5 days/4 nights from Agadir to Marrakech: the desert of Merzouga and hiking in the Dades gorges

We set out from Agadir and travel inland passed Taroudant and into the Sous Valley. Notorious for images of goats balanced high in Argan trees. Once through the valley we reach Tazenakht, a famous carpet manufacturing centre. We stop in Tazenakht for lunch and we head towards to the lush Draa Valley to the historic village or Tamnougalt. Here you will stay in a Moroccan Riad bed and breakfast, complete with tea service and full dinner.

Your day begins with breakfast on the on the raid terrace, followed by a walk through the Tamnougalt Oasis.Then once again we pass through the Draa Valley on route to Tazzarine and Rissani. 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 in the dunes we set out for the Todra Gorges. This marvel of geography with cliffs of pink and gray reaching the sky cannot be overstated. It’s a wonderful spot for a break and peaceful walk. From here we travel to the nearby village, Boumalne Dades is a trading village and the last stop before we enter the breath taking Dades Gorge. 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. You will be accompanied by your guide on a 2 hour walk through the remote gorges and canyons of Dades. Around lunch time we will reach the oasis for an open air lunch. The afternoon is spent taking the leisurely scenic back to the Riad. Here a hot show, dinner and tea service awaits.

After breakfast we leave the Dades Gorge and drive west to Rose Valley. In the Valley we travel through Skoura and Kelaa M’Gouna, an area known for both roses and its handcrafted daggers. 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. This valley 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 you will take the historic Tizi-n-Tichka Pass to Marrakech, arriving in the evening.