EXPLORE THE MAJESTIC SAHARA ON 4 DAYS  ADVENTUROUS DESERT  TOUR FROM FES TO MERZOUGA & THE OCHRE CITY OF MARRAKECH

OVERVIEW

On this 4 days desert tour from fes to Marrakech is Rich in scenery, you will never be bored as you will be busy admiring one scene after another. The dramatic landscape change is amazing to the High Atlas Mountains, then to various valley and oases, and at the end, reach the amazing high sand dunes of  Merzouga Erg Chebbi.

• HIGHLIGHTS :

• Visit Volubilis & Meknes
• Visit the little Switzerland of Morocco Ifnare.
• Visit monkey’s park in Azro.
• Drive through Ziz valley.
• Ride camel in Merzouga desert.
• Enjoy the starry sky.
• Sleep in a luxury tent.
• Taste delicious food (Tagine)
• Visit Khamlia Gnaoua Music.
• Visit Todra Gorges and canyon.
• Enjoy stunning landscapes of Dades valley.
• Drive through 1000 Kasbahs.
• Visit Skoura Oasis and Amridil Kasbah.
• Visit Ouarzazate as a Hollywood city.
• Visit a world heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou.
• Visit Visit kasbah Telouet.
• Across high Atlas mountains Tizn Tichka (2260m altitude)

Tour Detail

Day 1 : Fez – Volubilis – Meknes – Ifran – Azro Monkey’s Park – Midelt.

By leaving the  old Moroccan city of Fes we will go back on time to 3th century by visiting the most important archaeological site in Morocco Volubilis, which features the best preserved Roman ruins in this part of Northern Africa. So it is not by chance this Roman ruins in 1997 were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. A 45 minutes guided tour is scheduled here. From Volubilis we go on our way to Meknes that was named after a Berber tribe which was known as Miknasa in the medieval North African sources. Meknes was the capital of Morocco under the reign of Moulay Ismail (1672–1727). He built in the ingeniously designed granaries, really fascinating architecture of tiny windows, massive walls where he used to store grain and hay to feed his 15.000 horses not food for humans. We will stop as well to get pictures of the Bab AL Mansour the Great gate built in the 11th century by the King AL Mansour Adahbi.
We continue our journey to the most modern and clean city in the country Ifran. This Berber name of Ifran means caves and it is nicknamed in Morocco as a little Switzerland since it is a very green town and is a ski resort in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco because of its high altitude at 1665 meters. Ifran is very known as well by The Brotherhood private university, established in 1997 by The king of Morocco Hassan II and the king of Saudi Arabia Fahd. Where all classes are taught in English, it is an international university. After we go via Azro to see the park of monkeys, then  keep driving through the stunning mountains to   Midelt which is situated on the foothills of the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains. From vast plateau we start crossing up those tough mountains which are still settled by a big Berber community. The landscapes here includes palm tree oases. Arrive to Midelt by the evening then check to our hotel.

Day 2 : Midelt – Errachidia – Ziz Valley – Erfoud – Merzouga.

Next day departure around 08:30 to Merzouga, driving down the curves and join the pre-Saharan zone passing first by Errachidia and Erfoud, which is famous for its pottery and the interesting fossil quarries. Fossils are a major industry in Erfoud, some 350 million years ago the region around Erfoud was a part of the huge ocean. Heading up to the red colored sand sea dunes of Erg Chebbi at Merzouga. From a vast plateau you will get impressed by the huge sand dune of Merzouga appearing from the horizon. in the evening we go on a camel ride about one hour and half to meet one of the most fascinating sight we will ever seen, the superb sunset in the middle of the high sand dunes of Merzouga. Overnight in Berber tented desert camp and enjoy a wonderful stars view.

Day 3 : Merzouga – Risani – Todra Valley – Todra Gorges – Tinghir –  Dades Gorges.

If you wake up early enough, you can see the spectacular of the sunrise, when the color of the dunes and the play of shadow are awesome.then taking camel again for going back to the hostel shower then departing to see plenty of nomadic black people .We shall stop by a nomadic family to have tea and see what a nomadic life looks like . let’s discover the nomadic life of Touareg people by visiting Alkhamliya, a village where nothing has been changed through centuries.
Visiting Errisani and the Mausoleum of the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty of Morocco, Moulay Ali Chrif in the 17th century. This silent town was the ancient capital of Tafilalet and its location as a crossroads between north and south brought the city to an important status of a former major caravan center. Up to now Rissani remains a major commercial center in the region, with a large souk, particularly lively today on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sunday. It was noted for its leather and goat skin trading in ancient ages.127 km from Rissani the great canyons of Morocco Todgha Gorges are situated beyond the central high Atlas Mountains. Here, the contrasting landscapes remind visitors of the Colorado, with its high plateau, its gorges and great canyons, and its peaks sometimes splintered by erosion. Several peaks in this area exceed 4000 m, with Jbel Saghro 2500 m and Jbel Mgoun at 4068 m being the highest peak in this part of the High Atlas. The area is populated by Berbers. Here you can enjoy a hike among those fabulous canyons.
From the great canyons of Todgha we go along the road of 1000 Kasbahs, since there are enormous Kasbahs on both sides of the road. Some of those old fortified houses are restored but unfortunately a lot of them are ruins. A visit to one of those Kasbahs is scheduled by seeing Amridil Kasbah. We pass a town called Boumalen situated on the edge of Dades valley which rises in the High Atlas Mountains, giving life to a huge Berber community by its rich agriculture. Along this valley, then visit Todra Gorges and check at the hotel there.

Day 3 : Dades Gorges – Valley of Roses – Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech.

another valley called valley of roses appearing with the green colors of its Alfalfa plants, olive trees, fig trees and grapes. This valley gives birth to a rose from which locals produces different cosmetic products like soap, perfumes and skin creams. Locals here celebrate this rose by organizing a national festival each end of April. Getting to Ouarzazate (Hollywood of Africa, Noiselessly town, The door of the desert), is a city situated in the middle of a bare plateau, south of the High Atlas Mountains. It is mainly inhabited by Berbers, who constructed many of the prominent Kasbahs and building for which the area is known. One of those building is Taourirt Kasbah diverted in 17th century. Why this town is nicknamed as Hollywood of Africa? Simply because it has been noted as a film-making location, with Morocco’s biggest studios inviting many international film companies to shoot their movies like: Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Living Daylights (1987), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Martin Scorsese’s Kundun (1997) and Babel (2005)
30 km from Ouarzazate there is the fortified city of Aït Ben Haddou, built in the 11th century. Once up on a time this Kasbah was the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. It is situated on a hill along the Ounila River and has some beautiful examples of Kasbahs, which unfortunately sustain damage during each rainstorm and windstorms. Most of the town’s inhabitants now live in a more modern village at the other side of the river; however, around five families are still living within this Kasbah.Aït Benhaddou Kasbah has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and several films have been shot there, including Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Time Bandits (1981), The Jewel of the Nile (1985), Kundun (1997), Gladiator (2000) and Alexander (2004).From this beautiful fortified Kasbah.
we head to Marrakech via high atlas mountains Tizn Tichka Pass (2200 meter of altitude) During the journey we will enjoy many beautiful scenes of the Berber villages, elevated views of the mountains.
after enjoying the spectacular mountains we get to the magical city “Marrakech” where your trip is up to end.

Important Information
⇓

• Departure Point : Fes
• End Point : Marrakech
• Departure Time : 08:00
• Return Time : 19:00

What Included

√ Pick-up from your accommodation in Fes.
√ Transport by Air Conditioned Minibus/4WD.
√ Fuel
√ Private room with shower and toilet, AC/Heater.
√ Dinner & Breakfast at the hotel in Midelt.
√ Camel ride/4×4 in Sahara Merzouga.
√ Private sleeping camp in Sahara Merzouga. 
√ Dinner & Breakfast in Sahara Merzouga.
√ Private room with shower and toilet, AC/Heater in Dades.
√ Dinner & Breakfast at the hotel in Dades Gorges.
√ Drop-off at your accommodation in Marrakech.

What NOT Included

X Lunch
X Drinks
X Gratuities (Optional)

Price Per Person 

2 Persons x 525€    3 Persons x 445€
4-Persons x 375€   5 Persons x 325€
6 Persons x 310€     7 Persons x 299€
+8 Persons x 289€

Each tour requires a small deposit of 30% to guarantee your reservation.
Accepted Payment Method