3-Day Marrakech to Fes: Merzouga Desert, Atlas and Ait Ben Haddou

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
From Marrakech To Dades Valley Via Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate
3 stops
1
High Atlas Mountains
As soon as you leave Marrakech, you’ll follow a well-maintained road to the High Atlas Mountains. After about an hour, the road starts to wind its way up as you drive along one of the most scenic roads in Morocco across a landscape of terraced wheat fields, cacti, waving palm trees and endless views. You’ll pass through tiny villages,. In the distance, you'll be able to make out the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas Mountains. As the road begins to descend, the scenery changes drastically and suddenly you find yourself entering a desert-like area.
2
Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou
Soon, the imposing kasbah Aït Benhaddou will loom up like a mirage. A kasbah is a kind of citadel, made up of high-walled buildings of clay mixed with straw. Historically, the kasbahs gave shelter to entire village communities, though these days many of them are no longer inhabited. Deserted or not, the kasbahs are a fascinating sight and films including Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth and most recently Gladiator, were shot on location here... you'll make your way across the river to explore. At the gate to the kasbah you’ll pay a small entrance fee (approx €1) and enter a medieval world with a warren of narrow lanes leading into the kasbah. At the top of the kasbah, there’s a fantastic view across the citadel and the surrounding countryside .
2 hours 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
3
Dades Gorges
After lunch, you'll set off on your tour again and drive through the fertile valley to Dades Gorges . If you thought the road from Marrakech was beautiful, then wait till you see this. Bizarre rock formations, bright green palm valleys and rugged mountain peaks in all shapes and colours alternated by small traditional villages and breathtaking views. After 2 hour you’ll pass a restaurant (‘Panoramic’), with an outdoor terrace overlooking the valley and the colourful cliffs. It’s a nice place to stop off for a cup of coffee or mint tea. From here, it’s another 40 minutes drive past yet more weird but wonderful colourful rock formations. When the cliffs begin to get narrower and you enter a kind of gorge, you’ll know you’ve nearly reached your small mountain hotel. Moments later you’re greeted by the friendly owner night and dinner in hotel (Kasbah La Gazelle) or similar.
12 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 2
From Dades gorges to Merzouga desert via 1001 Kasbah Roads, and Tinghir
1 stop
4
Merzouga Desert
After breakfast, start your journey driving through the edges of the Sahara Desert and pass through scattered Berber villages along the way towards the Erg Chebbi desert at Merzouga. Perched on a trusty camel, you will softly plod into the sea of golden sand dunes as experienced camel-drivers lead the way to our camp in the desert. Once at the camp, you will enjoy a delicious dinner and will spend a night camping out and sleep under an incredible canopy of stars.
12 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 3
From Merzouga Desert To Fes via Ziz Oasis, The Midelle Atlas & Ifrane
1 stop
5
Witness an amazing sunrise over the dunes in the Sahara Desert, After breakfast go back on the camels heading to Merzouga. Then ride to Fes trough the gigantic oasis of date palms of Ziz Valley, Stop at Midelt where you'll have time for lunch, Continue to Fes, crossing the Middle Atlas Mountains and Atlas Cedar Forest via the Coquette City Of Ifran (named the Moroccan Switzerland). Arrival in the evening and then be dropped-off at a central location in Fes.
7 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Tags

Rating