7 days from Tangier to the desert through Chefchaouen

 7 Days  Tangeir  to  Merzouga  Desert  Tours

Day 1: Pick up in Tangier – Chefchaouen:

Pick up by our guide at the agreed hour at the port or airport of Tangier. We set off on our trip towards Chefchaouen, or Chaouen, as some people call it, located in the only intercontinental natural park declared a Natural Biosphere Reserve. 

It is a town hanging from the mountain, white and black coloured, inhabited by wise, kind and respectful people, which delights the visitor with stunning urban spots, astounding samples of local craftwork, and a peacefulness and calmness difficult to find in our days.  Dinner and lodging in Riad.

Day 2: Chefchaouen – Volubilis – Moulay Idriss – Fez:

We leave the prosperous world of Chefchaouen and head off to Fez, the first of the imperial cities which can pride itself on hosting one of the most ancient universities in the world. Throughout the way, we’ll visit the ruins of Roman Volubilis, well preserved indeed. 

We’ll also gaze at the landscape of Moulay Idriss, the sacred city where we’ll have lunch and, in the evening, we’ll arrive at Fez to enjoy its twilight while we visit the walls and doors of its Medina, or just have a welcome tea at the Riad’s terrace. Dinner and lodging in Riad.

Day 3: Visit to Fez – Ifrane – Middle Atlas – Cèdre Gouraud Forest – Midelt:

After a tasty breakfast in the Riad, we’ll set off on our guided visit through the Medina, which is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You’ll get carried away to long-ago centuries by the bustle of the city and its entangled passageways, structured on guilds of potters, dry cleaners, etc. We’ll realise its medieval constitution, as if time had come to a standstill. Not far from Fez, we’ll go through Ifrane, residential centre, before reaching the Cèdre Gouraud Forest in the Middle Atlas. Dinner and lodging in Midelt.

Day 4: Midelt – Merzouga Dunes – Camel trip and night in Nomad Haimas:

It’s time for Atlas. We’ll come across a striking change in the landscape: the road crosses the High Atlas Mountains from where we’ll immediately come into the Great South. The sand becomes arid, sheltering amazing geologic formations and deep valleys such as Ziz Valley, which constitute huge green spots in the desert. We’ll be able to gaze at clay architecture, palm trees, some distant kasbahs… We are knocking on the desert’s doors. 

We’ll arrive at the astonishing Merzouga Dunes (which are composed of the finest sand) where we’ll substitute our car for an animal-drawn vehicle (namely, dromedary) to get into the core of the dunes and stare at a memorable sunset. We’ll ride to the campsite, where we’ll lodge in Haimas (tents made up of dromedary hair) equal to those used by the nomads in the desert. Dinner and overnight in the core of the desert beneath a stunning canopy of stars.

Day 5: Merzouga Desert – Rissani Market – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley:

After a tasty breakfast, we’ll leave the desert to head off to Rissani, where we’ll visit its market (if and when it is a market day: Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday.) After that, we’ll keep on the road to Erfoud, where you’ll have the chance of visiting the marble factory before we go on to the palm groves of Touroug and Tinjdad. 1 hour later, we’ll arrive at one of our key points in the High Atlas Mountains: the Todra Gorges. 

A colossal gorge of huge and amazing vertical walls has resulted from the effect of the current of river Todra, a paradise for mountaineers and a unique place. Lunch in the place and a half-hour walk is advisable to watch and utterly enjoy the Gorges. In the evening, we’ll go on towards Dades Valley, also called the Country of Figs due to its large number of fig trees. We’ll take a break along Boumalne Dades to watch a curious geologic formation known as “the Monkey Fingers.” Dinner and overnight in Dades Gorges.

Day 6: Dades Valley – Valley of the Roses – Ouarzazate – High Atlas Mountains – Marrakech:

After having breakfast, we’ll have the chance to delight our sight with the best landscapes in Dades Valley from one of the most suitable places that the mountains offer us. From there, we’ll be able to observe the number of kasbahs as well as their picturesqueness. 

After making some stops to enjoy the route of a Thousand Kasbah, the Valley of the Roses and the great Skoura palm grove, we’ll arrive at Ouarzazate and we’ll visit the kasbah of Taourirt, former residence of the Glaoui or Sir of Marrakech, the cinematographic studios, and the Film Museum, if you want to.  Lunch in town and, in the evening, we’ll set off to Marrakech across the Tizi N’tichka pass with some stop-overs to take some pictures.  

Here, we’ll leave that moonscape behind, leading into other prevailing colours such as green, ochre, etc. Arrival at Marrakech about 06:00 p.m., dinner and lodging in Riad.

Day 6: Marrakech – Airport:

Breakfast and spare time in the morning until the agreed hour, and airport transfer, where we’ll help you check-in your luggage and find the boarding gate, after which our services will be finished.

Book your tour in: Merzougadeserttrips.com