DAY 1: FES – IFRANE – AZROU – MIDELT – ZIZ VALLEY – ERFOUD – MERZOUGA(CAMEL RIDE AND SPEND THE NIGHT IN THE CAMP)
Picking you up from your Hotel/Raid in Fes at 8:30 am and start our two days trip to Sahara Desert through the Middle Atlas Mountain where the city of Ifrane located, Ifrane is referred to as the Switzerland of Morocco because of its Swiss-Like Architecture. Our stop here will be for appreciating the large lion sculpture that created in the 1930s in honor of the last remaining Atlas lion, which was killed close to Ifrane. Afterwards, we will drive along the Cedar Forest of Azrou where will meet with the Barbary Apes and feed them with any food that we carry with us. Alongside the way to the city of Zaida ‘City of Barbecue’, there are many wild dogs waiting for leftover that travelers carry with them from the city. We will have lunch in the city of Barbecue before we continue our tour passing through the city of Apple ‘Midelt’ located between the High and Middle Atlas Mountains ranges, here you will enjoy surrounding landscapes and slopes of snow that mountains offer. Later on, we will get to the High Atlas Mountain which offers a fascinating panoramic views and good places for hiking. On arrival to Ziz Valley which is the main source for living to the locals who are living there, Ziz Valley has huge lands for farming and palm trees are the dominant trees along the valley. We shall continue our journey to Sahara desert through the city of Erfoud which considers the second gate to the desert beside Ouarzazate city. Erfoud is not only renowned for its fossils such as Ammonites,Trilobites and other products but also it is the capital of dates fruit as the festival of Dates takes place in the city every year in October. Our last destination for today will be Merzouga where your camel and your experienced guide are awaiting for you to start another journey but this time by camel. Camel trek will last for 1h30m crossing the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi that offers charming views for pictures and playing with sand once you stop for watching the sunset, also sand boarding is available in your journey to the camp. On arrival to the camp, welcome tea will be served by camp’s staff before they show you your luxurious tents that equipped with mattresses, comfortable beds, pillows, electricity, hot water and heater. Next, you will have dinner either inside a luxurious restaurant or outdoor before you gather around a bonfire to enjoy Berber drums and traditional nomadic songs. We shall spend the night in the camp.
DAY 2: MERZOUGA SIGHTSEEING (ERG CHEBBI TOUR)
Before sunrise, you will be awaked by our camel man in order to watch the sun comes up above the horizon and enjoy the colors of the early morning. After breakfast, you will meet your diver/guide to start your pure desert tour that will covers both of visiting nomads, a mine of mascara, a small villages of Berber. Firstly, we will make our way to visit the nomads of Erg Chebbi, those who are very gentle with their guests by offering them cheese, milk, dried dates and tea with bread. Nomads have different life that is worth to explore and spend some time with them to feel their simple lifestyle. Secondly, we shall visit an ancient mine of mascara where the locals of Merzouga were living before they work in agriculture and tourism. They got the smoky eye make-up that is perfect cosmetic to cleanse the eye surface and stimulates eyelash growth. Thirdly, we will have lunch in a small village of black-skinned people, those who have their own tradition and culture. They are renowned for their Gnawa music that they play with passion to make their customers happy and live the moment. After lunch, we will visit a small garden of the farmers who use an irrigation system to water their farms. In the evening, we can have a Moto bike tour among the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Overnight in a Hotel that includes dinner and breakfast.
DAY 3: MERZOUGA – RISSANI – TOUROUG – TODRA GORGE – DADES VALLEY – CITY OF ROSE – OUARZAZATE
After breakfast and refreshment, you will begin your journey from the edge of the desert towards your next destination. We will visit the city of Rissani that once was called Sijilmasa when it was one of the most important stations in Trans-Sahara Trade Route before 16th century. In Rissani, we will see the mausoleum of Moulay Ali Chirf, the founder of Alaouite dynasty, and walking along its traditional market where they are selling spices, fruits, cloths and jewelry. Afterwards, we will transfer to Todra Gorge through Touroug where we can try traditional Berber clothes and do some Henna Tattoos. Next stop will be in Todra Gorge where Cliffs are as high as 312 meters. We will have a walk on the canyon floor and appreciate the springs that flow between the rocks. We will continue our tour through Dades Valley to the city of rose where the festival of rose takes place every year in May and we may stop to explore its beauty and its rose products that range from perfume, rose water and oil. Here we will visit the city of Ouarzazate that is referred to as the gate of the desert; here we will visit the biggest studio of cinema where you will explore the materials that have been used in making movies, and the Kasbah of Taourirt that was founded by Thami El Glaoui in the 19th century. Overnight in a Riad that includes dinner and breakfast.
DAY 4: OUARZAZATE – AIT BENHADDOU – HIGH ATLAS MOUNTAIN – MARRAKECH
After breakfast, we will make our way to the Kasbah (Castle) of Ait Benhaddou, the largest Kasbah in the kingdom of Morocco and listed as a World Heritage Site in 1987. The Kasbah is renowned as a backdrop for many movies, including Gladiator, Sheltering Sky, Lawrence of Arabia and Game of Thrones. We will feel as we are performing in a certain movie while we start walking along the narrow streets of the Kasbah for one hour and then we seek for a local restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we will continue our journey through the High Atlas Mountain, which has a pass called Tizi n’Tichka pass on an elevation of 2260meters. We will pause for mountain views and Berber villages along the Valley of the mountain. Our tour will end once we get to Marrakech in the early evening, dropping you off in your chosen Hotel/Raid.
