Tour from Fes to Marrakech via Merzouga Sahara
Day 1: Fes - Middle Atlas - Ziz valley - Merzouga
Pick up at your hotel or riad at 8 am and went southward to cross the Middle Atlas Mountains to reach Ifrane, called "Little Switzerland Moroccan". One of the animals that once lived here was the lion of the Atlas, which has now become the symbol of the city and have dedicated a stone statue in the middle of it. Take the opportunity to take some photos. We cross the famous cedar forests, with a possible stop to admire the Great Cedar Gouraud and to feed the hundreds of Gibraltar monkeys that inhabit the area. Lunch in Midelt and in the afternoon we pass the Ziz Valley with its more than 20 km and its 10 million palms, that makes it one of the largest in the world. Arrival in Merzouga and tea hospitality in our hotel, then enjoy our first contact with the desert, getting on the nearest dune and relax with a spectacular sunset. Dinner and overnight at hotel near the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
Day 2: Merzouga Desert - Khamlia village - Night in a desert camp
Today will be a day of "total Desert". After a hearty and rich breakfast, we'll surround the Erg Chebbi sand expanse of desert where is the Great Dune of Morocco, over 250 meters, and connect on track with part of the route taken by the former Paris-Dakar and having the mountains bordering Algeria as background. Stop at the oasis of Tissardmin, where we can find fossiles that is still in this region. We continue towards a nomadic settlement, where we will learn some of the secrets of her life and customs. Stop at a viewpoint where we can contemplate the whole Erg Chebbi. Reach the village of Khamlia, where we will relax with a cup of tea while enjoying a short concert of spiritual music of Gnawa people. Return to the hotel to get in a caravan of camels to enter the heart of the dunes and enjoy an unforgettable sunset. Arrive with the camels to the camp where we stay in "Haimas", tents made with camel’s hair as used by desert nomads. Dinner and overnight at Haimas in the heart of the desert under a spectacular canopy of stars.
Day 3: Merzouga - Rissani Market - Dades Valley
The day begins with a "date with the sunrise". As you are in the desert, it is highly recommended to wake up early to walk to the highest dune around the camp to enjoy the sunrise and the relaxing landscape that nature offers us. Return to the town of Merzouga in dromedaries. After a delicious breakfast, we have to say goodbye to the desert and leave for Rissani, to visit its market (if we are lucky and it is one of the market days: Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday) and follow the road to Erfoud, where there is the possibility to visit the fossilized marble factory before continuing to Touroug and Tinjdad. An hour later, we arrive at one of the strongest points of the High Atlas: the Todra Gorges. The bed of the river has formed this gorge, with its walls of enormous proportions and great beauty. It is a paradise for climbers and a unique place. Lunch at the site and a half-hour walk to see and enjoy the gorges in detail. In the afternoon, we continue to the Dades Valley, also known as the valley of figs, towards Boumalne Dades and stop at the 'the legs of the monkey'. Dinner and night in the Dades Gorges.
Day 4: Dades valley - Ouarzazate - High Atlas - Marrakech
After breakfast, we'll enjoy one of the best views of the Dades Valley from one of the most strategic locations in the mountains. From there we can see the amount of kasbahs and the particularities of each one. Then, we go forward through a road dotted by lots of interesting Kasbahs. After several stops to enjoy the route of the Thousand Kasbah, we head to the Valley of the Roses and the Palm Grove of Skoura to arrive to Ouarzazate. There, we'll visit the Kasbah of Taourirt, former residence of Glaoui or Pasha of Marrakech, the Atlas Film Studies and the Museum of Cinema if you want. We will also go to the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, to visit its unique Kasbah declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1986. In this spectacular setting were filmed many famous movies like Gladiator, Obelix and Sahara with Penélope Cruz.
Lunch in the village and in the afternoon we depart to Marrakech, crossing the mountain pass of Tizi N'tichka with photo stops. Arrive in Marrakech about 18 pm or so, transfer to hotel and end of our services.
