5 Days / 4 Nights Desert Trip from Fes to Marrakech

Fez Charm Tours driver will pick you up from your hotel or Riad at 7 am for the fabulous journey up into the Middle Atlas Mountains. The first stop will be the delightful town of Ifrane, built by the French in the 1930s and known as Morocco's Switzerland because of its Alpine chalet-style architecture and aspect. In the winter, it is snow-covered, and there is a ski resort, Michliffen, nearby. Next, you will travel through the huge cedar forests around the Berber village of Azrou, "The Rock" in the local Berber dialect, where the famous Barbary apes, actually macaque monkeys, will attempt to share your lunch in their natural habitat. Then, passing through the Atlas Mountains, which are said to hold up the sky, you will wind your way through forested peaks, twisting mountain streams, and gushing springs, passing jagged walls of rock. Continuing south, you will pass through Rissani, and then be amazed at the startlingly sudden appearance, as if by magic, of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes. These dunes are massive, up to 50 meters in height, and extend eastwards all the way into the Algerian Sahara Desert. At the foot of the sand dunes, your Kasbah/hotel awaits you with a refreshing glass of hot sweet mint tea. Here, you can relax after the long journey and enjoy a delicious dinner while listening to the sweet strains of traditional Berber music until it is time to sleep.

After breakfast, you can choose your own desert trip experience; perhaps a walk through the dunes, a refreshing dip in the hotel swimming pool, or a shopping trip to the nearby village of Merzouga, only fifty kilometers from the Algerian border, which boasts the largest underground natural reservoir in Morocco. Then, head to the tiny village of Khamlia, known as the "village of the black people" because it is inhabited by descendants of slaves from Sudan, who will captivate you with their sacred Gnawa music performances. At dusk, your camel will be ready to carry you off into the glorious sunset for an unforgettable ninety-minute camel trek through the shifting Sahara Desert sands before you arrive at a traditional Berber desert encampment. Here, you will spend the night in a tent, surrounded by towering dunes. Your guide will prepare an authentic Moroccan meal while you relax, watching the stars so bright and plentiful that you feel you could reach out and touch them, and listening to the soft sounds of time-honored Berber music. A truly memorable day in the heart of the Sahara Desert.

An early start with Fez Charm Tours as you are awakened to experience the splendor of the sunrise over the sand dunes in the amazing Sahara Desert. Then, you will ride your camel gently back to your hotel for breakfast. During the ride, you cannot fail to notice the shifting and changing of the shadows cast by the dunes as the day progresses. After breakfast, the journey to the Todra Gorge begins with a drive to the main edge town of Rissani, the first capital of the Alaouite dynasty. Next, it's on to Erfoud, famous for its fossils. Be sure to pick up a beautiful bargain, but don't forget to haggle! You will also get to visit the workshops where artisans prepare the fossils, expertly removing them from the rocks. The journey continues through the 300-meter-deep canyon of the Todgha Gorges, cut through the easternmost tip of the High Atlas Mountains, near the village of Tinghir, where you will have the chance for relaxed hiking. The Tinghir and Todra Gorges are the highest and narrowest in Morocco and, some would say, the most beautiful. Dinner will be served, and you will spend a peaceful night deep in the heart of the Todra Gorge.

In the morning, after a hearty breakfast, Fez Charm Tours will take you first to the delightful Dades Valley, cut deep through banded sandstones and limestones, over an off-road trail past cave dwellings where a few of the world's last troglodytes still live. Then, it's on to the beautiful Berber town of Kelaat Mgouna, which, if you arrive in May, will be celebrating the annual Festival of the Roses. This event provides locals a chance to trade products made from roses, including the famous rose water you can try and buy if you wish. The lovely aroma will stay with your clothes and skin long after you've left this charming place and can freshen up your night chamber. Afterward, you will head to the fertile oasis of Skoura, surrounded by vast groves of palm trees with stunning views of the mighty Atlas Mountains. Next is a chance to explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of the kasbah of Taourirt, a remarkably preserved place showcasing traditional Moroccan architecture. Finally, you'll finish your day with an evening arrival at Ouarzazate, where you will enjoy dinner and stay overnight in a hotel.

After a hearty breakfast, enjoy exploring the film sets and studios of Ouarzazate, Africa's Hollywood, whose astonishing scenery has attracted many filmmakers. These are the largest film studios in Africa. You may visit the studio museum, where you can inspect props and other items from films like Babel, The Mummy, and Hideous Kinky, as well as the popular TV series Game of Thrones. Later, visit another UNESCO World Heritage site, the Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, the largest in Morocco, often used as the backdrop for over twenty Hollywood films, including Lawrence of Arabia, Indiana Jones, and Gladiator. Take a pleasant stroll to explore the traditional Moroccan architecture that composes the kasbah, now home to the Glaoui family. This central region is vibrant and romantic, huddled between green river valleys with extensive palmeries and red-brick houses roasting under the blazing Moroccan sun against an azure sky. Then, continue on your journey through the stunning Tizi n'Tichka Pass, over two and a half kilometers above sea level, along mountain roads with picturesque Berber villages and waterfalls until you reach Marrakech. The desert tour ends when Fez Charm Tours drops you off at your hotel or riad.