This spectacular classic 4x4 offroad route allows time to stay, explore and enjoy gorges, volcanic mountains, remote Berber villages, Nomadic tribes, wild desert, rocky hamada and dune fields. Starting from Marrakech, you’ll cross the High Atlas to offroad into Dades Valley and Todra gorge, then traverse the remote Anti Atlas Saghro mountains to the Erg Chebbi for an overnight camel trek and then visit Ait Benhaddou World Heritage site before returning to Marrakech. 5, 6 and 7+ day excursions available.

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Tours can depart any day from September 15 to May 15 with flexible itineraries. We welcome 2 or more persons on tour, maximum 4 passengers per private car. You'll have an experienced driver, air conditioned vehicle, and stay in unique Kasbahs and desert auberge, riads, and hotels. Vegetarian meals available. EMAIL your requests or questions.

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If you book a new tour any date, we can post your dates online and invite others to join you to a maximum of 4 passengers. Or your tour can remain private.

Sample 7 Day Itinerary Marrakech to Marrakech

PRICE
Please email for 5, 6, and 7 day itineraries and prices.

Includes:
Transport and fuel costs by 4x4 seating 4 passengers; experienced driver; ensuite hotel rooms with air conditioning/heating; swim stops when available; breakfasts and dinners; personalised extended walks and exploration of oasis palmeries and kasbahs, markets and medinas; overnight camel trek.

Day 1
Your driver will meet you at your riad or hotel, depart Marrakech and transport over the High Atlas mountains Tichka pass, taking time to stop and enjoy impressive landscapes, and have coffee and fresh-squeezed orange juice. At the height of the pass you turn off the main road toward Telouet. Visit the old Glaoui kasbah that is intrinsically linked to the formation of Morocco. This once beautiful kasbah now stands crumbling to ruins because no one wants to remember "the vulture" sultan who lived there. Back in the car, you'll follow the old Salt Road camel caravan route to Sahara until reaching Ouarzazate for lunch before heading to Dades. Stay in upper Dades gorge auberge (small country inn) overlooking the valley gorge and gardens.

Day 2
You'll head up gorge toward the High Atlas hidden valleys and villages. Here you will see Nomads who seasonally live in caves and tents, and graze their sheep, goats and camels during warmer summer months. The offroad track cuts across high plateaus and rocky highlands to decend into the Todra gorge and Tinehir valley on the edge of the Sahara. Visit Todra for a walk through sheer limestone walls rising over 300m in its narrowest part. If there is time, you can wander with a guide through palmery villages, gardens and kasbahs for a close look at traditional Berber ways of life. Stay in a traditional old kasbah.

Day 3
Head off road after breakfast, leaving the tourist route behind for the Saghro massif, one of the most remote regions in Morocco, populated by the Ait Atta nomad tribes. You can visit their camps and perhaps be invited in for tea. The traverse climbs a rugged trail off-road, crossing near volcanic cones and 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. Stay in NKob hotel.

Day 4
Today drive east of the stark Saghro Massif. This route is peppered with isolated villages and towns, rocky mesas and acacia trees. Have lunch near Rissani before departing for the Erg Chebbi dunes. Your late-afternoon destination is the auberge (small inn) 29 km from Merzouga. Meet your camel guide and ride into the dunes at sunset to the bivouac (camp).You will be served a traditional tagine dinner (vegetarians welcome), prepared under the stars shining above. Climb the big dunes and watch the moon rise before retiring to your bed in the nomad tent.

Day 5
Return by camel at sunrise to the auberge for breakfast and shower. Today you can take the 4x4 off road and explore around the Erg Chebbi sand sea, visiting Nomads for tea along the way (if they can be found). Visit the village of Hamlia, and experience the Gnaoua music of the Sufi tribes. This night you are back in the desert auberge for dinner and a good nights sleep.

Day 6
This day is onroad througout, following the edge of the High Atlas mountains on the main road to Ouarzazate. Along the way you'll pass through folded exposed rock slabs of fossils and can stop and visit fossil workshops for a closer look at Sahara’s wonderful variety of ancient life. Continue to Ouarzazate and the village of Ait Benhaddou where you'll spend the night.

Day 7
Tour Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO world heritage site. This village of clustered Berber Kasbahs has been used as a backdrop for more than 20 films and was one of the most important fortress strongholds on the old Salt Road where caravans brought slaves, gold, ivory and salt from Saharan Africa to Marrakech and beyond. Back on the road to Marrakech today, descend the Tichka pass once more. Late afternoon return to Marrakech, arriving approximately by 6 pm. You will need to book a hotel for this night.

Add more days:
Want to chill in the Sahara? Take another day (or more) to explore and enjoy, or include daytrips from Marrakech or Fes to the Roman ruins of Volubilis.

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FAQ's has important information about visiting Morocco.

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Contact

info@moroccoexplored.com

Telephone to Morocco:
GSM: +212 66 770 5212

Telephone from Morocco:
GSM: 0 66 770 5212

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