One of Morocco’s two Saharan ergs-large dunes formed by wind-blown sand. Merzouga, the local tourist center is located near the edge of the dunes. The nearest sizable town is Erfoud. One other city is Rissani.
Day 1 : Marrakech – Ait Benhaddou – Ouarzazate
We will pick up you at 08 am at your hotel/riad then we travel to the south of High Atlas Mountains via Tizi-n-Tichka (2260m). A spectacular road of red mountains and Berber villages. We will visit Ait Benhaddou (listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO 1987), the most famous Berber village of making movies in Morocco such as Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiators, Prince of Persia etc. We drive to Ouarzazate, there is Kasbah Taourirte to visit and the studio of cinema. Overnight in Ouarzazate Hotel or Riad.
Day 2 : Ouarzazate – Draa Valley – Erg Chebbi Merzouga
After picking you up, we drive 60km to Agdez oasis. We cross the lunar landscapes of the Anti-Atlas Mountains before we reach Draa Valley admiring the palm groves and the old tribal Ksours. An important production of dates each year approximately 20000 tons of dates with the production of henna plants. In Tansikht, we drive through spectacular landscapes of rocks and oasis Tazarine and Alnif to reach Rissani after you will ride a camel and overnight in Berber camp at Erg Chebbi Merzouga.
Day 3 : Merzouga – Khamlia – Rissani – Erg Chebbi Merzouga
We will enjoy a relaxing day in the Sahara with a possibility to go around the dunes on the by car 4X4, there is a gnaoua musical group to see, Celebrating African rhythms in the desert. Possibility to order the Touareg pie called “Madfona” cooked in the sand. We visit the mausoleum of Ali chref the founder of the current dynasty in the oasis of Rissani and overnight in your hotel at Erg Chebbi Merzouga.
Day 4 : Erg Chebbi Merzouga – Todra Gorge – Dades Gorge
After your breakfast, we leave the Sahara and head towards the old system of irrigation that is still used in the oasis of Eljerf. A break on the way in Tinjidad. We will have lunch in the Valley of Toudra. It is considered as one of the oldest valleys in Morocco for caravan trading and where the first Moroccan money was made out of silver. A beautiful valley of 15 km of date palms ends up with a spectacular Gorges, mainly used for rock climbing and picnics. We embark on Dades valley which has an astonishing rock formation made by million years of erosion. Visiting the gorges and overnight at hotel Dades Gorge.
Day 5 : Dades Gorge – Telouet – Marrakech
Our last day in the tour will be a nice drive in both Dades and Rose Valley, heading to Telouet where a Kasbah built by the lord of the Atlas is still Standing which was used a meeting point of caravans. Time to visit Telouet Kasbah with it beautiful architecture. We cross again the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakech.
