SMALL GROUP 3-day excursion to Desert Merzouga from Marrakech

SMALL GROUP 3-day excursion to Desert Merzouga from Marrakech

Travel from Marrakech through the exuberant route of the thousand kasbahs through the high Atlas Mountains, and through fertile valleys and oases. Explore tall, rocky gorges and spectacular sunsets among the sand dunes of the Sahara desert.

Itinerary Day 1: Marrakech - Ait ben Haddo- BoumalnIe du Dades After the morning pick up at your accommodation in Marrakech, you will head to the depths of the high Atlas Mountains in an air-conditioned minivan to start your excursion. Travel along the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass and rural Berber villages, where shepherds harness their as they have for thousands of years. First, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kasbah Aït Ben Haddou, where locals have gathered to socialize and trade for centuries. Soak up the atmosphere at your own pace, then head to Ouarzazate for lunch in a café (not included in the price). Perhaps you can visit Taourirte Kasbah, a popular meeting place for people from the Atlas, Drâa and Dadès valleys. In the afternoon, you will go with your guide to the oasis in Skoura. Pause to admire the lush vegetation, green palms that rise like a mirage in the dry desert, then follow the Dades river along deep gorges, where the ruins of ancient kasbahs are found among traditional Berber villages. You will arrive in Boumalne du Dadès in the late afternoon, where your dinner and accommodation await you. Night: Riad des Vieilles Charrues (Or similar) in Boumalne du Dadès. Meals included: dinner Day 2: Boumalne du Dadès - Merzouga - Erg Chebbi After breakfast at the hotel, climb back aboard a minivan and travel along the famous "1000 Kasbahs Road" to the nearby Tinghir. Take a stroll through the oasis in the imposing Todra gorge where a deep crack in the orange limestone offers spectacular views and then sit down to lunch at your own pace (not included in the price) in one of the local cafes . In the afternoon, visit the holy city of Rissani, the birthplace of the current royal family of Morocco, and the ancient capital of the Tafilalt region. Continue towards Merzouga, a small town nestled on the edges of the Sahara desert. Meet with your camel caravan and, with the sun moving across the evening sky, depart for Erg Chebbi and his camp in the heart of the desert. With traditional music from the local nomads to entertain you, enjoy a dinner and an evening under the stars before going to sleep. Night: camp in the Sahara desert. Meals included: breakfast and dinner Day 3: Erg Chebbi - Ouarzazate - Marrakech After an early morning walk before breakfast to enjoy the sunrise between the dunes (optional), return riding your camel to Merzouga and meet with your driver for the start of your trip back to Marrakech Make a stop for lunch in Ouarzazate (not included in the price), then head towards the spectacular landscape of the high Atlas Mountains. Return to your lodging in Marrakech in the late afternoon to put an end to your visit. Meals included: breakfast After your return trip to Merzouga on day 3, you will have the opportunity to take a shower and cool off in a private room at the hotel.