Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga - 3 Days

Day 1: Marrakech - Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah - Ouarzazate - Dades Gorges.

Departure from Marrakech at 07:30 to Ouarzazate we pass over the High Atlas Mountains via col Tizin Tichka.

During the journey, we will enjoy many beautiful scenes of the Berber villages, elevated views of the mountains. Before arriving in Ouarzazate of 30 Km there is the fortified Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, built in the 11th century. Once upon 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 windstorm.

Most of the town’s inhabitants now live in a more modern village on the other side of the river; however, around five families are still living within this Kasbah. Ait 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 house 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 buildings for which the area is known.

One of those buildings is Taourirt Kasbah diverted in the 17th century.

 Why this town is nicknamed 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).

We go to Dades gorges through 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 Amridil Kasbah.

We pass Kelaa M’gouna 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 produce different cosmetic products like soap, perfumes, and skin creams. Locals here celebrate this rose by organizing a national festival at the end of April.

Then we pass through Dades valley which rises in the High Atlas Mountains.

Day 2: Dades Goges - Todra Gorges - Merzouga Desert.

We pass through Boumalen city 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, to the great canyons of Morocco Todgha Gorges are situated beyond the central high Atlas Mountains.

Here, the contrasting landscapes remind visitors of 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.

Then heading to 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 via Rissani, the hometown of the Alaouist dynasty, where Moulay Ali sheriff started to unify Morocco under his red flag at the beginning of the 17th century.

Visiting Rissani and the Mausoleum of the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty of Morocco, Moulay Ali Chrif. 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.

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 for about one hour and a half to meet one of the most fascinating sights we will ever see, 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 - Marrakech.

If you wake up early enough, you can see the magic sunrise, when the color of the dunes and the play of shadow is awesome.

Then take camel again for going back to the hostel shower then departing to Marrakech arrival time around 19:00.