3 Days Desert Marrakech to Fez

Marrakech – the High Atlas Mountains – Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah – Ouarzazate – Boumalne Dades

Pick up from your accommodation in Marrakech at 8 a.m., and depart to the High Atlas, a subrange of Moroccan Atlas Mountains, going through Tizi N´Tichka pass with stops for panoramic views and taking pictures of the Berber small villages that camouflage in the landscape. Then we continue south to the ksar (fortified village) of Aït Ben Haddou where we will visit the famous Kasbah (declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986). Famous films have been shot in this spectacular stage, including Gladiator, Obelix, The Mummy, The Jewel of the Nile, and Sahara with Penelope Cruz…etc. Free time for lunch in town. Then we continue to Ouarzazate also known as “The gate of the desert” that in the Berber language means “noiseless or without confusion”. Here we´ll see the Taourirt Kasbah, one of the most spectacular ksars in Morocco. The next site to visit is the Rose Valley going through the big Skoura palm grove, a beautiful place to contemplate more than 700.000 palms and numerous kasbahs that are built in the surrounding area. In this Valley damascenes, roses are raised for cosmetic use such as the valued rosewater. The Rose Festival is held here annually in May, it is an important mousse for Moroccan culture. Finally, we reach the Dades valley where we´ll spend the night.
Accommodation: Dar Ahlam or Auberge Panorama or Babylone Dades or similar up to the availability

Boumalne Dades – Todra Gorges – Jorf – Erfoud – Merzouga (overnight in the Sahara Desert)

After breakfast in the hotel, drive back through the valley to see the amazing rock formation “the monkey toes”, and the still-standing 19thcentury Kasbah of Ait Yul. Leaving the Dades valley towards Tinrghir and after some stops on the way, we´ll reach the Todra Gorges. The scenery is spectacular. At the Gorge, you’ll walk under the 300m high red cliff, where many rock-climbers come to enjoy their preferred sport. Local people live in the area and can be seen in their adobe villages. After a short walk in the Todra gorges continuing our trip to Erfoud and Rissani where we’ll have lunch and afterward we’ll leave for the village of Merzouga. In the afternoon you will have a camel ride, guided by an experienced Camel man, to explore inside the mysterious sand-sea of the Erg-Chebbi. Here you’ll spend your first night under the stars, or if you prefer, in a traditional Berber nomad tent. Dinner will be served in the tent where you will spend the night. Overnight in a desert camp.
Accommodation: Orient desert camp or similar up to the availability including dinner and breakfast drinks are not included.

Merzouga – Rissani – Ziz Valley – Azrou – Ifrane – Fes

Very early in the morning, we have a “Date with the sunrise”. In the middle of the desert, waking up early is a “must-do” to contemplate the most spectacular sunrise you´ve ever seen at the top of a dune close to the camp. After having breakfast, we return to Merzouga on the camels and we start our trip to the north, through the Tafilalet palm grove, the biggest in the world. You´ll see thousands of palm trees along the 20km of road. This way leads us to the Ziz valley, which river comes down from the high Atlas and feeds the palm grove. Here we make a stop and from this high viewpoint, enjoy a magnificent view of the valley and the town of Aoufous. We make another stop in Midelt, just in the heart of the Atlas where you´ll have free time for lunch and rest for a while. In the afternoon we continue our way through the Cedar forest where, if we are lucky, we´ll see some monkeys. The next place we´ll visit is the city of Ifrane, situated in the northwestern slope of the Middle Atlas at 1630 meters above the water level. Its broad avenues, its urban development with perfect cleanness, the gardens, the green areas, and its architecture make this city look like a Swiss town. Ifrane feels misplaced in Morocco. That’s why it´s named Moroccan Switzerland, and if that´s not enough it has an important ski resort, Michlifen. At about 6 pm we arrive at Fes. The driver will drop you off in your hotel/riad or any other preferable place and this is the end of our services.