Fes to Marrakech 5 days desert tours

Fes to Marrakech 5 days desert tours

Imperial Cities, and Sahara Desert Morocco Tour

Day 1: Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Ziz Valley – Merzouga: 425km.

Once we took breakfast in our Riad, we will leave Fes travelling towards Merzouga via Midlet and the Ziz valley. Will travel via the village of Ifrane, a beautiful mountain village. This mountain city is referred to as “the Switzerland of Morocco”. Here we will also stop at the cedar forest on the middle Atlas Mountains. During this journey we will experience glimpses of the Middle Atlas and Higher Atlas mountains. Then Azrou, a Berber village in the middle of the famous cedar forest – the largest in Morocco and a home of Barbary apes. After exploring the nearby forest, our journey continues to Midelt along the magnificent hills and mountains of the Atlas.

We will be travelling through the fascinating Tizzy Ntalghamt pass and the Ziz Gorge taking in views of the High Atlas scenery. We will see how the scenery changes to reveal hints of the desert as we approach the city of Er-Rachidia. In this city we will lunch and enjoy the Berber hospitality. Afterwards, we will travel along the luxuriant Ziz Valley and stop for panoramic views along the way to Erfoud and Rissani. On the afternoon we will be welcomed in Merzouga with a glass of mint tea. Before checking into our Riad. Overnight at Kasbah Hotel Yasmina. (DBB).

Day 2: Merzouga area and the Camel trek:

We will take breakfast in the hotel, then we will start our explorative journey of the area, visiting the ‘Village of the Blacks’, originally slaves from Sudan to experience their music and lifestyle. The lake of Merzouga is not far away with its bird populations, including flamingos. We may also like to visit the nomad wire house. On the afternoon, we will ride our camel guided by an experienced Camel man, to explore inside the mysterious sand-sea of the Erg-Chebbi. Here we will spend our first night under the stars or in a traditional Berber nomad tent. Dinner will be served in the tent where we will spend the night (DBB). (The camp in equipped with flush-toilets).

Day 3: Merzouga – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley:

Early morning we will experience a fascinating view of a desert sunrise. Then we will camel trek back to take breakfast in our Riad in Merzouga. Then, we will travel to Er-Rachidia via the towns of Rissani and Erfoud. In Rissani we will have the opportunity to walk within the authentic Souk, an assortment of vegetables, spices and dates. In this souk we will witness a sea of conversations a traditional scenery of hooded men and veiled women negotiating prices. Then Tinghir and Todra gorges, we will discover the highest, narrowest gorges in Morocco. After lunch in the heart of the gorge we will drive through the Dades Valley, where we will see the majestic sand castles and the amazing rock formations known as “monkey toes”. Overnight accommodation will be in a fancy hotel overlooking the Dades valley. Hotel Xalucadades. DBB.

Day 4: Dades Gorge – Boutaghrar – Skoura – Ouarzazate: 140km.

After breakfast in the hotel we will drive through the Dades Valley towards Kalaa M’gouna and Ouarzazate. The route through Dades Valley is the way to The Thousand Kasbahs – providing numerous opportunities to take some of our best photographic shots of the trip. We will stop at Kalaa M’gouna, “the rose city”, to purchase the rosewater, which will make our linen smell good a long time after our trip is over. In Skoura and the Dirds valley, we will visit the Ameridil Kasbah, a well-preserved Kasbah in this area. Then will do some hiking in the valley and take lunch in a restaurant overlooking the whole valley. In Ouarzazate we will witness “the Hollywood of Africa”, whose geography and beautiful landscapes has attracted many world class movie producers. Here we may choose to visit the studios, containing props used in movies. Some of the movies made in these studios are: The Mummy, Gladiator and the Last temptation of Christ and many other movies. Overnight accommodation will be in Dar Chamaa. (BDB) DBB.

Day 5: Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah – Marrakech:

After breakfast in our Riad, we will head to Marrakech. Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah is the largest one in Morocco, built by T-hami El Glaoui, one of the last Berber tribal chiefs during the beginning of the XXth Century. It is used to be one of his stops during his long travel from the Sahara to Marrakech. Now one of UNESCO’s world heritage sites. Our journey will continue through the majestic Tizi Ntichka Pass (2260m) over the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakech. Our tour ends at our accommodation in Marrakech.