6 DAYS TOUR FOLLOWING THE STEPS OF THE NOMADS ( From Marrakech )

6 DAYS TOUR FOLLOWING THE STEPS OF THE NOMADS ( From Marrakech )

Nomads move from a point to point in the desertic area and settle in the area where their beasts find food. In this tour , desert and civilisation are meeting to make your tour unforgettable. Go deep in the Moroccan south and pump adrenaline to reach your destination the biggest dunes of Morocco at Erg Chebbi desert. Enjoy also a visit of the UNESCO Heritage Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou which remain one of the ruins that goes back to the first civilisation ruling in Morocco.

Itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech - Arrival

Pass By: Koutoubia Mosque, Rue el Ksour, Derb Sabai, 13, Marrakech 40000 Morocco
DAY - 1 : Once you land at the airport in Marrakech in the morning local time. From the airport we drive directly to our hotel and check if the rooms are ready. Free time in your accommodation and Dinner and Overnight in your hotel.

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight At Dellarosa Boutique Hotel 4****

Day 2: Marrakech - City Tour

Pass By: Palacio da Bahia, 5 Rue Riad Zitoun el Jdid, Marrakech 40000 Morocco
DAY - 2 : The whole day is used to suck the senses. We start to experience the famous Koutoubia Mosque's majestic silhouette, which dominates the characteristic red painted houses. The minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque, completed in 1147 after the city was taken over by the rival Almohad dynasty, is considered to be a true masterpiece of Islamic architecture and an example of which other mosques have been inspired. For example, the great mosque in Seville (called La Giralda) and the Hassan Tower in Rabat are almost identical. Later we drive to the Saadi tombs, which are of relatively newer date, and markedly different in their architecture than the Koutoubia Mosque we visited earlier in the day. This is a sumptuous necropolis built in the 1700s on top of the remains of the former dynasties burial sites. Here we will be able to experience the three separate mausoleums with gold-plated columns and marble arches, as well as the well-appointed garden symbolizing the eternal paradise. From here, the trip goes on to Bahia Palace, which was headquartered in Ba Ahmed, the major yard in the late 1800s. The palace, which consists of two parts, was originally built by Ba Ahmed's father, the Si Mousa giant ship. This part of the palace is built around a marble-lined farm with star-shaped fountains as well as cypress, orange and jasmine trees. The palace of the son, on the other hand, was somewhat larger and landed with wide doors, so that the obese vezir could move from one salon to another. After lunch, we continue with the unique Jemaa el Fna square with its live folklore. The place is a true showcase for Moroccan traditions and is on UNESCO's list of world heritage sites. Every day there is a large market where you can buy herbal medicine, freshly squeezed orange juice and a sea of nuts, dates and traditional cakes. After sunset, the gates reach its highest and the place becomes the frame of a giant and kaleidoscopic outdoor show. The air is filled with the smell of grilled meat and aromatic spices, and the place is filled with musicians, dancers, storytellers, gypsies, toothpicks and sponges. Each one collects small groups of overwhelmed spectators who enthusiastically live in the mesmerizing entertainment. From Jemaa el Fna we continue to the traditional markets for leather, natural colors and spices before returning to the hotel.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight At Dellarosa Boutique Hotel 4****

Day 3: Marrakech - Zagora

Pass By: Taourirt Kasbah, Avenue Mohammed V, Ouarzazate 45000 Morocco
DAY - 3 : Driving over the Atlas Mountains via the Tiz'n'Tichka Pass - Draa Valley - Mountain Village Agdez - Timed Kasbah . After breakfast, we will go into authentic Morocco tomorrow as we head towards the small town of Zagora, also called the gate of the desert. We cross the magnificent Atlas Mountains, across Tiz'n'Tichka, which with its 2,606 meters is the highest mountain chain. The road over the pass was built in the 1920s by the French colonial empire and offers a landscape that alternates between dry and mineral-rich mountainsides over snowy peaks to lush valleys with red clay houses. The Atlas Mountains refer in many ways to the imagination of Himalayas dramatic nature. In fact, Martin Scorses's film about Dalai Lama, Kundun, was admitted to this area. Late in the morning we reach the other side of the Atlas Mountains, to an area also known as the gateway to the so-called Great South, Oases, Sahara, and mountain cliffs. This part of Morocco is the birthplace of many of the royal dynasties, which from the Sahara Desert crossed the mountains and conquered the rest of the country. The Almoravid dynasty succeeded even in the 1200s to create a kingdom that stretched from Senegal to West Africa, even today, Spain. Trade of gold, salt and slaves between black Africa and Morocco has created a melting pot throughout the generations, where Arabs, Berbers and haratians, descendants of African slaves, live side by side. In this area life is centered around the three major rivers Draa, Dadès and Ziz. These rivers have created magnificent landscapes with gorges and valleys that intersect in the mighty Atlas Mountains. The poppies, shedding shadows over small barley fields, represent the prosperity of the region, and along the valleys there are spotless oases with red clay Kasbahs that were created to protect their farm from attacks of nomadic tribes. Kasbah is the designation of a fortress-like square construction made in red soil, which can vary in size from a common house to a larger fortress. In addition, you can experience all fortified villages, how many Kasbahs are protected by a further defense. These are called ksar (ksour in majority). Today, some of these Kasbahs and ksour are still inhabited, while some of them are slowly decaying. We drive through the Draa Valley, where we will experience fortified villages, where the population lives as a hundred years ago, and a pearl of beautiful oases. The road south of Ouarzazate leads us across the desert plateau at Jbel Tifernine, which then changes to black rock formations and steep cliffs as we climb the Tiz'n'Tinififft Pass.After a short break at the small Berber town of Agdez, located at the edge of an idyllic palm land, we continue south towards Zagora. Along the way we drive past a row of oases and impressive kasbahs, such as the elegant and well-preserved Timed Kasbah. In the afternoon we arrive at the small town of Zagora, the gateway to the desert. This city is, like the Ouarzazate, founded by the French as a base during the occupation. We are now in the outskirts of civilization as we know it, and just a few kilometers from here begins the mighty Sahara Desert. We will look into it the next day. Upon arriving at Zagora we will stay at the lovely hotel and we will gather for dinner.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Hotel la fibule de Draa Zagora 4****

Day 4: Zagora - Lmhamid - Erg Chebbi

Pass By: Tamegroute, Valle du Daraa, Zagora Morocco
DAY - 4 : Tamegroute - Visit to local family in Tagounite - Sahara Desert at M'Hamid - Possibility of buying accommodation in tent camp in the desert To enjoy today's adventure in the desert to the fullest we start off after breakfast. We must now experience one of the absolute highlights of the trip. Just a few kilometers from Zagora begins the mighty Sahara Desert. This is made clear when we see the sign saying "Timbuktu: 52 days with dromedar". So far, we will not be on this trip. We are just heading south along the road past the fortified little village of Tamegroute, where a group of Islamic scholars founded a school back in the 1800s. This school and its library are still in use, although its opland is in no way comparable to the greatness of the day, where it was the source of inspiration for much of southern Morocco. Then we visit a local family in another small village called Tagounite. This is a very special feature of the trip, where we are given the opportunity to see how the Moroccans live and live in the country. We will have a tour of their house and will be offered tea and coffee. From here we travel to Sahara, where we will experience the amazing sand dunes at M'Hamid, which is the absolute last village that can be reached through the asphalt road, giving the feeling of reaching the end of the world. After lunch our entire group runs in jeeps further into the desert, where there is now the possibility to go for a dromedary ride (not included and bought on site. Price about 150 Dirham per person). Late afternoon we reach our accommodation in the desert and spend the night in a real bedouin tent camp where we take the dinner under the open and star-red sky in the candle lights while we are entertained by local desert musicians. This is the Real and Authentic Thousand and One Night's Adventure! The comfort of the camp is reasonably high, with separate toilet and bath tents. The sleeping areas consist of 2- person tents, with ample space. Sleep on comfortable foam mattresses. Next morning after witnessing the sun rise in the early morning we will have breakfast and continue to Ouarzazate.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: La belle étoile Désert Camp 4****

Day 5: Erg Chebbi - Dades - Ouarzazate

Pass By: Gorges du Dades, R704 Gorges Dades, Boumalne Dades 45350 Morocco
DAY - 5 : Driving to Ouarzazate - Visiting Aït Benhaddou Kasbah - On your own . After breakfast a, we leave to the area's largest city, Ouarzazate, originally founded by the French Foreign Ministry in 1928, because of the strategic location in the intersection of the Draa and the Dades Valley. From here it was intended that the rebel desert tribes were kept in check while the rest of the country was subject to French rule. On the way, we will visit Morocco's most impressive Kasbah complex at Aït Benhaddou, which has formed a scene for numerous Hollywood productions from Laurence of Arabia, to Nilens Jewel and Gladiator. The Aït Benhaddou Kasbah, which is on UNESCO's list of world heritage sites, is set in a bright reddish sandstone hill overlooking the Mellah River, which runs right in front. The river is dried most of the year except winter and spring, and it is from opposite width that we go over and get acquainted with this unique collection of kasbahs. The geometric decorations of the towers create a game of light and shadow, and the situation of the kasbah is remarkable as major restorations have been made. Today, only 10 families live in the Ait Benhaddou kasbahs. After a delicious lunch at a local restaurant with panoramic views of the Aït Benhaddou Kasbah, we continue to Ouarzazate and accommodate us at the hotel. The rest of the day is for self-esteem or relaxation at the swimming pool, and the tour guide also offers good advice and ideas. For example, visit Taourirt Kasbah, which is the original kasbah in the area before the French Foreign Legion founded the city. The Kasbah was built in the 1800s by the Glaoui family who had the ruling of southern Morocco and controlled access to the Atlas Mountains. It was through an agreement with this family that the French had access to southern Morocco and that they were able to cement their presence. The Taourirt kasbah served as a residence for the numerous Glaoui family and all of their servants. The facade consists of tall earth walls and is decorated with geometric figures in negative relief. Inside the kasbah there is a sandy maze of stairs leading to rooms of different sizes. The rooms are light windows and have plaster decorations with geometric patterns and floral motifs as well as beautifully painted wooden ceilings.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Farah Aljanoub Hotel 4****

Day 6: Ouarzazate - Marrakech

Pass By: Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou, Douar Ait Ben Haddou, Ait Ben Haddou 45000 Morocco
DAY - 6 : Driving to Marrekech over the Atlas Mountains via the Tiz'n'Tichka Pass - Afternoon on your own . After some experience-rich days in Morocco's "Great South" we return to Marrakech over the beautiful Tiz'n'Tichka Pass, which is white of snow a part of the year. After staying in our hotel rooms, we have the rest of the day on our own to explore Marrakech's many sights or to make some great purchases in the colorful bazaar.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.