If you’re visiting Marrakech but want to discover a calmer, more traditional side to Morocco, you’re on the right website! It is true, Marrakech is charming, colorful, and exciting; but Merzouga makes for a haven of peace just a day ride away from the crimson city. What we offer is a 3 days desert trip, from Marrakech to Merzouga, full of adventure, good food, and beautiful scenery.
Day 1: From Marrakech to Dades Valley
The journey starts in Marrakech, where we’ll pick you up from your hotel or Riad, and ride across the Tizi N’ Tichka Mountain pass, the highest one in North Africa. The drive will take about 2 hours, and we will of course stop to take pictures in the beautiful scenery and have a good, filling Moroccan breakfast.
We will then drive again towards Ouarzazate, commonly named the Hollywood of Morocco (since a lot of movies were made there, like Brad Pitt’s Babel), where you’ll be able to visit the Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage and an example of an old fortified Moroccan city. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the Atlas Film Studios for a cinematic experience after having a good lunch in the city.
After that, we’ll be on the road again for a few hours to reach Skoura (on our way to Dades Valley), a magical little town embroidered with Kasbahs everywhere. We’ll stay in a hotel in the Dades Valley, where you’ll be able to have some rest before the next adventure!
Day 2: From the Dades Valley to Merzouga
After having a good breakfast, we’ll hit the road again to discover the Todgha town and the Todgha Gorges. You will of course have the time to take pictures and admire the gorgeous landscape. We will then head to Tinjdad, one of the various little towns on the road, for a good lunch.
On our way to Merzouga, we’ll have the opportunity to move across Arfoud and Rissani, and by early evening, we will have reached our hotel in Merzouga, where we’ll have time to relax by the swimming pool and have some sweet Moroccan mint tea.
Then, we will continue our journey by riding camels from our hotel across the Sahara dunes for one hour and a half. Once we arrive to the tent, we will settle, drink some Sahraoui mint tea with the desert nomads, and then watch the sunset over the dunes, which is the perfect end for a busy day. We’ll then have dinner by the camp, enjoying some good Moroccan live music and the company of the nomads around a campfire.
Day 3: From Merzouga to Marrakech
On the third day, we will wake up early enough to enjoy the sunrise, something that every person who visits the Sahara should do at least once, it’s an astonishing view! We will then get back to our hotel in Merzouga, where you can shower and grab a good breakfast. After that, we will then hit the road to Marrakech, where we’ll arrive in the evening.
