High Atlas & Sahara Desert Combination

Departure from Marrakech early morning, towards the High Atlas Mountains via Tahnaouet (local market on Tuesdays), Valley Ghighaya, Moulay Brahim gorges, Asni (market on Saturdays) then between terraced fields of vegetables, fruit trees walnuts & cherries arrival to Imlil to 1740m. Meet the team guide, muleteer then start the trek between fields to climb Tizi Mzik pass at 2480m, enjou spectacular view over Imlil valley & Toubkal Summit, continue throught juniper forest up to Aazib Tamsoulte (2250m ) where we will spend the night in a Refuge. Spend the afternoon as you wish (possibility to go on a walk to visit beautiful waterfalls).

A downhill walk leading through the nature reserve protecting the barbary sheep and many Berber villages of Azzaden valley to Tiziane village (1616m ), meet your driver and drive to your Hotel in Ouirgane. Lunch and free afternoon at the pool.

Pick up from your Riad in Imlil in the morning, crossing High Atlas mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka  pass (2260m). Enjoy the mountainous road and the spectacular Berber villages. Several stops to appreciate the panoramic views and to take pictures. Continue to reach the UNESCO world heritage site "Ait benhaddou village", the fortified ksar with its beautiful Kasbahs. Go on a walk with a local guide crossing the river to the other side to discover The Ksar and climb to the top of the hill through the alleys of Ait-ben-Haddou. After lunch we will travel to the nearby filming location of Ouarzazate. Join a film studio tour and discover which of your favorite movies were filmed in the nearby desert regions, a visit of Touarirt Kasbah and the Musée du Cinema are possible but optional. Drive 1 more hour to reach the Oasis town of Skoura, where you can visit another Kasbah " Ameridile Kasbah" one of Morocco’s grandest kasbahs, this 17th-century marvel once appeared on the Dh50 note. Overnight in Skoura.

After breakfast we will continue our Sahara desert & Atlas Mountains trip, taking the road of 1000 kasbahs drive around the colourful Berber villages of the Roses, passing many of it's small towns where you will see traditional farming methods in use.  ( The season of roses is May )! Drive around the colorful Berber villages of the Dades valley, to get to Tineghir A beautiful valley of 15 km of date palms ending with spectacular Todgha Gorges, often used for rock climbing. The road to the Gorge of todgha passes green palmeraies and Berber villages, where we go on a short walk along the canyons of about 300m high. Afterwards we will drive further east to the Sahara Desert and we will stop for lunch in Tinjdad or Touroug, depending on your hunger-meter. After lunch continue to the desert town of Erfoud. Known for its figs and fossils, visit a craft workshop and discover how the fossil-rich rocks are skilfully transformed into practical and decorative objects. Stretching leg stop to buy some water to take with during the camel ride. Once you arrive to the dunes of Erg Chebbi, a small offroad takes you to the edge of the golden dunes where camels are waiting for you, the luggage will be loaded in an 4x4 car and transported to the camp! Enjoy a beautiful camel ride over the sand dunes and watch a majestic sahara sunset on your way to the camp.

An early wake up to enjoy the sunrise over the highest dunes of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga one of the best moments of the desert, afterwards you will have breakfast in the camp. Pack and ride either on camels or by 4x4 leaving the dunes behind. Back on the asphalt roads, you will drive to Alnif where we will stop for coffee and Toilets. Continue to Agdez ( passing Tazarine & Nkob ) in Dra’a Valley, the longest water stream in the country. Off-road through the Dra’a Valley, past ancient kasbahs, and across green oasis, you will discover even more of this way of life. We will stop for taking some pictures of the Draa Valley Palmeraie. Cross the anti Atlas to Ourazazate where we will have free time for lunch and a photo stop in front of the famous Taourirt Kasbah. After lunch we will drive to Ait Ben Haddou A protected UNESCO site and the most famous kasbah (fort or fortification) in Morocco. Once upon a time, it held an important position along the trans-Saharan trade route between Marrakech, Ouarzazate, and the southern desert.

From here you drive along the beautiful and awe-inspiring Ounila Valley also know as salt valley, full of bends in the roads, surprises at the hues of the rock and soil, Berber villages and gardens, as well as smaller Kasbahs. Reach Telouet Kasbah where you will be introduced to your Local guide and learn about the history of the lords of the Atlas " Ethami El Glaoui". We proceed our approach to Marrakesh through the High Atlas Mountains and Tizi n’tichka pass. Tizi-n-Tichka pass of the high Atlas Mountains with an altitude of 2260m, with far-reaching views across the mountains, to the traditional High Atlas Berber villages.   All good things must come to an end. Check in to your Riad in the heart of the Medina " Old Town". Free evening to spend at your leisure.