Overview
An individualized and comfortable tour with the off-road vehicle. Experience the mountains of the High Atlas, the picturesque oases of the Draa Valley with millions of date palms and the fantastic desert landscape of the Erg Chigaga dunes. Enjoy the thrills of the desert with a trip with the dromedaries to contemplate the sunset in the dunes of Erg Chigaga and overnight in our comfortable tent camp under the stars of the immense desert sky.
Tour 3.2
Itinerary: Marrakesh – High Atlas – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Draàvalley – Zagora– Tamegroute – Mhamid – Oasis of Iriki – Dunes of Erg Chigaga – Lake Iriqui – Foum Zguid – Tazenakth – High Atlas – Marrakesh
Type of tour: Private and guided tour in 4×4 Jeep off-road, camel riding and sandboarding in the desert.
Min. participants/max. participants: from 2 participants; maximum 6 participants in Jeep
Duration of the tour: 3 days and 2 nights in half board
Departure/arrival: departure and arrival from / to your hotel in Marrakech
Individual starting dates, all over the year
Tour Plan
Our trip will take us through the High Atlas mountains by way of the historic Tizi-n-Tichka pass. With an elevation of 2,260 meters the size and beauty of the mountains cannot be overstated. This pass is also dotted with ancient oak woods, walnut groves, traditional Berber villages and picturesque valley pastures complete with roaming free range goats and sheep. The mountain pass opens into a high desert lunar landscape that is home to Ait Benhaddou, where we will stop for lunch. This UNESCO protected village has been featured in such films as Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth and The Gladiator. Morocco has long been a favorite of Hollywood and you will also have a chance to visit previous movie sets that are still standing. From here we journey to Ouarzazate. Then through the lush Draa Valley to the historic village of Zagora. Here you will stay in a Moroccan Riad bed and breakfast, complete with tea service and full dinner.
After breakfast, we continue south towards the desert of Mhamid. The journey continues past Tamegroute (if you wish you can visit a pottery workshop where you can watch the potters at work) and the dunes of Tinfou to Mhamid, once a lonely oasis and an important stage on the old caravan routes. Before Mhamid, we leave the paved road and drive into the desert; if you are lucky, you may see ostriches, antelopes and gazelles; you will certainly come across free-roaming dromedaries and herds of goats. In an adventurous ride in a Land Cruiser on the desert tracks, you will reach the holy oasis of Iriki after approx. 50 km and then continue to the dunes of Erg Chigaga, which extend over an area of approx. 40 km. The golden-coloured dunes reach a height of 300 m and our desert camp is located in the middle of the dunes. Enjoy the hospitality of the nomads, with the famous mint tea, the ‘Whiskey berbère’ as a welcome drink. Lunch at the camp; sandboarding on the dunes and a dromedary ride into the sunset. Dinner and overnight stay in a desert bivouac and nomadic romance.
After breakfast, we continue on our journey along the old Paris-Dakar Rally track. Passing once again through the dried up salt lake of Iriki to a truly unique mountain of fossils. Once back in the pavement we journey to Tazenakht. Here we will stop for lunch and have another golden opportunity to collect some of the rugs Morocco is world famous for. This region is known for producing the finest woven rugs. This is your chance to buy them straight from the source, the quality simply cannot be overstated. From here we travel back towards Marrakesh arriving in the evening.
Included
- Private transport in an air-conditioned Landcruiser (Minivan)
- English speaking driver/guide
- Pick up and drop-off at the airport or your Riad/Hotel in Marrakech
- The opportunity to ask a driver to stop when and where you wish
- Free time to explore the places such as Ait Ben Haddou, Dadesvalley, Draavalley ecc for walks and photo stops
- 1 overnight in comfortable tent in our desert camp in the Erg Chigaga dunes with breakfast, lunch and dinner
- the camel riding (1,5 hour) with a local guide in the desert
- sandboarding and berber drumming in the desert camp
- tea, coffee and mineral water in the desert camp
Exclude
- lunch
- Beverages
- Personal expenses
- Entrance fees
- Tips
