Overview
An individualized, private and comfortable off-road tour combined with a day of trekking in the Erg Chigaga desert. Experience the mountains of the High Atlas, the Berber villages with stone and mud brick houses and the valley of 1000 Kasbah with typical mud buildings. From the magnificent Dades and Todra gorges you will reach the oasis of the Draa Valley with millions of date palms and the fantastic desert landscape of the Erg Chigaga dunes.
Enjoy the nomadic hospitality with a day of trekking with dromedaries in the desert and the thrill of 2 nights in the comfortable tented camp under the stars of the immense sky in the dunes of Erg Chigaga. Afterwards the tour will take you to the Atlantic Ocean and the pretty towns of Taroudant and Essaouira and will end in Marrakech.
Tour 7.6
Itinerary: Marrakesh – High Atlas – Ait Ben Haddou – Valley of the 1000 Kasbahs – Dades gorges– Todra gorges– Nkob – Draàvalley – Zagora -Tamegroute – Mhamid – Oasis of Iriki – dunes of Erg Chigaga – Lake of Iriqui – Foum Zguid – Tazenakth – Taroudant – Agadir – Essaouira- Marrakesh
Type of tour: Private and off-road guided Jeep tour and 1 day of trekking in the desert
Min. participants/max. participants: from 2 participants; maximum 6 participants in Jeep
Duration of the tour: 7 days and 6 nights with half board
Departure /Arrival: departure and arrival from / to your Marrakech hotel
Individual starting dates
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 free range goats and sheeps. 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 medina 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 set off through The Valley of 1000 Kasbahs. Kasbahs are ancient castles or strongholds. The road you travel along may be paved today, but 1000 years ago it was just a path full of traders going to and from Europe. These Kasbahs offered a safe place to conduct business and spend the night in safety. We then travel through Skoura and Kelaa M’Gouna an area known for both roses and its handcrafted daggers. Then through the lush Dades Valley. Here you will stay in a Moroccan Riad bed and breakfast, complete with tea service and full dinner.
Aftera hearty breakfast our journey takes into the Jebel Saghro mountain range. By way of the Tizi n’Tazazert pass. This ancient pass reaches an altitude of 2,283 meters and offers the finest views of Jebel Saghro. Our guides know all the best look out spots to take in these spectacular rock formations. On our descent brings us to the Tagourt Plateau and its one of a kind pyramid-like Tazlout rock formation. Passing through the Acca n’Akhbache and Bab n’Ali gorges before we reach the lush Draa Valley. The waters running down from the High Atlas have formed a long oasis which runs from Ouarzazate to M’Hamid. The most luxuriant part, with millions of date palms, is located between Agdz and Zagora. The dates of Zagora are of particularly high quality and can be bought anywhere in the area during the harvest period from September to December. Whatever you do, make sure you taste this exceptional fruit. We move on to Zagora, dinner and overnight accommodation in a typical Riad.
After breakfast on the terrace of the Riad, we go for a walk in the oasis before leaving for the desert. We pass through Tamegroute, famous for its craft pottery production, and reach M’Hamid, the desert outpost. From M’Hamid, we continue our journey into the desert. An adventurous journey through the Sahara by jeep awaits us. After covering 50 km of track, we reach the oasis of Iriki, where we have lunch before continuing towards the dunes of Erg Chigaga – an amazing series of golden desert dunes stretching for 40 km and reaching a maximum height of 300 metres. Here, you can admire the sunset amid the dunes. The typical nomad hospitality awaits us here in our tented camp, surrounded by the dunes of the Sahara, with the ritual welcome with mint tea, a traditional nomad dinner with music and a bonfire and overnight accommodation in a nomad tent.
The Erg Chigaga sunrise is certainly something you don’t want to miss, the golden light bounces across the dunes in a truly magnificent fashion. After breakfast our day with the dromedaries begins. Gliding through the dunes sitting atop a dromedary is a marvelous experience. After a few hours of trekking through the dunes you will arrive at a stand of Tamarind trees. Here in the shade our guides will cook a traditional nomadic lunch of kebabs and fresh bread. From here we pass back through the dunes towards camp where you can enjoy a peaceful sunset and enjoy a wonderful dinner and tea.
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 head to Taroudant, a walled mountain city. Here you will spend the night in a traditional Riad bed and breakfast.
After breakfast in the garden of our Riad, we pay a visit to the attractive town of Taroudant, with its walls and medina with its souk. We resume our journey to the Atlantic Ocean, and head along the coast to the north until we reach Essaouira. Overnight accommodation in a Riad in the medina of Essaouira.
After breakfast, we’ll have time to visit the beautiful town of Essaouira, on the Atlantic Ocean, a destination rich in charm and fascination. Among its attractions are the fish market and harbour, with the small fishing vessels which bring the fresh fish and all the abundance of the Atlantic to the land. The ancient fortifications, ramparts and, above all, the imposing medina, which was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2001, are unforgettable sights. As we walk the narrow lanes of the medina, we can admire the picturesque white houses with blue doors and window frames and the many shops and cafes. Return to Marrakesh.
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, Draavalley ecc for walks and photo stop
- 3 overnight in air-conditioned room with private bathroom in Hotel/Riad with breakfast and dinner
- 2 overnight in private, comfortable tent in the desert camp in Erg Chigaga with breakfast and dinner
- 1 overnight in air-conditioned room with private bathroom in Hotel/Riad with breakfast
- day trekking tour with local guide in the desert of Erg Chigaga with picnic for lunch
- sandboarding
- Berber drumming in the desert
- tea, coffee and mineral water in the desert camp
Exclude
- Remaining lunch and dinner in Essaouira
- Beverages
- Personal expenses
- Entrance fees
- Tips
