building for which the area is known. One of those building is Taourirt Kasbah diverted in 17th century. Why this town is nicknamed as 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).
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Dades Gorges, R704 Atlas Mountains, Boumalne Dades 45350 Morocco
We go to Dades gorges through 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 Amridil Kasbah. We pass kelaa M’gouna 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 produces different cosmetic products like soap, perfumes and skin creams. Locals here celebrate this rose by organizing a national festival each end of April. Then we pass through Dades valley which rises in the High Atlas Mountains.
Duration: 12 hours
Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Luxury Riad Dades : Private room with shower and toilet + heater/AC.
Day 2: Dades Goges – Todra Valley – Todra Gorges – Merzouga Desert.
Stop At: Gargantas del Todra, Tinerhir 45800 Morocco
We pass through Boumalen city 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. to the great canyons of Morocco Todgha Gorges are situated beyond the central high Atlas Mountains. Here, the contrasting landscapes remind visitors of the 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.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: La Pierre D’Erfoud, 29 Rue Laayoune Nouvelle Cite, Erfoud 52200 Morocco
heading to 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.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Merzouga Desert, Merzouga Morocco
Heading up to the red colored sand sea dunes of Erg Chebbi 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 about one hours and half to meet one of the most fascinating sight we will ever seen, 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
Duration: 12 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Merzouga Dune Luxury Camp : private sleeping camp with shower and toilet.
Day 3: Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Medilt – Ifrane – Fez.
Stop At: Merzouga, Merzouga, Draa-Tafilalet
If you wake up early enough, you can see the spectacular of the sunrise, when the color of the dunes and the play of shadow are awesome. Then taking camel again for going back then departing to Fes.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Errachidia, Errachidia, Meknes-Tafilalet Region
a short break for toilet ect.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Midelt, Midelt, Meknes-Tafilalet Region
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 vast plateau we start crossing up those tough mountains which are still settled by a big Berber community. The landscapes here includes palm tree oases at Jbel Ayachi (at 3747 m).
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Azrou, Azrou, Meknes-Tafilalet Region
a short visit of the monkey’s park (optional)
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Ifrane, Ifrane, Fes-Meknes
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.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Fes, Fes, Fes-Meknes
finally reach Fes by the evening and drop-off at your accommodation where your trip is up to end.
Duration: 15 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
