In The Footsteps Of The Desert Nomads

You will be picked up from your accommodation and leave the busy city behind and head east toward towards the famed desert citadel of Ait Benhaddou. The city has been the backdrop to many popular movies. Drive through the  Atlas Mountains via the stunning Tizi n'Tichka mountain pass, which offers spectacular views from its 2,260 metres. Enjoy the mountainous road and the spectacular Berber villages. Several stops for coffee, toilets and to appreciate the panoramic views and to take pictures. Once your reach the summit, begin your descent taking a deviation towards the Kasbah of Telouet, a palatial former residence of the powerful rulers of the Glaoui tribe. The Kasbah is also well-known from the many movies filmed there. From here we will drive along the beautiful and awe-inspiring Ounila 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 until you reach the village of Ait Ben Haddou. Arrive to Ait Ben Haddou, the Kasbah is situated on a hill along the Ounila river and is known for its kasbahs and was one of the most important fortress strongholds on the old Salt Road caravan routes, where traders brought slaves, gold, ivory and salt from sub-Saharan Africa to Marrakech and beyond.

After breakfast we will continue our journey to the nearby city "Ouarzazate" where you can visit Film Studios & Taourirt Kasbahs. Discover how the area has been featured in movies, including Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Black Hawk Down. Follow the route of the Thousand Kasbahs to Skoura. Here, we'll stop to visit Amridil, the kasbah has been beautifully restored and is well worth visiting; constructed entirely of adobe, an excellent building material – keeps room temperature, due to the thickness of the walls. We will then continue to Kelaat M'Gouna " Valley Des Roses". Imgoun river, tucked into the heart of berber culture, between the Atlas mountain range and the Sahara desert. The region is the biggest producer of rose oil and water in the whole country, thus receiving the name rose valley. Both rose oil and water are fundamental to local culture and economy. Enjoy a delicious Picnic Lunch in a scenic spot surrounded by the beauty of Roses Valley. Once in Kelaat M'Gouna we will take the route north into the High Atlas Mountains along the Mgoun river to Bou Tgharar. From here the journey is off-road to discover Ait Atta Berber nomads living in caves in the mountainside. We stop to share some mint tea in their caves before continuing on rocky tracks to enter the Dadès Gorge. Drive up the Valley of Dades to reach our hotel with a couple of stops to enjoy the beautiful views of the valley and a bizarre rock formation called "The monkey feet" . We will spend the night in our hotel in Dades in Dades Gorge.

Departure will be after breakfast to visit Dades gorges, taking the road back to Boumalne Dades, drive around the colourful Berber villages of the Dades valley, too get to Tineghir with it's beautiful palm grove. We will continue to the Gorge of Todgha , where we go on a trek along the canyons of about 300 m high, a preferred place of mountain climbers. 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. On the route to Erfoud, you will notice strange piles of sand following the road. These are the heads of the “khettarat”, the ingenious underground water channels designed to minimize evaporation in the desert heat. It is fascinating to climb down to experience the coolness below ground and to wonder at the ancient engineering involved. Arrive in 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. Afterwards we will drive to the edge of the dunes to meet your camels and ride to the middle of the dunes, where you can take your time to witness the mesmerizing sunset of the sahara, take photos, shared a laughter and recharge your soul. After the sunset, the camel caravane will continue to the camp, where you will be welcomed to mint tea, then shown to your tents so you can rest, freshen up sort your luggage while dinner is being prepared.

Today we will explore the desert region and the marvel that is the Erg Chebbi desert dunes. We will will make a circuit of the desert dunes where you will have the opportunity to see the the nomad's way of life and the amazing changing contrasts of the of the desert. Rissani is very interesting to visit because of its cultural diversity of Berber, Arab and desert communities, all recognizable and differentiated by their clothing style and colors worn. Also well known for its market, or souk. As a former caravan center, Rissani remains a major commercial center in the region. Back to the hotel. Overnight in the Hotel in a peaceful setting at the foothills of Erg chebbi sahara dunes.

An early wake up to enjoy the sunrise over the highest dune of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga one of the best moments of the desert, afterwards you will have breakfast in the camp, pack and go back either on camels or by 4x4 leaving the dunes behind to meet your driver. Drive along the Ziz Valley, remarkable for the extent of its palm trees and the volume of dates produced each year. Notice the many ksars, fortified houses merchants built to protect their wares. Stopping for a panoramic view of the oasis of Aoufous in the Tafilalte region. Continuation Midelt (the 'apple city') to lunch. Appreciate the scenery: the Moulouya River and the apple orchards, a-crossing the pass of Tizi N’tlramt. Lunch break in Midelt. After lunch you will be driven to Fes (the medieval city) via the Cedar forest near Azrou and the mountain of the middle Atlas with the possibility to see the Barbary apes (monkeys). You may have a stop in Ifrane (the Switzerland of Morocco). At the end of the day you arrive to the spiritual capital of Morocco - Fes. After a long day on the road we drop you off at your accommodation.