Trip details
This private vacation tour begins with an early departure from your riad/hotel in Marrakech. Travel through the High Atlas Mountains via the Tichka Pass, the highest road pass in Morocco, offering amazing views of the mountains, spectacular landscapes and Berber villages. Head toward the palm gardens of Skoura in the Dades Valley, also known as the Valley of 1000 Kasbahs, one of Morocco’s most beautiful areas. Arrive in Dades for dinner and a night in a lovely hotel.
After breakfast, continue toward amazing Todra Gorges. Hike for an hour through the stunning landscape and continue toward the Jebel Sarhro Mountain and the Tizi-n-Tazazert Pass, offering breath-taking views of the mountains and valleys. After lunch (buy your picnic before your departure), continue through the palm-lined Draa River Valley until arriving in Agdez, an important point on the old caravan route known for its dates. Dinner and a night in a charming hotel.
After breakfast, head to explore the Draa Valley and Zagora, notably the Jewish quarter in Amzerou and the palm groves. Afterward, on the way to M’hamid, visit Tamegroute, the town of the 16th century Saadian dynasty, where you can see an ancient Koranic library and a subterranean Kasbah. Arrive in M’hamid where the Draa Valley and civilization end. Lunch in M’hamid, the gate to the Sahara desert, then drive to the dunes of Chegaga to enjoy dinner with entertainment and a night in a nomad tent.
Explore the desert and have a little break with a nomad family to get an idea about the nomad life and enjoy a picnic in a wonderful oasis. Then drive back to the campsite to enjoy the rest of the day in the sand dunes; dinner and music overnight in a nomad tent, made of thick goat and camel hair.
After watching the sun rise, enjoy breakfast and then depart in 4×4 via the old Paris-Dakar road to Foum Zguid, crossing Iriqui Lake and the fossil mountain. Lunch in the Berber village Taznakht, famous for its carpet makers. Then drive directly to Ouarzazate to the hotel.
After the breakfast drive to the UNESCO World Heritage site Ait Ben Haddou village to visit the famous 16th century Kasbah, one of the best preserved Kasbahs in Morocco. The hit film, “Gladiator” and many other movies were set in this wonderful site. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, travel through the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech via the old caravanning route and Telouet village.