5 Days Fez Tours to Marrakech and Desert

Day 1: Fez – Ifrane – Cedros Forest – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga Desert:

Pick up at your hotel at 8am and head south to cross the Middle Atlas Mountains until you reach Ifrane. This is known as “the little Moroccan Switzerland” because of its great resemblance to that country. One of the animals that once inhabited these mountains was the Atlas lion, which is why it has become the symbol of the city and why they have dedicated a stone statue in the centre of it. We will take the opportunity to stop and take some photos. Afterwards we will cross the famous cedar forests and we will be able to admire the Great Cedar Gouraud, the largest cedar forest of the region. We will also feed the hundreds of Barbary monkeys that live in the area. Lunch in Midelt or Rich; from here the land becomes arid and full of spectacular geological formations and deep green valleys, such as the Ziz Valley. We will begin to see the typical architecture of adobe, palm trees, some distant Kasbahs, etc; we are truly at the doors of the desert. An hour after passing through Erfoud we arrive at the impressive dunes of Merzouga and, after the hospitality tea, we will leave the suitcases in the rooms and go up to the first dunes near the hotel where we will enjoy the beautiful sunset. Dinner and overnight in a hotel located a few meters from the dunes of Erg Chebbi.

Day 2: Merzouga – Nomadic Families – Riding on a camel and night at Haimas Nómadas:

We are already in the desert but today will be a day of Total Desert. After a copious and rich breakfast, we we will circle the dunes of the Erg Chebbi in a 4 × 4, an extension of the desert where the Great Dune of Morocco –  more than 250 meters high – is, before connecting by track with part of the route followed by the old Paris -Dakar Rally, with the mountains that border with Algeria in the background. We will stop at the oasis of Tissardmin where we can find fossil quarries that are still in this region and then we will continue towards a nomadic settlement where we will discover some of the secrets of their life and customs. Later we will stop at a panoramic point where we can contemplate the Erg Chebbi as a whole. We will arrive at the village of Khamlia, whose inhabitants are originally from Mali, where we will relax with a tea while we enjoy a small concert of spiritual music from Gnawa. Return to the hotel to leave in a caravan of camels in order to enter the heart of the dunes and witness an unforgettable sunset. We will arrive by camel at the camp where we will stay in Haimas (tents made with dromedary hair) like those used by desert nomads. Dinner and night in Haimas in the heart of the desert under a spectacular blanket of stars.

Day 3: Merzouga Desert – Rissani Market – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley:

” Appointment with the Sunrise ”; since you are in the desert, we recommend you get up early to walk to the highest dune around the camp to enjoy the sunrise and this breathtaking landscape that nature offers. After, we will return on camels to the village of Merzouga. Following a delicious breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to the desert and leave for Rissani, where we will visit its market (if we are lucky and it is one of the market days: Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday). We will continue our route towards Erfoud, where there is also possibility of visiting the marble factory, before continuing to the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad. An hour later we will arrive at one of the most incredible points of the High Atlas: The Todra Gorges. The channel of the Todra River has formed a canyon of vertical walls of enormous proportions and great beauty. It is a paradise for climbers and an utterly unique place. Lunch at the site and a half hour walk would be advisable to see and enjoy the Gorges in detail. In the afternoon we will continue to the Dades Valley, also known as the Valley of Figs due to the numerous fig trees that are found here, passing through Boumalne Dades to stop to contemplate a curious geological formation known as “The Monkey Gingers”. Dinner and night in the Gorges of Dades.

Day 4: Dades Valley – Valley of Roses – Boutagrar- Palm Grove of Skoura – Ouarzazate:

After breakfast, we can enjoy one of the best views of the Dades Valley. We will do it from one of the most strategic places that the mountains offer us. From there we can see the amount of picturesque kasbahs there, then pass along a road dotted with several Kasbahs of great interest until you reach the Kasbah Aït Youl. Here we will make a detour and we will go through routes deeper in the Central High Atlas, discovering spectacular landscapes. We will visit a nomadic family who still lives in the caves in the Boutagrar Valley, where time seems to have stopped. We will see mountains, canyons and valleys, as well as the caves. After arriving at the Valley of the Roses we will stop at the village of Kelaa M ‘gouna. Lunch in the village and, in the afternoon, we will go through the palm grove of Skoura, to arrive later at Ouarzazate, for dinner and hotel accommodation.

Day 5: Ouarzazate – Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou – High Atlas Mountains – Marrakech:

We will dedicate the morning to the visit of Ouarzazat. Here you will explore the kasbah of Taourirt and film studios. Then we will go to the fortified town of Ait Ben Haddou, where we will visit its famous Kasbah, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. In this spectacular setting films of such renown as Gladiator, Asterix and Obélix, Joya del Nilo, and Sahara with Penelope Cruz have been shot. Lunch in the village and in the afternoon we will depart for Marrakech, taking the mountain pass of Tizi Ntichka, with stops to take pictures. Here we will leave behind the lunar landscape which will give way to the predominant green and ocher colours near Marrakech. Arrival at Marrakech around 6pm, transfer to the hotel and end of our services.