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TOUR MARRAKECH-DADES VALLEY-MERZOUGA-MARRAKECH
Ancestral Blue Rinsed Houses and Buildings5 DAY TOUR MARRAKECH-DADES VALLEY-MERZOUGA-MARRAKECH
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TOUR MARRAKECH-DADES VALLEY-MERZOUGA-MARRAKECH
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TOUR MARRAKECH-DADES VALLEY-MERZOUGA-MARRAKECH
A wonderland of sand5 DAY TOUR MARRAKECH-DADES VALLEY-MERZOUGA-MARRAKECH
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TOUR MARRAKECH-DADES VALLEY-MERZOUGA-MARRAKECH
The most spectacular series of limestone river canyons.5 DAY TOUR MARRAKECH-DADES VALLEY-MERZOUGA-MARRAKECH
TOUR INCLUDES:
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Airport transfer on arrival and departure
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2 Nights in Riad in Marrakech with Breakfast and Dinner
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1 Night in Kasbah Hotel at the Dadès Gorges with Breakfast and Dinner
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1 night in Merzouga Desert Camp (Jaimas) with Breakfast and Dinner
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Sahara Camel Trek (one camel per person)
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Transport by air conditioned 4x4 or minibus, fuel included
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Guide and Driver
Travel Itinerary
NOT INCLUDED:
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Airfare
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Drinks
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Lunch Meals
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Entrance to museums and monuments
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Gratuities
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Tips
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Other Services not mentioned
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ARRIVAL IN MARRAKECH
You will be greeted by your personal guide upon arrival at the airport and escorted to your Riad in the heart of the historic Medina. The rest of the day is free for you to settle in. Marrakech, a former imperial city in western Morocco is also known as the ―Red City or ―Pink City due to the distinctive hue of the local earth used in the construction of its many brick buildings. The medina, is a densely packed, walled medieval city dating to the Berber Empire, with maze like alleys where thriving souks (marketplaces) sell traditional textiles, pottery and jewelry. Your Riad will be located in the heart of the Medina and within walking distance of the historic Jemaa el-Fnaa square, which by day is a market place but at night is a place of non-stop entertainment.
Dinner and overnight stay in Riad.
MARRAKECH-HIGH ATLAS-KSAR OF AIT BEN HADDOU-OUARZAZATE-DADÈS VALLEY
We will depart early in the morning from your Hotel/Riad in Marrakech. Our journey to the Dadès Valley starts with breathtaking views throughout the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2260m), the highest point in Morocco. Along the way we will make several stops and view the magnificent panoramic views which include the Berber villages which seem to be born out of the mountains themselves. Later we will head towards Ait Ben Haddou, an ighrem (fortified village), and traditional Mud Brick city on the edge of the High Atlas Mountains. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and has been featured in many films including Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, Game of Thrones and many others. After lunch in the village we continue on to Ouarzazate. Ouarzazate is a city south of Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, known as the gateway to the Sahara Desert. Its name comes from a Berber phrase meaning "without noise" or "without confusion". The huge Taourirt Kasbah, home to a 19th-century palace, has views over the rugged local landscape.
We will continue towards the Dadès Valley. Along the way we will see the oasis of Skoura with its date palms, eucalyptus and oleanders, apple trees, vines, blossoming almond trees and spectacular ruins of fortified Berber architecture: ksur. Our journey will also take us across the Valley of the Roses (Kalaat M’gouna), located between the Atlas Mountain Range and the Sahara Desert, where rose fields stretch out as far as the eye can see, over 50 km in length, along the banks of the Dadès and M’Goun, where spring explodes in a luminous and inebriating array of colours. Since the early 30s, a few French industrialists and perfumers began to promote the production of the centifolia rose, whose essence, known as “Rose of May”, is used in many prestigious perfumes and cosmetic products. Each year during the first or second week of May, this valley springs to life in a festival animated by Berber folklore featuring roses and all other local trades. The rose festival is a truly unmissable event.
We will arrive at the Dadès Valley where we will stay overnight.
DADÈS VALLEY-TODRA GORGE-MERZOUGA DESERT-OVERNIGHT STAY DESERT BERBER TENT CAMP
After breakfast, we will enjoy the most amazing views of the Dadès Valley from one of the most panoramic points in the mountains. The Dadès Valley is home to many kasbahs that were built here for the added protection the valley provides and is often referred to as the Land of a Thousand Kasbahs. Along the route you will have a chance to see many of these kasbahs, each one unique on its own. In the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco, near the town of Tinerhir, the Todra and the Dades Rivers have carved out a narrow canyon called Todra Gorge, a massive trench that rises over 250 meters to form one of the most spectacular natural sights in Morocco. The Todra Gorge is recognized around the world as one of the most spectacular canyons. The road from Tinerhir passes green palmeraies (palm groves) and Berber villages until, 15km along, high walls of pink and grey rock close in around the road. Thanks to its robust rock sides with many uneven surfaces, Todra Gorge is popular among rock climbers. After a short walk through the sheer cliffs of the Todra Gorge, we will take a break for lunch along the route on our way to the magnificent Merzouga Desert.
We'll drive through changing scenery, from barren mountain sides to fertile valleys, on the journey to Merzouga. With a backdrop of the orange-coloured Erg Chebbi sand dunes, the charming Saharan village of Merzouga feels wonderfully isolated, like the modern world has left it behind. The Erg Chebbi dunes are the most stunning in the country and an essential part of any visit to Morocco. An erg is a vast sea of shifting wind-swept sand that's formed into picturesque, undulating crests and valleys. The Erg Chebbi is one of the world's iconic landscapes, with towering dunes up to 150 metres in height. Located at the end of a sealed road and just 20 kilometers from the Algerian border this really feels like frontier country. You will leave your gear at a simple auberge and then ride camels to the heart of the Sahara Desert, enjoying one of the most magnificent sunsets you will ever see, along the way. The dunes are stunning, especially as the evening light plays across them and sets off the colors of the sand.
Tonight, you will camp out in traditional style, with the chance to try some fantastic local cuisine while you sit around an open fire. Stay after dinner, enjoying lively music, drumming, Berber stories and dancing under a magnificent blanket of stars. You will enjoy the comfort of private tents (Jaimas), with proper size standing beds, coffee table and chairs. Each tent (jaima) has a private shower and toilet provided.
The entire camp is set up by our crew while you relax and enjoy the mighty Sahara Desert.
MERZOUGA-DRAA VALLEY-ANTI-ATLAS MOUNTAINS-MARRAKECH
“Date with the sunrise” If you are In the middle of the desert, waking up early is a “must do” to contemplate the most spectacular sunrise you´ve ever seen at the top of a dune close to the camp and enjoy this landscape that is a gift of nature. We return to Merzouga on the camels where a heartwarming breakfast is waiting for us. In our last day we will journey through the arid but interesting pre-desert landscapes covered by Acacia trees on our way to the Draa Valley, created by the Draa River, Morocco’s longest river, formed by the confluence of the Dades River and Imini River. The Draa River flows from the Hight Atlas Mountains southeastward to Tagounit and from Tagounit mostly westwards to the Atlantic Ocean. The Draa Valley is a long, green oasis in a dry, rocky landscape. Known as “the date basket of Morocco”, this fertile corridor is home to many date palms, orchards and irrigated fields. The gateway to the valley is Agdz, which itself boasts a vast palmerie and a surprising number of ancient but well-preserved kasbahs. We will drive across the Anti Atlas Mountains towards Ouarzazate where we will have lunch. We will then drive once again across the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass on our way back to Marrakech where we will arrive in the evening.
Transfer to Riad, lodging and dinner included.
MARRAKECH-AIRPORT
Breakfast and free morning. At pre-arranged time we will meet at Riad for transfer to airport. We will help you with all ticketing and boarding needs. Our services end here.
TAGS - 7 DAYS 6 NIGHT SAHARA
- Khenifra 14
- Royal Palace Mechouar 8
- Fez 10
- Draa Valley 35
- Koutoubia minaret and Dar Si Said 2
- Ouarzazate 35
- Tomb 2
- UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site 2
- Boumalne Dadés 10
- Land of a Thousand Kasbahs 21
- Medina of Essaouira 28
- Mohammed V Mausoleum 8
- Morocco 8
- Saadines 2
- Ville Nouvelle 10
- Draa River 35
- Middle Atlas Mountains 10
- Valley 14
- Jewish quarter “the Mellah” 2
- Erfoud 10