Private short Morocco desert trip ideal to combine Imperial Cities and a desert experience with overnight in traditional Berber nomad camp.
Day 1: Marrakech – Tizi-n-Tichka – Ait Benhaddou – Ouarzazate – Skoura – Dades Gorge
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… We cross the oasis of Skoura to carry on to the Valley of Roses, the only place in Morocco where we harvest Damascus rose of which we extract some products like rose water and rose oil best for skin treatment and anti-wrinkles. Deep in Dades Valley will be the last thing to see for today as it has a beautiful formation of rocks which looks like a natural sculpture. Spend the night in Local Hotel by the river. Overnight in Dades Valley.
Day 2: Dades Gorge – Toudra Gorges – Arfoud – Erg Chebbi Merzouga
Today after breakfast we continue our trip to Toudra Valley. It is considered as one of the old valleys in Morocco for caravans 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. There are many oases on the way to Merzouga for instance Eljerf where an old underground system of irrigation is still used in their dry lands. Besides, Arfoud where you will see the fossil’s factory. These fossils are witnesses of an era of 5 hundred million years ago. Next place will be Merzouga where you can go for a camel ride and enjoy the sunset in the amazing red dunes of Erg Chebbi. Overnight in Berber camp.
Day 3 : Erg Chebbi Merzouga – Ziz Valley – Midelt – Azrou – Ifran – Fes
The last day of the trip will be a bet long drive. We leave the desert and cross Ziz Valley driving through oasis Risani and Arfoud. Time for lunch in Midelt and carry on to Fes, crossing the forest of cedar woods and stop by the maggot monkeys local to Morocco. Tea break in Ifrane, or what we name the small Switzerland, the 2nd ski resort in Morocco. Dropping you off in your hotel/riad in Fes. End of tour.
