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Starting from Fez, we’ll take you by 4x4 across the High Atlas to Dades Valley and Tinehir, traverse the remote Anti Atlas Saghro mountains off-road, then head south through the Erg Chebbi dunes for an overnight camel trek, before returning to Fez. This spectacular route is an extra-fine mix of gorges, volcanic mountains, remote Berber villages, Nomadic tribes, wild desert, rocky hamada and dune fields. Optional camel trekking available. The Fez to Fez route involves longer driving days than the Fez to Marrakech itineraries. 5, 6 and 7+ day excursions available. View 7 day itinerary | return to Offroad Tours
September 15 to May 15 departing any day with 2 or more persons to a maximum 6 passengers per car. We welcome vegetarians, use air conditioned vehicles, and unique boutique hotels. Email your requests or questions.
JOIN
A TOUR
If
you book a new tour starting any day, we will post your dates online
and invite others to join you to a maximum of 6 passengers.
SAMPLE
ITINERARY
FEZ
TO FEZ 7 days / 6 nights: Book
this tour
PRICE
Please email for prices and for 5 or 6 day itineraries.
Includes:
Transport and fuel costs by 4x4 seating 6 passengers; experienced driver;
ensuite hotel rooms with air conditioning/heating; swim stops when available;
desert bivouac; breakfast and dinner; personalised extended walks and exploration
of oasis palmeries and kasbahs, markets and medinas; camel trek with guide
and camels.
Day 1
We will meet you at your riad or hotel, depart Fez and transport into
the Middle Atlas mountains. In winter, the alpine town of Ifrane will
be covered with snow, a nice contrast from the desert. You can stop here,
before descending to the Sahara through the Ziz gorges toward Sahara
and the town of Tinehir. We'll spend the night in an old kasbah.
Day 2
Today we rise early and leave the tourist route behind for the Saghro massif,
one of the most remote regions in Morocco, populated by the Ait Atta nomad
tribes. We’ll visit their camps and perhaps be invited in for tea. The
traverse climbs a rugged trail off-road, crossing high plateaus, volcanic
cones, ridges, and we'll take time to enjoy spectacular views over this area.
Stop for a picnic lunch near Bab n’Ali, two ancient weathered
volcanic cores. We’ll be in the Draa valley by late afternoon,
and our Zagora hotel by dinner.
Day 3
Back on the road again, we’ll take a scenic drive south to the very
edge of Sahara, near M’Hamid. After lunch, you can hop on your
camel and explore the dunes.
Day 4
After breakfast, we’re off road to the Chiggaga dune field. Along
the way we’ll find camels at the wells, nomads with their goats, and
flat desert Hamada covered with fossils and crystals; if you’re really
lucky, you’ll find a meteorite. We’ll be in Chiggaga after lunch,
and you will have the day and evening to enjoy your time in a desert bivouac.
Explore and climb the dunes to watch the night sky. A traditional Moroccan
tagine will be served for dinner, before you retire to your bed in a nomad
wool tent.
Day 5
Today we’ll follow a sand track further south through the dunes, following
the Algerian border (yes it’s safe!) through stark desert landscapes,
bordered on one side by mountains, and the other by the Chiggaga dunes. Few
nomads live in this area, and there is little else. We’ll arrive at
Foum Zguid for lunch, then head north to Ouarzazate over a very
scenic route. Back in civilization, we’ll stay outside of Ouarzazate,
in a modern kasbah.
Day 6
Back on the tourist route heading back to Tinehir, and after lunch
we'll walk through a massive fault dividing the Atlas mountains. Todra
Gorge sheer limestone walls rise over 300m in its narrowest part. You
can wander with a guide through palmery villages, gardens and kasbahs for
a close look at traditional Berber ways of life and visit the evening market
in Tinehir. We will stay in a traditional old kasbah with evening Moroccan
dinner.
Day 7
Depart for long days drive back to Fez, traveling again through the
Ziz gorges into the Middle Atlas mountains. You can stop in Ifrane,
before descending to the hilly lowlands where the ancient city of Fez is situated.
We can arrange for a FEZ riad (includes breakfast) in the heart of the medina
and arrange a guided tour the next day if you wish.
Add more days:
Want to chill in the Sahara? Take another day (or more) to explore and enjoy,
or include a daytrip from Fez to the Roman ruins of Volubilis.
Extended Camel Treks
Experience the ancient ways of the desert on a camel trek in Erg Chebbi
dunes or the Draa Valley on the Old Salt Road caravan route. These
tours run with 2 or more people, an English speaking guide, and all meals
enroute, plus transport to and / or from Fes or Marrakech. Prices available
for 5 (3 day trek + 2 transport days) or more days.
For more information contact
Telephone
Morocco:
GSM: +212 66 770 5212
Telephone
inside Morocco:
GSM: 0 66 770 5212
Telephone
Canada and voice mail:
+1 604 393 3715 (Pacific time)
Links | Site Map | Terms & Conditions
©2003 - 2010 MOROCCO EXPLORED | MOROCCO EXPLORED.COM
Praise
for the desert tours!
All
our testimonials are genuine.
Visit References for contacts.
We
wanted to say thanks for a great time in Morocco. It was a perfect introduction
to the country, the itinerary was just the right mix of on-and-off road and
our stopovers were at some stunning places! Many thanks to Essalah for the
driving - also, for knowing some of the best views and photo-opportunities.
We promise to give him some shares when we start up the "Monkey Hammam"
business!
We wish you the best of luck for the future of the company and we hope to
travel with you again sometime (Volubilis, Casablanca, Fes... etc., as well
as a return to the desert).
We're happy to act as referees if you would like to list us on the site.
J Brown & F Downs, UK. 2008
Thank you so very much for providing Kiran, Carolyn,
Sheila and me with such a memorable Moroccan experience. While we enjoyed
Marrakesh and Fez, the real journey occurred during the days we spent with
Morocco Explored. We experienced so many delightful sights - and an amazing
amount of diversity. Mother Nature put on quite a show.
I also want to express our appreciation for Essalah. We realized just how
spoiled we had become under his care when we arrived in Fes and had to navigate
on our own! It was a shock! All our travel days went smoothly, which are a
tribute to his professionalism. But, it is his warmth and humor that stays
with us. I think we laughed our way across your country.
Please accept all of our thanks and appreciation.
S Lunden and friends, India and USA 2007
We
got to Merzouga late (8 pm) after stopping at Essalah's house. His family
was amazingly kind and at the end of the visit, I felt I had a new set of
family. What tremendous people. When we left, I told Salah that it would be
near impossible to top that experience. We started the camel trek late due
to the long travel time and seeing the stars at night and the sun rise in
the morning was exactly what I'd hoped.
J Zimmerman family, USA 2006
I
am sending you this e-mail on behalf of all our party to thank Morocco Explored
for a fantastic time in the mountains and the desert, all without exception
thought that this was the highlight of our visit. Please thank the drivers,
Essallah and Salim for a wonderful tour and particularly how they looked after
us.
My biggest dissapointment was not being able to say a proper "thank you"
at the tour end - particularly to Salim who was my driver - because of the
traffic chaos ensuing at the drop-off point, (and) because he was very friendly,
good company and worked hard throughout.
R Spry and friends, UK 2006
We
would like to let you know that we had a great trip with Morocco Explored...
a very organized tour company and our trip itinerary ran smoothly. The four
of us on the 5 days/4 nights desert tour were extremely pleased with your
service and driver. All of us in our party were impressed with his
excellent driving skills especially driving thru the Atlas Mountains region.
We found our trip in the Land Cruiser very safe, relaxing and stress free.
We enjoyed the music and entertainment.
You
treated us... with respect and kindness. We all learned a lot in the five
days. You were very accommodating when we wanted special stops or for having
different lunches. You were very professional, listened to us and were fun
to be with. It was a memorable trip.
After our five days of touring we were looking for a couple of days of R &
R; you recommended Sidi Kaouki, it was one of the highlights of our trip to
Morocco. The hotel, dinners and beach were out of this world. It was everything
you said it would be.
Thanks for making our trip to Morocco special. We would definitely use Morocco
Explored again and highly recommend to others.
R Purdy and family, Canada 2007
All
our testimonials are genuine.
Visit References for contacts.
