6 days/5 nights: ‘From Marrakech via the Dades Gorge and the great dunes of Erg Chebbi to Fez’

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 you will spend the day exploring the remote canyons of the Dades Gorge.  Our guide will take you on a 2 hours mountain trek to an isolated oasis where you will enjoy a picnic with a view.  After lunch we continue our hike back to the Riad where a relaxing evening of tea and dining awaits. 

After breakfast we set off to the Todra Gorge. This marvel of geography with cliffs of pink and grey reaching the sky cannot be overstated. It’s a wonderful spot for a break and peaceful walk. From here we travel to the near by village of Erfoud for lunch. This area is home to centuries old horizontal wells called Qauah, that once irrigated the desert. After lunch we set out for Merzouga and the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Here you will admire the gilded pink dunes from the saddle of a dromedary passing effortlessly through the sand. The Chebbi dunes are continuously changing and moving, reaching a height of 160 meters. The evening will be spent in a luxury desert camp enjoying first class Berber hospitality. Complete with the traditional mint tea ritual, dinner and music topped off with star gazing in the vast desert sky.

After breakfast at our bivouac, we set off for Rissani and Erfoud, then continue north to Errachidia and the Ziz Valley, famous for its large number of date palms. The journey continues until we finally reach Fes. Overnight stay in a riad in the medina.

After breakfast at the riad, you will have the day to explore Fes, Morocco’s third largest city and once the cultural and religious centre of Morocco. Fes is divided into three districts. The oldest district, Fès-el-Bali, was built in the Arab Middle Ages and has retained its character. Fès-el-Bali was built around the Qarawiyin University, which was the centre of public life after its foundation in 859. It is enclosed by the city walls. The hustle and bustle in the narrow streets, where no vehicles can drive, the smells of spices and food stalls, the sounds of local craftsmen at work and a visit to the tanners’ quarter, where animal skins are still tanned in the traditional way, leave a lasting impression. A second district is the so-called new town, Fèz el Jadid. It was built in the mid-13th century when Fèz was declared the capital. At its centre are the royal palace and the Mellah, the Jewish quarter. The third district is the Ville Nouvelle, which dates back to French colonial rule. Today, it is the largest part of Fèz in terms of area and population. From there, you have a good view of Fèz el Bali, where the magnificent Arab-Andalusian buildings and the minarets of the mosques with their green glazed tile roofs really come into their own. Overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast, continue on to Ifrane and Azrou in the Middle Atlas Mountains. This region has a low mountain range character, with streams babbling between green meadows and fruit trees and Barbary macaques living in ancient cedar forests. Ifrane is located at an altitude of 1,650 metres and was established by the French as a summer resort.  The pointed gabled houses give Ifrane the appearance of a town in the European low mountain range. Azrou, located at an altitude of 1,250 metres, is the centre of the Beni M’guild Berbers and, like Ifrane, is a high-altitude health resort. The journey continues via Khenifra and Beni-Mellal back to Marrakech, where your tour ends.