5 days from marrakech to merzouga

Your 5 days in Morocco begin with an early pick-up from your accommodation or the airport in Marrakech. We will travel through the beautiful High Atlas Mountains, crossing the Tizi-N-Tichka pass. Along the way, we’ll stop for stunning views of the landscape.

Next, we visit the well-known Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a fortified village recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This site has appeared in famous movies like Gladiator, Alexander, and The Mummy, as well as the TV show Game of Thrones. We will then continue to Ouarzazate, known as the “Gateway to the Desert.” Here, we’ll have dinner and spend the night in a comfortable hotel.

After breakfast, we explore Ouarzazate, including a visit to the Atlas Film Studios, where many movies were filmed, and the historic Taourirt Kasbah. We then head to Agdz and drive through the Draa Valley, the longest river in Morocco. We’ll enjoy views of palm trees, Kasbahs, and Berber villages. Lunch will be in Nkob or Alnif.

In the afternoon, we continue to the Merzouga Desert, passing through Rissani. Upon arrival at the stunning Erg Chebbi sand dunes, we’ll take a camel ride into the desert. We’ll pause to watch the sunset from a high dune before heading to our luxury camp. The camp combines traditional nomadic tents with modern comforts. Dinner and traditional Berber music around the campfire await, under the starlit sky. We’ll spend the night at the camp.

We begin the day early to watch the sunrise in the desert, followed by breakfast. We return to Merzouga by camel, where our driver will be waiting. Today is dedicated to exploring the Merzouga region, known for its sand dunes, lakes, fossils, and oases.

First, we visit an old eyeliner mine, then meet nomads in their handmade tents and learn about their lifestyle while enjoying Berber tea. We continue to Khamlia village to experience Gnaoua music and dance, performed by locals whose ancestors came from sub-Saharan Africa. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we walk through the palm groves and visit the wild lake of Merzouga, also called Flamingo Lake. We end the day with dinner and an overnight stay at a hotel.

After breakfast, we leave the desert and head to Rissani, an ancient capital and current trading hub with a lively market on specific days. We’ll visit the local souk and then travel to Erfoud to see a fossil workshop.

We continue through the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad to reach the Todra Gorges, where the river has created a deep canyon with high red cliffs. This area is perfect for exploring and is popular with rock climbers. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.

We then head to Dades Valley, passing Boumalne Dades and stopping at unique rock formations called “monkey fingers” and a viewpoint overlooking the valley. Dinner and overnight stay will be at a hotel in the valley.

On the last day, we visit the Rose Valley in Kalaat M’Gouna, known for its annual Rose Festival in May, where locals sell rose-based products. We continue through the Skoura palm groves and visit the Amridil Kasbah.

After a lunch break in Ouarzazate, we drive through the High Atlas Mountains and Tizi-N-Tichka pass, heading back to Marrakech. We will drop you off at your accommodation or the airport, marking the end of your tour.