Desert Adventure tours in the Sahara desert have shorter daily driving times, and include swimming stops enroute (mid April to mid October); the Imperial City of Marrakech; overnight camel trek in the Saharan Erg Chebbi dunes; explorations of gorges, fossil beds, movie sets, oasis exploring among the kasbahs and tea with Berbers; a riad stay overlooking the splendid Ouzoud waterfalls; off roading by 4x4 in the wild Saghro Massif to visit Nomads and remote Berber villages. Great for kids 6 to 106.
Can start/end in Marrakech or to/from Fes,
Marrakech or Casablanca.
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Sample Ten Day Desert Tour
Our sample 10 days starts from Marrakech and with shorter driving times you'll have time for swimming (mid-April to mid-October) great for kids; also includes the Imperial city of Marrakech, High Atlas Tichka pass, 2 nights in the Sahara Erg Chebbi dunes, explorations of gorges, fossils, movie sets, oasis walks among the kasbahs, off-roading, a day to roam and stay overlooking the splendid Ouzoud waterfalls, High Atlas Berber villages and much more.Day 1
Your driver will greet your arrival to Marrakech and transport to your medina riad. Evening drums draw you to the Djemaa El Fna (main city square). It's a festival atmosphere, with snake charmers, Berber and Gnaoua musicians, and storytellers illuminated by lamplight and wreathed in smoke. Food stalls on the square sell fresh salads, harrira (lentil and bean soups), fried fish and chips, chicken and beef kebabs and even boiled snails or sheep's head (a specialty that has its own dedicated stalls). Finish it off with a glass of sweet cinnamon tea. Stay in Marrakech riad in the heart of the medina.Day 2
Depart Marrakech and transport (3 hours) to Cascades Ouzoud, waterfalls into a spectacular gorge and an endless series of pools. The gorge (and future designated bioreserve,) is home to Barbary apes and makes for some interesting bird watching. Nearby Berber villages in the surrounding mountains are perfect for interesting short day treks. Stay charming old riad overlooking the waterfalls.Day 3
Transport (3.5 hours) from Ouzoud crossing via a remote pass through the High Atlas mountains. You'll have time to stop and explore a large cave and have lunch, before continuing on to the World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou kasbahs. This village of clustered 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. Stay in Ait Benhaddou.Day 4
This morning you'll pass through Ouarzazate, Valley of the Rose, famous for soft Persian rose oil and Skoura oasis. Our destination is Dades valley. You will pass through many Berber villages, and in the desert, see barren red rock formations clustered with kasbahs (fortified dwellings that house many families and their livestock). Stay in Dades valley auberge (small country inn) with Moroccan dinner on the terrace, overlooking the valley gorge and gardens.Day 5
After breakfast, take a short drive to walk through a massive fault dividing the High Atlas. Todra Gorge sheer rock walls rises to 300 m in its narrowest part. Back in the car, you'll explore further until the Erg Chebbi dunes appear on the horizon. Your afternoon destination is the auberge near Merzouga, where you'll meet your camel guide and ride into the dunes to the desert camp. Upon arrival a traditional tagine dinner will be prepared (vegetarians welcome), under the evening stars. Climb the dunes and watch the moon rise before retiring to your bed in the nomad wool tent.Day 6
Return by camel at sunrise to the auberge for breakfast and shower. You can chill out in the dunes or the auberge pool, or take your car and driver for an off road tour around the Erg Chebbi. Stop to visit Nomad families for tea if they're in the region, and you can explore as much as you wish. The village of Hamlia is on your route, and is famous for Gnaoua music. Stay in desert auberge.Day 7
We’ll leave the dunes and head to Tinehir. Along the way you can stop and visit the fossil workshops for a closer look at Sahara’s wonderful variety of ancient life. After lunch wander with a guide through palmeries, villages, gardens, and kasbahs for a closer look at traditional Berber ways of life. Visit the market in Tinehir and old kasbah quarter. You'll have a late afternoon arrival to stay in an old kasbah with dinner by the pool.Day 8
After breakfast the remainder of the day is spent driving back to Ouarzazate where you’ll stop for lunch and visit the old Glaoui Kasbah Taouirt. Then crossing the High Atlas once more, descend the Tichka pass for an arrival in Marrakech approximately 6pm. Stay Marrakech medina riad.Day 9
Stay Marrakech. Visit artists Jacque Majorelle house and stunning gardens, or the old Koranic school Ben Youssef Medersa that once housed 800 students. The Marrakech Museum is an old Pashas house with changing art exhibitions. Afternoon explore the vast Souk workshops where crafters ply their trade; dyers walkways are strung overhead with colourful skeins of wool; carpets, and carpet sellers entice you into their shops with a glass of sweet mint tea; tiny shops sell old Berber silver and African beads; smells of spices, olives, and fresh herbs fill your senses; and traditional apothecaries, where you can buy strange potions to heal or cast spells of love or revenge. Stay Marrakech medina riad.Day 10
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