5 days/4 nights: “From Marrakech to Agadir: Impressive Dades and golden dunes of Erg Chigaga”

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 and  we reach our first destination, the Telouet Kasbah; along the ancient route of the caravans, this was the seat of power of the El Glaoui family, hence sometimes called the Palace of Glaoui. (if you wish you can visit the Kasbah). We continue to Ait Benhaddou, a mud brick kasbah protected by UNESCO and known as the finest and most famous in Morocco, which has featured in a number of films, such as Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth and The Gladiator. After the tour we stop for lunch. 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.

After breakfast in the riad, we set off on an excursion to the Dades gorge. We’ll be accompanied by your guide and  2 hour walk along the gorges and canyons of Dades, we reach the oasis for an open air lunch, before returning to the riad. Dinner and overnight accommodation in the riad.

After a 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.   This river basin spanning between Ouarzazate and M’Hamid is home to millions of date palms in season between September and December.  A short distance down the road we enter the Zagora and Tamegroute region.  This area is known for producing some of the best hand crafted pottery in all of Morocco. From here we follow the highway to the end and the desert outpost of M’Hamid. This is where most of our guides were born and feel at home once the pavement ends. We travel through 50km of desert landscape passing along hand made “roads” that are centuries old. Passing through a traditional watering, the Iriki Oasis before passing through the Iriki salt flats and in the Erg Chigaga desert. This amazing series of golden desert dunes stretches for 40 km reaching a maximum height of 300 metres. Our Sahara Feeling camp is nestled within these timeless sand dunes. The evening will be spent in camp enjoying first class Sahrawi hospitality. Complete with the traditional mint tea ritual, nomadic dinner and music topped off with a bonfire under the open sky.

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 by jeep along the old track of the Paris-Dakar rally, reaching the dried up salt lake of Iriki. We pass below the fossil mountain and finally leave the desert behind and reach Tazenakht, a famous carpet manufacturing centre. We stop in Tazenakht for lunch; driving to Taroudant and Agadir where the tour ends.