Imperial Cities and Desert Adventure: Starting from Casablanca

Leaving from Fes, we will head toward the Middle Atlas, with our first stop in Ifrane, often referred to as the “African Switzerland.” Next, we will visit Azrou, a Berber village known for its craftsmanship, carpets, and wood sculptures. We will then continue to Midelt. Our journey will proceed through Tizi Talghemt, also called the “Camel’s Neck,” situated at an altitude of 1,907 meters.

The landscape here is striking, with barren, rugged mountains. In the afternoon, we will arrive in Errachidia and travel along the lush palm groves of the Ziz Valley until we reach Erfoud’s palm oasis. We will continue our route until we reach the majestic sand dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga. Riding camels, we will venture into the desert to witness a breathtaking sunset over the dunes. We will spend a magical night sleeping among the dunes in a traditional Berber tent.

You can savor a delicious Berber dinner, accompanied by the rhythmic sounds of drums, under a star-filled sky unlike any you’ve seen before. Accommodation will be provided in a desert tent camp.

If you enjoy waking up early, you can witness the breathtaking sunrise from the top of a dune. Afterwards, we’ll return to the hotel with the dromedaries for breakfast and a refreshing shower. Then, it will be time to leave the desert and head to Rissani, where we’ll visit the local market, famous for its donkey exchange. This market is a fascinating place, bustling with desert people who come to buy and sell their goods. It’s a unique and intriguing experience.

Next, we’ll travel to Erfoud to explore the fossil workshops, where ancient rocks, formed over 380 million years ago, are crafted. Our journey continues to the magnificent Todra Gorges, a popular destination for climbers and trekking enthusiasts. We’ll proceed through the Dades Valley along the famous “Road of the 1000 Kasbahs” and enter the Valley of Roses, known for producing rose water, creams, and soaps. We’ll stop for lunch at a traditional restaurant in the village of Boutghrar. After lunch, we’ll continue our drive through the Dades Valley, where we will spend the night, with accommodation at a hotel.

After breakfast, we set off for Ouarzazate, where we will admire the Taourirt Kasbah, once the residence of the Pasha of Marrakech. The kasbah features traditional architecture with its distinct crenelated towers. About 30 km from Ouarzazate, we will arrive at the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, crossing a small pass and enjoying breathtaking views of straw-colored structures and quaint mountain villages. We will then visit the Kasbah of Telouet and have lunch there. In the afternoon, our journey will continue through various mountain Berber villages as we head towards the Atlas Mountains. We will cross the majestic Atlas mountain range via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, at an altitude of 2,260 meters. By late afternoon, we will reach Marrakech, where we will settle into our riad for the evening.