Hidden Morocco Desert Tour
is a totally unique tour of wild Morocco. We’ll take our 4x4 across the High Atlas to Dades Valley and Tinehir, traverse the remote Anti Atlas Saghro mountains off-road, then head further south to Zagora through the Chegaga dunes. 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.

September 15 to May 15 departing any day with 2 or more persons to a maximum 6 passengers per car.
Price: Varies depending on arrival and departure city, and number of persons.

Marrakech / Marrakech . . . 7 days
Join this tour:
March 21 -27 2009
, 2 booked, 4 places open

Fez / Marrakech . . . 7 days
Fez / Fez . . . 7 days

Join a Tour
(lowers the price per person)
If you book a new tour any date, we will post your dates here and invite others to join you to a maximum of 6 passengers.


Our tours can depart any day, with 2 or more people, and are flexible. Email your requests or questions. We welcome vegetarians, use air conditioned vehicles, and unique boutique hotels.

Price includes:
Transport and fuel costs by 4x4 seating 6 passengers; experienced driver; ensuite hotel rooms with air conditioning; swimming where 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.

Add another night in the dunes: Want to chill in the Sahara? Take another day (or more) to explore and enjoy.
Email for prices.


back to the top

 

SEVEN DAYS / SIX NIGHTS
Marrakech to Marrakech


Price: Convert Moroccan Dirhams to another currency.

2 persons:
9100 dirhams per person.
3 persons: 7300 dirhams per person.
4 – 6 persons: 6000 dirhams per person.
Youth/child 10 and under, 10% discount.


Day 1
We will meet you at your riad or hotel, depart Marrakech and transport over the High Atlas mountains Tizi nTichka pass, taking time to stop and enjoy impressive landscapes, and have coffee and fresh-squeezed orange juice. We pass through Ouarzazate and stop for lunch. Our next destination is Dades valley. You will pass through many Berber villages, and in the desert, see riverside oasis and 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 2
After breakfast we will drive off road drive to Tinehir for lunch. 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 women’s market in Tinehir. We will stay in a traditional old kasbah with evening Moroccan dinner.

Day 3
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. We’ll traverse the range off-road, crossing high plateaus, volcanic cones, ridges, and 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 4
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 5
Across the desert again after breakfast, we’re off road on the trail to the Chegaga dunes. Along the way we’ll find camels at wells, nomads with their goats, and flat desert Hamada covered with fossils, crystals, perhaps stone age tools, or if you’re really lucky, you’ll find a meteorite. We’ll be in Chegaga 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 6
Today we’ll go off road 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 sand 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 7
Back on the tourist route heading back to Marrakech today, we’ll take a side road visit to tour World Heritage Site Ait Benhaddou. 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. After lunch we’ll off road to Telouet, back down the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Marrakech, arriving approximately 6 pm.






back to the top

SEVEN DAYS / SIX NIGHTS
Marrakech to Fez
(or Fez to Marrakech)


Price: Convert Moroccan Dirhams to another currency.

2 persons: 9350 dirhams per person;
3 persons: 7490 dirhams per person;
4 – 6 persons: 6150 dirhams per person
Youth/child 10 and under, 10% discount.

Day 1
We will meet you at your riad or hotel at 8:30am, depart Marrakech and transport over the High Atlas mountains Tizi nTichka pass, taking time to stop and enjoy impressive landscapes, and have coffee and fresh-squeezed orange juice. We’ll take a side road visit to tour World Heritage Site Ait Benhaddou. 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. Stay this night in Ait Benhaddou.

Day 2
After lunch our next destination is Dades valley. You will pass through many Berber villages, and in the desert, see riverside oasis, and barren red rock formations clustered with kasbahs (fortified dwellings that house many families and their livestock). Stay in Dades valley upper gorge auberge (small country inn) with Moroccan dinner on the terrace, overlooking the valley gorge and gardens.

Day 3
Today we rise early and leave the main road to off road, crossing the High Atlas desert mountains to Tazzarine, then follow the winding road down to Todra Gorge, where sheer limestone walls rise to 300 m in its narrowest part. You’ll have a visit in the gorge, then continue to Tinehir. Visit the market in Tinehir and old kasbah quarter. We will have a late afternoon arrival to stay in an old kasbah with evening Moroccan dinner by the pool.

Day 4
We will again go off road, leaving 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. Stay in NKob hotel.

Day 5
Today we drive east of the stark Saghro Massif. This route is peppered with isolated villages and towns, rocky mesas and acacia trees. We will have lunch near Rissani before departing for the Erg Chebbi dunes. Our late-afternoon destination is the auberge (small inn) near Merzouga, where you meet your camel guide to ride into the dunes at sunset to the bivouac (camp). Upon arrival you will be served a traditional tagine dinner (vegetarians welcome), prepared under the evening stars shining brilliantly in the above. Climb the big dune and watch the moon rise before retiring to your bed in a nomad wool tent.

Day 6
Return by camel at sunrise to the auberge for breakfast and shower. Today we’ll 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). You can 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.

Day 7
Back on the tourist route, you’ll depart for long days drive to Fez, traveling through the Ziz gorges into the Middle Atlas mountains. You can stop in the the alpine town of Ifrane, before descending to the hilly lowlands where the ancient city of Fez is situated. We can arrange for your stay in a traditional old riad in the heart of the Fez medina and arrange for a guide for the next day if you wish. (extra cost[s]).

back to the top

 

SEVEN DAYS / SIX NIGHTS
Fez to Fez
This route involves longer driving days than the above itineraries.


Price: Convert Moroccan Dirhams to another currency.

2 persons: 10150 dirhams per person;
3 persons: 8050 dirhams per person;
4 – 6 persons: 6550 dirhams per person
Youth/child 10 and under, 10% discount.

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 your stay in a traditional old riad in the heart of the Fez medina and arrange for a guide for the next day if you wish. (extra cost[s]).

back to the top

 

Fez, Agadir and Casablanca Itineraries:
Want to arrive and / or depart from Agadir or Casablanca? Email or telephone your dates, and we can price practical itineraries and options.

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

info@moroccoexplored.com

Telephone Morocco:
GSM: +212 6246 1598 / +212 6770 5212

Telephone inside Morocco:
GSM: 0 6246 1598 / 0 6770 5212

Telephone Canada and voice mail:
+1 604 393 3715

 

back to the top  |  Links  |  Site Map 

 

©2003 - 2008 MOROCCO EXPLORED | MOROCCO EXPLORED.COM

Need to book a flight?

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

My partner and I visited morocco last September and took a tour with Morocco Explored and were fortunate enough to have Essalah as our driver for 3 fantastic days. Before leaving the UK, I found Robbin very helpful with payments, and itinerary questions that I had. Our first meeting with Essalah, was the day before our trip, when he drove to meet us on the outskirts of Marrakech. He met us with a smile and drove us as close to our Riad as possible, before paying a local to take us to the door (which he refused to be reinbursed for) and also to check we were ok and knew the plans for the following day.

The tour we were on mirrored a similar tour conducted by another firm that was cheaper but travelled in big slow mini-buses lacking air con! Throughout the trip we kept bumping in to these people who were complaining that their drivers didn't stop for photos, didn't speak english and wouldn't tell them were they were going or what they would be doing next. The complete opposite of Essalah, who was insightful, funny, and very accomodating for our requests to stop or stay in places longer.

When we arrived in the desert we left on our camels for our camp and shortly found ourselves in the middle of a sand storm, which was very exciting but we were not fearful as Essalah and our desert guide where brilliant. The sand then turned to rain as an electical storm blew over, and during all this Essalah was fantastic arranging for us to eat our dinner in the tent of a local nomad family who lived in the desert — which was amazing!

Essalah was fist class, very enthusiastic, and made the trip very funny and informative for us. Keep up the good work Essalah and Morroco Explored! I will recommend Morocco Explored to any friend of mine visiting Morocco in the future...
A Wrangles, UK, 2006

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.