DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 1 MARRAKECH – AIT BEN HADDOU – DADES GORGES

Leaving Marrakech behind and begin the drive across the High Atlas Mountains and berber villages. The High Atlas mountains are the tallest mountain range in North Africa; a series of jagged, impressive peaks that split the country east to west.  We travel through this impressive scenery following one of the old trade routes of the Trans-Saharan. Arriving to the UNESCO World Heritage site and Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou. Of all the remaining Kasbahs in Morocco. The Kasbah still houses a few families, but many now live in the adjacent village. Like many of the earthen built fortresses in Ouarzazate, Aït Ben Haddou has been used in many film and television productions like Gladiator, Babel, and Game of Thrones. where we will have a walking tour to visit the stunning, ancient Kasbah.

Make your way across the road of 1000 Kasbahs to Ouarzazate famous for its film studios then to Skoura where the oxidized red stone that make up the berber villages and the walls replaces the swirling pink of the countryside. The mud buildings traipse up the hillside and provide breathtaking views of the surrounding scenery.

Our journey will end here in Dades gorges for an overnight.

Accommodation

Traditional Berber guesthouse run by one of the local families.

Dinner & Breakfast

DAY 2  DADES GORGES – TODRAA –  MERZOUGA

After an early breakfast, depart towards Dades valley to stretches the imagination. From the daunting High Atlas to the north to the rugged Jebel Saghro range south, the valley is dotted with oases and mudbrick palaces that give the region it’s fairy-tale nickname – Valley of 1000 Kasbahs. Some of the best views are only glimpsed on foot, on hidden livestock tracks between the Dades and the most famous Todra Gorges. Here we will have break to admire the green palmeraies and berber villages until, high walls of pink and grey rock close in around the road. The approach is thrilling, as though the doors of heaven were about to close for you.

Just before we reach Merzouga, the small town of Erfoud lies in the heart of Morocco’s Fossil beds and the Paleozoic strata south of the way between Rissani and the Edge of the Sahara are a prime hunting ground for diggers. Not so far from here stands the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi which for many travelers fulfil Morocco’s promise as a dream desert destination.

Our stop is brief before you hop on your dromedary and venture out into the depths of the Sahara Desert.

The landscape turns from rugged flat land to rolling dunes in the distance. The scenery

explains that you have arrived at the edges of Erg Chebbi, a shape-shifting landscape of sand dunes stretching more than 17 miles.

When the sun begins to set, you find an ethereal glow to the dunes, cast in shades of pink, purple, and orange. The stars shimmer in the night sky. You settle into your Berber camp with locals, happy to share the legend of the Sahara around a camp fire with drums sounds of berber blue men playing their desert rythems.

Overnight in Desert luxury camp.

Accommodation

Camel Ride To the Camp.

Desert Luxury Camp – Private Tent with Dinner & Breakfast.

DAY 3  MERZOUGA – Ziz VALLEY – IFRANE – FES

On this day we suggest a very early wake up because the Sunrise offers the unique opportunity to watch the day layer the desert with a rainbow of color. The desert sky is cool and active in the morning. The breeze brushes sand across your feet. It’s really one of the most beautiful experiences to have. Breakfast is served and once again board your familiar dromedary and make your way to the renowned Erg Chebbi sand dunes to meet your driver.

This will be the longest day of our journey heading north to Fez.  Drive by the vast palm groves of the Ziz Valley while Enjoying dramatic views and the scenery of this diverse country change while travelling over the Middle Atlas mountains. Pass through cedar forests where we will break the drive to see endangered Barbary macaque monkeys.

Take a break for a traditional lunch with local organic ingredients. Continuining to the small mountain village of Ifrane,which in the berber tongue translates as “the caves” and lately the little Switzerland. This is the land of the fiercely independent Berbers, the Lords of the Atlas.

Finally we traverse Immouzer arriving to Fes early evening.

End of our services.