02/05/2022
Tour 5 days from Marrakech to Merzouga
Day 1: Marrakech – Imlil – Sidi Chamharouch – Toubkal refuge
On your first first day on one of our 5 day trips from Marrakech to Fes, the driver will receive you from the hotel and will go to the heart of the High Atlas Mountains. The trip starts from Imlil (1,740m), a big Berber village 65km south of Marrakech.
You will be dropped off at the village, where the muleteers will take care of your luggage, food, and other requirements.
Within half an hour, your journey to the Berber village, accompanied by an experienced mountain guide, will follow. Shortly after, you will reach the mountain hut by the shrine of Sidi Chamharouch at 2,500m to enjoy your picnic lunch.
All things will be prepared in advance by the cook. After the lunch, which is followed by a short break, you can continue your journey towards the refuge at 3,200m height.
Day 2: Toubkal refuge – Summit – Return to Imlil
Wake up as early as possible to avoid the heat of the sun. We will finish up with breakfast by 5am and start climbing by 5.30am.
Take careful steps towards the point above the hut, where you can take a short break with nuts, oranges and water. After 3 or 4 hours of uphill walking, you can notice the High Atlas Mountains, the exotic valleys around them, and the Berber villages.
Take a break of around 45 minutes on the summit to take the pictures and enjoy the beauty before going all the way down to the hut. The cook will be ready with the lunch there.
After the lunch, enjoy what you wouldn’t be able to on a single day trip from Marrackech by walking down the same route and spending the night with a Berber family with dinner and breakfast (suite with private bath will be provided).
Day 3: Imlil – Ait Benhaddou – Rose Valley – Dades Gorge
The third day of your trip from Marrakech to Fes will see you depart from Imlil at 8am and start your journey towards Ouarzazate. On the way, you will be able to pass through Tizi-n-Tichka Pass at 2,260m, which is the highest road pass in Morocco.
The natural beauty of the High Atlas Mountains and the small Berber villages scattered in the valleys of the mountain will surely leave you amazed. The UNESCO World Heritage Site at Ait Benhaddou is hard to miss.
The Kasbah welcomes with the best and the most impressive fortress cities of the country. This is situated on the top of the hill and is a favourite place among movie directors.
Famous movies like Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia were shot here. The upper area of Kasbah provides a breathtaking view and is totally worth the steep climb through the windy streets.
The journey continues through the Road of One Thousand Kasbahs and the Skoura oasis. The Valley of Roses, also known as Kelaa M’Gouna, is the centre of various types of rose products like rose water, soaps, and cream that have earned fame throughout the world.
Carry on the journey by passing the Tamnalt Hills and its strange rock creations, before you arrive at the Dades Gorge, which has been carved for centuries by the famous Dades River.
The red and mauve rocks create beautiful natural scenery along with the tower above the road. Spend the night in the Dades Gorge, where you will receive the dinner and the breakfast for the next day.
Day 4: Dades Gorge – Todra Gorge – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi
Enjoy a breakfast in the morning before departing the Dades Gorge and find your way to another gorge – the Todra Gorge (also the highest oasis in Morocco).
This gorge is actually cut deep into the colored cliffs of the High Atlas Mountains and around 300 meter high walls. The narrowest parts are merely 20 meters apart from each other.
From the Todra Gorge, your next stop will be at Merzouga, an oasis in the heart of Sahara Desert, at the foot of the famous Erg Chebbi dunes. There, you can find the guides as well as the camels to guide you through the Moroccan Sahara.
The journey through the desert landscape will take around 2 hours and finally, you will reach the desert camp for night. On the way, you can witness the elegance of a magical sunset on the desert.
The guide will prepare refreshing mint tea for you at the camp along with a great tagine dinner. A Nomad tent will be there for overnight, along with the breakfast for the upcoming day.
Day 5: Erg Chebbi – Merzouga – Midelt – Fes
The final leg of our five day trips from Marrakech to Fes is just as amazing as any other. Wake up early to enjoy the sunrise over Erg Chebbi sand dunes, in what might be the highlight of your time in the Moroccon desert.
After breakfast, continue the journey towards Merzouga Fes through the beautiful Ziz Valley Gorge via Azrou. The green cedar forests and the playful monkeys will keep you amused. By late evening, you will be dropped at the hotel.