5 day tour from Fes to Marakech via the Atlas & Desert
5 DAY Desert Tour From Fes to Marrakech via the Atlas & Desert, Presented to you by Prime Morocco Tours.
Day 1 :Fes – Ifrane – Azrou – Ziz Valley – Erfoud–Merzouga:
The trip will start from Fez city; recognized as an international heritage by the UNSCO, we will first meet at the hotel or raid where you are booked. Heading towards Merzouga known by its golden desert in the south east of Morocco. Through the route we will go drive by the city of Ifran; different from the other cities of the country Ifran has a European wonderful architecture surrounded by the Cedar forest; here we can stop to feed monkeys living in that forest and enjoy the fresh air. After that we will continue the route to Midelt city; located in the middle atlas; known for its apple production and the ancient mines of plumb. We will stop there for lunch time and continue the trip.The next direction will be Erfoud an oasis town in eastern Morocco, crossing the Tizi Ntalghamt a passage through the mountain that will transport you to another landscape view with deserted mountains except next the river. Arriving to Arfoud the trip we will drive directly to Merzouga stop at an auberge and leave your luggage there and ride camels to the khaima “the tent” in the desert. You will be served dinner then listen the local music with drums and dance around a campfire.
Day 2 :Merzouga – Berber Families – Black Desert – Merzouga (Camel Ride & Night in Sahara):
The morning in the desert will start very early to allow you see the sunrise and the changing of color of the golden dunes with the time. After that you will ride back camels to merzouga at hotel where you can get a fresh shower and a tasty breakfast before going in a visit to the villages surrounding Erg Chebbi dunes such as: Hassi Labied, Merdani, Khamlia andM’fis. We will meet locals on the way to Khamlia who will show you their desert fausses. On the sand you will probably encounter desert reptiles and mammals. Arriving to khamilia known as the Gnawi village, black people coming from southern countries of Africa as slaves in the past, who get integrated to the Moroccan society. The people there will be welcoming you very hospitably with a cup of tea made in the desert manner (Amazigh whiskey) and listning to their lovely spiritual Gnawi music. Leaving khamilia we will go towardsthe Algerian borders to have panoramic view to the golden dunes before having a picnic lunch under the shadow of a tree. The ride will continue visiting nomads of the region living under an Amazigh tent and taking care of their herds. On the way back to Merzouga to have dinner and sleep the night at the hotel, you will come across the volcanic rocks and the Yasmina Lake where you will be surprised with the natural postcard of the dunes surrounding the lake ( in spring)
Day 3: Merzouga – Errissani – Erfoud – Jorf – Todra Gorges:
The second day you will wake up early in the morning to admire the sunrise shining at the golden sand. After that we ride back on camels to the auberge. Where you will have a shower to refresh your body and then an appetite breakfast. Putting back your things on bus. We will Drive toward Rissani town cituated at the edge of the Ziz Valley. Where is traditional ksour and desert villages and the Mausoleum of the first Alaouite Sultan Moulay Ali cherif, the grand father of the current King of Morocco. There we will be served lunch and continue the journey towards the Todra gorges through the Amazigh villages near the Oasis of Tinghir surrounded by the mountain of the High Atlas. Arriving to the Gorges where you spend the night you will be amazed with the shape of the limestone shaped years ago by the power of water, this place is known for rock climbing sport.
Day 4: Todra Gorges – Dades Gorges – Roses Valley – Skoura–Ouarzazate:
Waking up at dades gorges, you will have your breakfast and start traveling towards Hollywood city of Morocco, Ouarzazate. The drive will take you through the piste Boutagherar and oasis of Skoura which is cultivated with hectares of roses where we can stop for a lunch time and enjoy the landscape of the region. Arriving to Ouarzazate we will visit many Cinematographic buildings. Then we can have dinner and call it a day
Day 5 : Ouarzazate – Kasbah AitBenhaddou – High Atlas Mountains – Marrakech
The next morning, you will have a breakfast meal. Then we will start the trip From Ouarzazate. The drive will take us to the Ighram “the fortified village” of Ait ben Haddou; where we will have lunch, this village took its name from from Ksar (collective living building) of Ait Ben Haddou, world Hiretage site by UNSCO in 1987, where famous films were shot to name but a few as Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, The Mummy. Going via the Tizi N’Tichka mountain passage at the high Atlas, you will have some time to take pictures of the mountain winds. Then the trip will countinue to it’s final point Marrakech, or as it is known for the Amazigh people the landOf God “Amour N Akouch” in the evening time. Here it comes the end of our services.