Day 1: Marrakech – Tizi n'Tichka – Ait Ben Haddou – Skoura Oasis

We will collect you from your hotel/riad in Marrakech at 9:30 am and start our journey towards the Atlas Mountains through the Tizi n'Tichka pass, heading directly towards Ouarzazate. This spectacular and dramatic road offers astonishing views of the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas Mountains as well as many Berber villages. Upon descending, we will arrive at the cultural heritage site of Morocco, the Ksour of Ait Ben Haddou.

Ait Ben Haddou was once an important stop along the caravan routes that carried salt from the Sahara and returned with gold and ivory. It is probably the best-preserved fortified Kasbah in the country, with its dramatic walls of red earth, slit windows, and crumbling towers, representing a magnificent example of a traditional stronghold. Chosen as a location for Hollywood films such as Lawrence of Arabia, Jewel in the Nile, and more recently Gladiator, Ait Ben Haddou sits upon a lofty pinnacle of rock overlooking a river. Dating from around the 15th century, its importance as a trading post gradually waned, and today's inhabitants earn a living from farming and as film extras.

From here, it is a short drive to Ouarzazate and then to Skoura Oasis, where we will spend the night in a lovely hotel amidst the palm trees of Skoura Oasis.

Day 2: Skoura Oasis – Todra Gorge – Merzouga and Erg Chebbi dunes

We will meet you at your hotel in Skoura Oasis at 9:00 am and start making our way to the desert camp. We will pass through the Rose Valley and then onto Todra Gorge, a spectacular gash in the hills surrounding Tinerhir. The cliffs rise 300m above the ground, and their honey-colored hues constantly change as the sun moves across the sky. Nomads can often be seen in the gorge. The area is dotted with many deserted Kasbahs, mud-brick villages, and green oases, making it a photographer’s paradise!

Next, we pass the city of Erfoud and continue to Rissani, reaching Merzouga and the magnificent apricot-colored sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. Upon arrival, you are welcome to take a trek in the desert dunes.

As evening falls, we retreat to the comforts of our luxurious desert camp, where we will be greeted with mint tea. The camp is set in a beautiful spot between sand dunes, giving the impression of being alone in the vast African desert while enjoying the comforts of a nomad king. We will enjoy a delicious dinner followed by campfire time beneath the starry African sky. Nothing compares to the millions of stars, silence, and peacefulness of the Sahara. We will sleep in luxury canvas tents, feeling like characters in one of the stories from the Arabian Nights.

Day 3: Merzouga – Nekob – Agdz – Ouarzazate – Marrakech

Leaving the desert behind, we’ll head to the volcanic mountains of Sarhro, with dramatic rock formations and gorges offering superb views. This area is well-known for fossils, mainly ammonites, which are plentiful in the mountains. Reaching the city of Nekob, where we will stop for lunch, we will start seeing the first palm trees of the Draa Valley, a lush date palm oasis nearly 150 miles long. The valley floor is a verdant patchwork of fruit orchards, vegetable crops, rose farms, and, of course, date palm trees of 18 different varieties.

We then pass the city of Agdz and arrive in Ouarzazate. From here, we set onto the famous Tizi n'Tichka pass, taking us across the High Atlas Mountains on a dramatic drive back to Marrakech.

Additional Information

• Transportation: Travel is in comfortable, air-conditioned 4x4 vehicles, suitable for the mountainous and desert terrain.
• Accommodations: Overnight stays include a traditional Riad in Skoura and luxury tents in the Merzouga desert camp, equipped with full bedding and private facilities.
• Meals: All meals are included from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 3. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated with prior notice.
• Environmental Commitment: Our tours are conducted with respect to local cultures and environments, ensuring that we leave no trace in the natural landscapes we visit.