3 days from marrakech to merzouga

After an early start from your riad, we will begin this 3 days from marrakech to merzouga tour by drive over the Atlas Mountains via the Tichka pass at the breathtaking altitude of 2260m. Along our trip, there will be plenty of places to stop and enjoy the beautiful scenic vistas. By afternoon we will arrive at the Kasbah Ait Ben-Haddou, a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most famous and historic places in Morocco. Depending on your mood, lunch will be before or after your visit to the Kasbah. There, you will explore the ancient streets and earthen buildings and see where many popular movies have been filmed. Next we will visit the Atlas Film studio (Lawrence of Arabia, Patton, The Jewel of the Nile, The Living Daylights, The Mummy, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, etc.) and then take a short (5 minute) drive to the Kasbah of Taourirt, the most impressive fortification in Morocco. After Ouarzazate we will drive to Skoura valley to follow the ancient trading route known as the valley with a thousand kasbahs. Skoura’s historic mud brick kasbahs dot the valley, a testament to the ancient desert traders who made the two month journey across the Sahara. Then we proceed through the Roses valley to Dades valley where you will spend the night in a hotel.

The next morning we begin our journey after breakfast in the hotel. We begin our drive to Todra valley with its beautiful palm orchards and old Berber-Jewish kasbahs, and explore the Todra gorges, a splendid series of limestone river canyons. After Todra valley, we will continue on to a small village called Jorf. In this village you will visit an underground system of irrigation, a marvel of technology from ancient times. Then we travel to Erfoud an oasis town known for its fossils. We arrive at the Erg-Chebbi dunes with an astounding height of 150 meters and where our camels are waiting. After a picturesque hour long camel ride through the sand dunes, you will arrive at your camp for dinner and enjoy some music by the fireside, under the star and moonlit desert sky. This camp has everything you will need for a cozy night in your tent.

The next morning you will want to wake up early to enjoy the magical sunrise among the sand dunes followed by breakfast. After breakfast, you will ride the camel back through the sand dunes where we will meet our driver. Then we will drive to an old town called Rissani, the ancient capital of Tafilalet and the home of one of the oldest markets in Morocco. We continue our journey to Draa valley, the longest valley of palm trees in Morocco (1100 km) 680 mi. and through the Anti-Atlas Mountains to Ouarzazate then over the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakech.