In the Footsteps of Nomads

This morning after breakfast in the hotel, you will have a tour of the dunes on 4×4 allowing you to visit the black volcanic rocks of fossils, visit a nomad family living in tent, visit to Khamlia village and entertainment of their spiritual music of Gnawa. Visit the lake Dayte Sarji that forms in springtime which attract pink flamingos and wildlife. Then you will have a break for lunch in Merzouga or Hassi Labied. After lunch you will see the canal irrigation system and have a walk on the oasis located on the foot of the dunes. In the afternoon get ready for a camel trek for an hour and half to enjoy the sunset. While on the back of your dromedary, you will continue to the camp for an overnight in traditional nomad tent. Dinner and spend the night in a bivouac in the middle of the dunes.

Wake up early in the morning to enjoy the sunrise on the top of the dune in the Sahara Desert and then have your breakfast. After these beautiful moments, you will ride your camel back to Merzouga. We depart towards Tineghir passing by Erfoud and Tinejdad. Have a break for lunch. In the afternoon, we will continue to Todra gorges via Tineghir. Stopping along the way for photos and admiring the views. Arrival at Todra Gorges to enjoy its marvelous Canyon views while hiking on foot. Later on, we drive to Boumalne du Dades and stopping for a panoramic view of Dades Valley. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.

This morning after breakfast in the hotel, we depart to Marrakech. The next site to visit is the Rose Valley going through the big Skoura palm grove, a beautiful place to contemplate more than 700.000 palms and numerous kasbahs that are built in the surrounding area. In this Valley damascenes, roses are raised for cosmetic use such as the valued rosewater. The next stop is in Ouarzazate, also known as “The gate of the desert” which in the Berber language means “noiseless or without confusion”. Here we´ll see the Taourirt kasbah, one of the most spectacular ksars in Morocco. Stopping for a panoramic view of the kasbah of Taourirt then another photo stop near the Atlas film studios.</p><p>After that, we continue to the ksar (fortified village) of Aït Ben Haddou where we will visit the famous Kasbah (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986). Famous films have been shot on this spectacular stage, including Gladiator, Obelix, The Mummy, The Jewel of the Nile, and Sahara with Penelope Cruz…etc. Free time for lunch in town. In the afternoon we will drive to Marrakech over the mountains of high Atlas passing through the Tizi N’tichka pass (2260 m in altitude). Arrive in Marrakech in the afternoon and check-in at your hotel/Riad.

After breakfast in the hotel, you will have a private guided tour of Marrakech Medina with an official guide from Marrakech. You will see the famous Mosque of Koutoubia, the Medina, and its souks, and explore some more of Marrakech’s secrets: Ali Ben Youssef Koranic school, the Saadian tombs, the Bahia Palace, and Majorelle Gardens. In the afternoon the best option is to explore the medina on your own, approaching the square that in the evening is full of narrators, jugglers, diviners, snake charmers and music. Overnight in your accommodation.

The driver will pick you up from your accommodation in Marrakech to go on a journey to Essaouira, a coastal city, which is about 2 hours and a half drive from Marrakech. On the way to Essaouira, you will have a short break to see the famous goats, climb on Argan trees, and eat Argan seeds, visit the Argan cooperative to learn how local women make Argan oil in a traditional manner and the multi-uses of the precious oil.</p><p>Afterward, we will reach Essaouira where the driver will drop you off at the door of the medina (old city) and you will have free time to walk on your own and explore the simply beautiful places, such as ancient shops, narrow alleys, local markets, and craftsmen. Also, you will have enough time to visit the Skala and enjoy the sea view from above. After that, you can have lunch in a local restaurant and enjoy fresh seafood. In the afternoon, you will get back to Marrakech around 6 PM and the driver will drop you off at your accommodation.

The driver will drop you off at the airport up to your flight time and the end of our services.