Activities

Day 1: Marrakesh/Ait ben Hadou/Ouarzazate/Boumalne

Today you will cross the Majestic High Atlas! You will depart for an exhilarating drive across the olive groves and citrus tree orchards, to the Berber town of Toufliht set in the foothills of the Western High Atlas Mountains, a main trailhead with streams and paths branching in all directions. As you start ascend into the High Atlas valley, you will pass through the Berber towns, so hold on to your hats!

You will pass under the little town of Taddart, perched on a cliff overlooking the oued (river), and proceed past small, riverside irrigated plots, some of which are centuries old where you might see the hardy Berber women and men tilling their soil before you reach the market town of Telouat. This part of Morocco was once the residence of the Glaouis that are known as the Lords of the Atlas! Then, you stop to visit one of the jewels of Morocco, Ksar Ait Ben Haddou. In typical Moroccan fashion; the true treasures must be reached out and discovered, usually off the beaten path. In actuality, this setting has been used for more films than any other location in Morocco; films including, Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, and recently The Gladiator. After lunch, visit Ouarzazate, home to the Atlas film Studios and the Tifoulotoute Kasbah, one of the strongholds of the Glaoui family. Then enjoy the dramatic Route of the Kasbah from Kelaa Magouna to Boumalne where you’ll have dinner and overnight. (The total drive is about 7 hours)

Dinner and Overnight Riad Sultan or similar (B D)

Day 2: Boumalne /Todghra Gorges/ Erfoud/Merzouga

In this leg of the trip, you will leave the urban Morocco behind and you will slowly venture to the wilderness of the Sahara Desert. First, you drive across the remote villages of Tafilalet region all the way to Erfoud where the paved road ends. Lunch is taken on the way, after which, nicely rested, you begin the next part of your journey off-road, traveling into Morocco’s wildest Sahara region. The dramatic 300 meter-high dunes of Erg Chergui undulate into infinity like a vast ocean of sand, and today is dedicated to fully absorbing the desert experience. Little disturbs the silence other than the sound of your feet as you trek among the dunes. You can meet Nomadic families of the Ait Atta Berber tribe that live here and learn about life in this wildest desert of Morocco. Here change your vehicle from four tires to four feet as you mount your dromedary camels “Ships of the Desert “on a ride that takes up to Erg Chergui, the highest sand dunes in Morocco’s Sahara to witness a spectacular sunset coloring the sands from gold to purple as the sky darkens to show a canopy of a myriad of stars where you shall dine and stay in your Berber Desert Luxury Camp.

Dinner and overnight in a Deluxe Desert Camp (B D)

Day 3:  Merzouga – Rissani – Alnif – N’kob – Agdez – Ait Benhaddou

A very early start today, if you want to see the sunrise over the Sahara.  Then a nomadic breakfast and leave to Rissani to visit the ancient Moulay Ali Cherif’s Ksar, the grandfather of the Alaouite Kings (of which the current King Mohammed VI is his ascendant).  In the Centre of Rissani there is the main souk in the Tafilalet region, with its vegetables, cereals, cattle, on sale. Refreshment stop in Alnif, and then cross the Saghro Djebel, its lunar landscapes of plains, mountain peaks and canyons, towards the villages of Tazzarine and then N’kob.

Following the Draa River, on the road of the 1000 Kasbahs, we arrive in Tanssikht, the last stop of the Saharan caravans going south – this is Berber country, with its oases, palm groves, following the river between the end of the Atlas and the beginning of the desert.  Passing by the earthen houses, the Ksours and the important fortified granaries, towers reminding us of the past tribunal dispute

A short stop in the village of Agdez before continuing to Ait Benhaddou and the fabulous Ksar Ighanda, where the sunning light shines on settings of natural beauty this is the rendezvous for lovers of luxurious sensations and relaxation.

Dinner and overnight in Ksar Ighanda or similar ( B D)

Day 4: Ait Ben Hadou/Telouat /Marrakesh

Prepare yourself for a beautiful drive today that is both diverse and arduous. you stop for lunch Welcome a good road that takes you through the heart of the High Atlas the longest mountain range in North Africa, sometimes called the ‘rooftops of Morocco .Cross the highest pass in North Africa; Tichka Pass 2260 m.

Leaving back to Marrakech, the road dives slowly into the Alhaouz plain, over some small rivers (oueds) – the only source of irrigation in the region, irrigating the wheat and barley crops, and the olive, apricot or orange plantations. It runs for almost 750 kms. You may like to stop is in the village of Taddart known for its women Argan cooperative. The nuts of the Argan trees are used to produce many argan beauty products before you reach Marrakesh.

TOUR INCLUDES:

• 4 days of touring in a private air-conditioned vehicle; a brand new TX land cruiser including fuel and a private English speaking driver.
• 3 accommodations with dinner and daily breakfast
• 1 night in a Private Desert Camp in the Sahara desert
• 3 Dinners and 3 breakfasts
• Water every day in the vehicle during the tour
• Entrance fees to the sites as per itinerary
• Camel ride in the Sahara Desert and Berber High tea

Not included:

• Meals not suggested ,at leisure, or not specially mentioned
• Tips and Gratuities
• Drinks for meals
• Travel insurances highly recommended.