This 9-day adventure combines desert adventure, High Atlas hiking and cultural experiences with relaxation.
Day | Highlights | Overnight |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Marrakech the « red city » | Marrakech |
Day 2 | Marrakech the « red city » | Marrakech |
Day 3 | Through the High Atlas Mountains and into the Desert | Boumalne Dades |
Day 4 | Camping in the desert and kasbahs Create your tour |
Erg Chebbi |
Day 5 | Alnif, oases, and Kasbah Ait Benhaddou | Ait Benhaddou |
Day 6 | Ait Benhaddou Tizi-n–Tichka Pass, the High Atlas to Marrakech | Marrakech |
Day 7 | Overnight in a Berber Home, hike the Atlas foothills | Amizmiz |
Day 8 | Essaouira – Seaside city | Essaouira |
Day 9 | Departure to Marrakech & back to home |
As the sun sets, Jemaa el-Fna Square becomes alive
Marrakech is your welcome! Marrakech, also known as the « Red City », is a major economic hub. Its red sandstone buildings and walls are 1000 years old. Marrakech is Berber and not Arab, and was once a major trading center for the Atlas mountain tribes. Marrakech’s lively Jemaa El-Fna Square is where you should be orientated. The souks (markets), the Koutoubia Mosque, Gardens, and the Kasbah (fortification or fortification) area are to your south. El Badi Palace, Bahia Palace and Saadian Tombs are all to the north. The Majorelle Gardens can be found in Ville Nouvelle.
A caleche is a unique way of touring the medina. The fondouks were medieval inns that provided shelter and supplies for merchants and travellers. Many of these have been transformed into large shopping areas, residences, and workshops that you can visit. You can find your way to the Koutoubia Mosque, and enjoy a break from the heat in the gardens with fountains and palms. It is not possible to enter the mosque by non-muslims. However, it is worth visiting its 12th-century foundations as well as its minaret.
Jemaa el-Fna becomes more lively with storytellers, acrobats, dancers, and even snake-charters as the evening progresses. You will find a variety of food stalls offering everything from small snacks to full-sized meals, fruit drinks, dried dates, or fruit drinks. You can grab a bite to eat or go for a more relaxing experience by choosing one of the cafes above the square. Here you can enjoy a meal and watch the show from the top.
Inside a Marrakech Souk
For a half-day sightseeing, meet your guide and explore the Ben Youssef School of Islam’s exquisite detail. You will be amazed at the Moroccan craftsmanship: carved cedar and sculpted plaster; arabesques; Islamic calligraphy; and colorful Zellij (mosaic tileswork). Visit the prayer hall and wander the old dormitories where up to 800 students lived.
Dar Di Said Museum (also known as The Museum of Moroccan Arts), houses exhibits of clothing and antiques. It also has beautiful Hispano-Moorish decorations. After exploring the complex labyrinthine souks hidden behind regular shops and restaurants, you can indulge your senses. For a variety of spices and woodwork, visit Souk el Attarin and Souk Chuari and Souk Smata to see traditional Moroccan slippers, babouche. To see how leather hides are dyed, visit Souk Des Teinturiers.
Boumalne Dades follows a river oasis
You can leave the bustling city behind by heading east towards the desert and ascending the High Atlas mountain ranges. Try to spot Mount Toubkal at 13,671 feet (4.167 m). You will pass Berber villages made up of traditional mud-brick houses along the route. You can eat lunch in Taddert, visit the Argan Oil Cooperative, and learn how local women extract the oil from the argan nuts to make oil for the cosmetic, health, and food industries. Continue on the winding road until you reach the Tizi N’Tichka pass. Stop to admire the magnificent view.
Continue east towards the desert hub and filming site of Ouarzazate. Take a tour with a movie studio to discover which movies were shot in the desert. You will pass many small towns as you travel along the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs to Boumalne Ddes. Here, you’ll see traditional farming methods being used. As you travel through the fragrant Kela’a M’gouna valley, the « Valley of the Roses », be sure to watch out for nomads tending their animals. Boumalne Dades is a major town that stretches the Dades River.
You can ride a camel from your campsite to the Saharan dunes.
Today, you’ll drive eastward to your final destination: The sand sea at Erg Chebbi just outside of Merzouga. Stop in Tinerhir along the way to see the river oasis on either side. You will find impressive mesas and plateaus in the surrounding desert landscape. You can explore the Todra Canyon located nearby. This 984 foot (300 m), deep ravine is cut by the Todra River. Continue on to the desert city of Erfoud. Visit a craft shop to see how fossil-rich rocks can be skillfully converted into useful and decorative objects.
You will be passing Merzouga, the closest town to The Sahara. Stop in the market town Rissani to see the livestock auction and the « donkey parking area ». You will see Rissani’s massive dunes, Erg Chebbi looming above you. Merzouga is reached by camel. You can ride in the desert and enjoy the setting sun on top of a large dunes. For dinner, return to your Erg Chebbi campsite. Enjoy traditional Berber music, stargazing and relaxation around the campfire before retiring to your Bedouin tent
Ait Benhaddou Kasbah
You can witness the Saharan sunrise early in the morning. Before exploring further of the Desert, rent a sandboard or join the Erg Shibi tour (circumnavigating the sand dunes) or a quad ATV tour. To explore the traditional Saharan village, head south to Khemliya. Rissani will offer you a second opportunity to stop by Maison Tuareg which is a shop selling traditional carpets and jewelry. Continue on to Alnif, passing through the umbrella-shaped trees in the acacia forest before you reach your lunch stop. Continue through the Draa valley, which is densely populated with date palmeries. You can also pick up a bag of dates to take along on the drive.
Continue on to the medieval Ait Benhaddou. Stop in Ouarzazate to break up your journey. The Musee du Cinema is a great place to visit for movie buffs. Ait Benhaddou, a protected UNESCO site is one of the most popular kasbahs in Morocco. It once occupied an important spot along the trans-Saharan route between Marrakech and Ouarzazate and the southern desert. After the day-crowds are gone, spend the night in the old city and explore the narrow alleyways. You can pay a nominal fee for entry to a few kasbahs, and then climb to the top to enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding Ouarzazate Valley
The Koutoubia Mosque with its minaret glows in the evening
Explore the narrow passageways and alleyways of the old kasbah before the masses arrive to take in the atmosphere of this fortified 11th-century city. You can leave Ait Benhaddou and travel back to Marrakech by going up and through the High Atlas Mountains and the Tizi N’Tichka Pass. You will notice a drastic change in the climate and landscape as you descend the high-altitude slopes that face north. You will soon find yourself in lively Marrakech after all the peace and tranquility of the desert.
It is possible to enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at an easier pace. You can visit Jemaa el-Fna to grab a bite at one of the food stalls. After a long day, take a stroll to the Koutoubia Mosque to see the floodlit lights. Then retire to your accommodation.
Amizmiz Valley: Green foothills
Today, you’ll travel south from Marrakech to the small village of Amizmiz at the foothills the High Atlas Mountains (about an hour south). Enjoy a visit to the small market in the old city before you join your mountain guide for a trek on the narrow roads and mule trails in the hills. Wander between Berber villages to observe local shepherds and farmers tending to their livestock and the surrounding landscape. Children may be seen on their way to school. This is usually shared by a few villages nearby.
Enjoy lunch with a local family to get a glimpse into their lives and learn how they make bread. Continue hiking into the afternoon, before you return to another Berber home. There you will be greeted with dinner and given a place to retire for the night.
Skala de la Kasbah at Essaouira, Atlantic
After breakfast, head west towards the Atlantic coast and the charming town of Essaouira. You will travel along rolling plains and through endemic argan forest. You may be able to see goats grazing on argan fruits if you are lucky. This is a rare sight when grass pasture is scarce or unavailable. You can stop at the Argan Oil Cooperative to see the oil being extracted from the nuts.
You can spend the rest of your day in Essaouira’s port city, which is a refreshing contrast to the bustling Marrakech. You can browse the UNESCO-protected Medina, ride horses in surf, learn kitesurfing, and walk the Skala (the 18th century seafront ramparts) along its coast. Old brass cannons, designed by European engineers, line the walls. They offer views over the Atlantic. Jimi Hendrix lovers may wish to take a taxi to Diabat, the end of Essaouira’s beach where he spent time. Enjoy freshly caught seafood as you walk back to Essaouira.
You can try your hand at water sports in Essaouira
Essaouira, also known as « Windy City », is well-known for its strong alizee trade winds which hit the crescent beach. Enjoy the sunrise to see the kiteboarders, windsurfers and surfers. If you are feeling more adventurous, consider taking a lesson before returning to Marrakech.
Depending on your flight details, you might want to visit the kasbah region south of Jemaa el-Fna. Visit the Saadian Tombs to see the 500-year-old craftsmanship that went into their construction. As you make your way through the Mellah, a Jewish quarter, and the 19th-century Bahia Palace, stop by the sunken gardens at the 17th-century El Badi Palace. The only Almoravid monument that remains is the 12th century Almoravid Koubba. After visiting the El Badi Palace, spend some time in the Marrakech museum. This museum is located in the 19th-century Dar Mnebbi Palace. Enjoy traditional Berber and Moroccan art.
Please keep in mind that the itinerary provided is merely a suggestion. If it does not suit your needs, feel free to reach out to us. We will be happy to create a customized tour itinerary specifically designed to meet your preferences and the length of your stay. We offer personalize tours and trips throughout Morocco. The cost of the tour is based on the number of participants, with a lower cost per person for larger groups. The transportation fee remains constant, and the cost will be divided among participants. The price also varies based on the quality of the chosen accommodation. For a precise quote, please get in touch with us.
Discover more outstanding itineraries for your Morocco adventure: Would you like to discover additional travel ideas for your Morocco trip? Take a look at these additional Morocco itineraries, explore alternative options for spending two weeks in Morocco, or learn about the optimal time to visit Morocco.
Welcome to Morocco Tours, your premier travel agency specializing in unforgettable experiences in Morocco. We understand that traveling to a new country can be overwhelming, which is why we’re here to help. With years of experience and a deep love for the country, our team of experts has curated a range of tours that showcase the best of Morocco.