Marrakech, Atlas and Merzouga desert Tour: the great south

We start the tour of the great south, from Marrakech to Merzouga desert. We pick you up at the airport and we go to Marrakech. Depending on the time of arrival at the great city of Marrakech, we recommend to visit it with a local guide. You will discover its long history through the famous Koutoubia, the Bahia Palace, Saadian tombs, Majorelle gardens and Menara gardens.

The door of the Atlas opens its splendor in Marrakech, a unique city, epicenter of tourism and crafts. Overflowing its light, the fiery red of its buildings and the refreshing green of its palm trees and gardens. The city vibrates, eclectic, exultant, combining old and modern Moroccan exoticism. Living it is an experience that will shine in a special way on your trip.

The beauty of the ancient city will fascinate you. The music of Jemaa El Fna Square, and the bustle in the impressive souk, the largest in Morocco, will transport you to other times. The adventure of getting lost in the Medina streets until you return to the square. This is undoubtedly a magical place, where it is worth spending hours. Do have a tea or eat in one of its terraces,. You will come back to it again and again.During the morning it is full of orange juice stands, jugglers and enchanted snakes. At night, smoke from traditional Moroccan food stands is mixed among musicians, dancers and storytellers who gather in this square declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

You will find modern nightclubs and fun of dancing, as in the story of a thousand and one nights, specially in the modern district of Gueliz. But not only there. Charme, comfort and glamour of its most exquisite hotels, riads and finest restaurants, art museums... make Marrakech the most welcoming and charm. And possibly the most attractive city in all of Morocco.

Our route begins crossing the High Atlas by Tizi n'Tichka mountain pass, the highest road pass in North Africa, at 2260 meters high. Atlas is a great mountain range that offers extraordinary mountainous landscapes dotted with small berber villages. We will make as many stops you want to admire and photograph them.

Then we will arrive at the mythical fortified city, or Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou. It also has a World Heritage Site status declared by UNESCO. Its adobe houses full of ornaments are confined within a strong wall reinforced by defense turrets. This spectacular kasbah built on a hill, rises above the desert landscape of Anti Atlas. It is undoubtedly one of the most emblematic places in Morocco. It is the largest Kasbah in Morocco, built by T-hami El Glaoui, one of the last Berber chieftains during the beginning of the XXth Century, and it used to be one of his stops during his long travel from the Sahara to Marrakech. Recently has been scenario of Game of Thrones and several films.

We will continue in Ouarzazate direction passing by the huge cinema studios where scenes from the first film in the saga of Star Wars, and many others, were recorded. The desert, oasis, kasbahs and snowy mountains of the Atlas are an unbeatable setting for shooting movies.

We will also travel through the Valley of Roses, famous for beauty products that are extracted from these flowers. On the thousand kasbahs’ route, we will cross Dades Gorges. It is a narrow valley with an spectacular zigzagging landscape and enormous architectural value, because there are some ksar and numerous kasbahs, although some in ruins. It is really a must stop where the traveler falls in love with.

Landscape from this day of our tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert, will change completely again. The route continues towards Tinghir to deviate a bit towards the famous Todra Gorges. Another awesome place, made of vertical rock walls over 100 meters high, product of erosion overtime, that we will travel along its base by the river of clear water. We will enjoy a walk at the foot of these impressive walls, in a small stop along the way.

The great green palm grove along the course of the river will accompany us a stretch on our trip to Erfoud, the desert gate. Afterwards, we can visit amazing quarries of fossils that are there. And that is, where there is sand now, once there was water. We will finally arrive at the foot of Erg Chebbi wonderful dunes. A welcome mint tea will be waiting for us and we will enjoy the sunset in the desert of Merzouga. Reach the camp with a ride with dromedaries is an option we recommend.

That first night in the desert is worth staying in a haimas camp. The original ones are tents made with dromedary hair in the traditional way of the berbers nomads. Our tents are equipped with every detail. After relaxing with a good shower, we will enjoy dinner in the tented camp near the dunes in the style of a thousand and one nights. Stars illuminate in the darkness of the desert sky, that seem to shine more than anywhere else.

Before breakfast, possibility of walk to the top of the dunes to admire the sunrise. With the light of dawn and as the sun rises the desert sand takes on a spectacular reddish color.

With the 4x4 we will travel part of the tracks of the old rally Paris-Dakar. We will pass through Khamlia, a small town of about three hundred inhabitants of a Sha and Berber ethnic group. Originally from black Africa, they moved to the Sahara where they began to settle together with Berber nomads. Its people, as in the whole south, are warm friendly and calm. And because of their culture, music is an important part of them. We will make a stop to enjoy their hospitality, and traditional Gnawa music.

In the afternoon free time or an extra option quads ride.

In this fifth day of this tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert, leaving the desert, we will pass by Rissani , the former capital of Morocco, whose market was famous for the sale of donkeys. If there is time and it is a day of market it is very worth visiting it.

We walk the road back through the oasis of the Draa Valley. Formed by a narrow strip of water in the high Atlas mountains, from time to time it emerges triumphantly in lush oases filled with palm trees and Berber villages. The Draa is the largest palm grove in Morocco, with almost 100 km in length and variable widths that in some points can exceed 5 km. The valley is dotted with numerous ksur and kasbahs among the huge green. We will continue the trip to Ouarzazate, where we will stay.

The road that we will follow joins Ouarzazate with Marrakech, and was in ancient times the route of the caravans that carried salt and other products from the desert. We will travel the winding road of the beautiful Ounila Valley, crossing numerous Berber villages far from the main tourist route.

Halfway we will find the town of Telouet, where we will visit the kasbah that is being restored, known as the Glaoui Palace, the former pasha of the area. Built between the 18th and 19th centuries, its interior is very beautiful and little known, you will love it.

The day back to enjoy landscapes of the Atlas and cross the Tizi n'Tichka on our way to Marrakech ends this tour from Merzouga desert.

Last day of our trip from Marrakech to Merzouga desert. Depending on the flight departure time, free time to see what the first day could not be seen. Return to Djemmaa el-Fna square or enter in the souk to make last purchases.

Transfer to the airport and end of our trip from Marrakech to Merzouga desert. End of our services.