9 Days from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert

Day 1: Airport – Marrakech

On the 9 Days from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert. Pick-up at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Depending on your arrival time in Marrakech, you will have the opportunity to take a walk around the famous Jamaa el Fna square and its surroundings. Dinner at leisure, overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Dades Gorges.

Departure from the hotel at 8:00 am. We will pass through the High Atlas Mountains, crossing the TiznTichka pass where we will make several stops with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and villages. During this trip you will also visit an argan cooperative to learn about the process of producing this oil that is a myriad of benefits to the human body. From there, we will continue south and then take a 6-km detour on a track that will take us to the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, where we will visit the kasbah that is a UNESCO heritage site. Famous movies such as Gladiator, Asterix and Obelix, Sahara, The Jewel of the Nile have been made in this spectacular place… After lunch, we will head to Ouarzazate, considered the great gateway to the desert, and from there we will continue to the Valley of Roses, stopping in the palm grove of Skoura to finally arrive in Dades, where we will spend the night. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Dades Gorges-Todra Gorges-Erg Chebbi Desert.

After breakfast we will continue on a road that will take us to the Dades Gorges, which in the surrounding mountains are a strategic site. We will continue our journey along a road dotted with beautiful kasbahs, all different from each other, and then reach the Todra Gorges. In ancient times, the watercourse carved its bed on the tender limestone surface, embedding itself between the rocks and thus forming the vertical walls of these gorges considered a climber’s paradise. We will stop on the banks of the river, where for a few dozen meters you can soak in the coolness of the place and take a walk. Then we will head to the town of Touroug where we will stop for lunch and in the afternoon arrive at the beautiful dunes of Erg Chebbi. We will leave our luggage in our 4×4 and have a welcome tea in the nearby hotel. After a half hour of relaxation we will be ready to go with the camels to the bivouac to spend an unforgettable night in the desert. In the middle of the trek we will stop to admire the sun setting over the dunes and stretch our legs a bit. Dinner and overnight in a Berber tent, under the spectacular blanket of stars, where we will take advantage of the peace and silence of the desert.

Day 4: Erg Chebbi Desert

After watching the sunrise breaking through the dunes and breakfast, we will begin a new day that will take us through beautiful desert landscapes: the oasis of Hassi Labied, the village of Khamlia, the ruins of the old Mifis mines, nomads in Berber tents, and finally the village of Tissardmine with its oasis and rocks full of fossils. In the afternoon we will return to the hotel and, before dinner, we can take a walk on the dune to watch the sunset. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Erg Chebbi Desert – Rissani Draa Valley – Ouarzazate.

The last day of our stay in the desert will begin with Rissani: visit the traditional souk and the Moulay Ali Cherif mausoleum. We will leave the desert and continue our route admiring the pre-desert landscape until we reach the Draa Valley, where we will stop for lunch and enjoy enchanting panoramic views of Morocco’s longest valley. The route will continue to Ouarzazate, the Hollywood of Morocco, where we will visit the film studios and spend the night. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 6: Ouarzazate – Telouet – Marrakech- Essaouira.

We will begin our sixth day by taking the road of a thousand kasbas that will take us to Telouet where we will stop to visit what was once the residence of “Pacha el Glaoui.” Then we will head to the Atlantic coast, crossing the TiznTichka mountain and Marrakech. We will arrive in Essaouira in the afternoon, just in time to climb the wall and see the sunset, an experience not to be missed. In the evening, at one of its various restaurants, you can sample excellent fish caught locally and take a nighttime stroll through the picturesque medina. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7: Essaouira

We will take advantage of this day in Essaouira, ancient Mogador, to stroll through the narrow streets of this quiet coastal town, the medina, its port, or to sunbathe on the beach or practice a water sport such as windsurfing or fly- surfing. Horseback riding enthusiasts or those who wish to experience a new thrill can opt for a horseback ride. Free dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: Essaouira – Marrakech.

After breakfast we will take the return route to Marrakech where we will arrive around noon. This will be followed by a guided tour of the old medina, the colorful souks and its famous monuments (the Menara, the El Badia and El Bahia palaces, the Saadian tombs) and the famous Jemaa el Fna square, with its lively ambiance both day and night. Free dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9: Marrakech – Airport

Transfer to the airport at the appointed time. End our 9 Days from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert.