4-day moroccan sojourn

We will depart Marrakech in the morning and head toward Dades Gorges via the Tichka Pass, at over 7,400 feet (2,260m), the highest road pass in Morocco. On this incredibly scenic drive, we will pass many small villages that blend right into the mountains! These homes of Berber people are simple, made-of-mud dwellings. We will stop along the way to take pictures, hike, and stretch our legs as needed. We will continue to the Dades Gorges where you will stay tonight. Depending on time and weather, we might hike through a Berber village with a guide, stopping for tea in a local family’s home. Tonight you will stay at the base of the zig-zagging road we now refer to as the “Cadillac Road” since the car company’s picturesque commercial was filmed here in 2013! Hotel, breakfast, and dinner included.

Option: After visiting the “Cadillac Road,” we can drive to a small and remote village where you will stay with a local family. You will learn to cook a traditional Moroccan meal and will join the family for dinner.

This morning we will make our way to the Sahara Desert, driving on roads beside deserted kasbahs, palmeries and mud-brick villages—a photographer’s paradise! We will traverse the less-traveled route that takes us off-road to the Todra Gorges. After a short walk along the river that flows between the gorges, we travel toward the city of Erfoud, known for its date palms, and on to the ancient city of Rissani that thrived from the 8th to 14th centuries.

Today, before your camel adventure, we will see the great “sand sea” of Merzouga, a beautiful area of fine, apricot-colored sand that stretches as far as the eye can see. It is here where your desert adventure begins! Before the sun sets, we will head off into the vastness of the dunes on a camel caravan accompanied by camelteers. You can ride your camel or walk alongside as you slip into the pace of the caravan led by a Berber guide. Tonight you will sleep in a tent in the desert, surrounded by a canopy of stars, lulled by the sound of distant drums, most likely from nomads who live nearby. Hotel, breakfast, and dinner included.

You will wake up early to watch the spectacular sunrise over the dunes of the desert. After breakfast you will return to camp on the edge of the desert for a cup of tea before heading to your next destination. Today, we will drive across volcanic mountains and through the Draa Valley to Tamnougalt close to the city of Agdz. We will travel along dramatic rock formations and gorges with superb views. These mountains are very different than the Atlas Mountains you saw earlier on the trip. And the palm trees of the Draa Valley are something to behold—thousands of them dot the valley! Hotel, breakfast, and dinner included.

After breakfast, we will drive to Ouarzazate to Ait Ben Haddou, a ksar (or, city of high walls). This beautiful place is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will be able to explore the place on your own, climbing to the top of the hill to view the sprawling valley below. It is really spectacular and a good chance for some exercise. We will continue our drive back toward Marrakech, exploring more scenic places and small villages all along the way, arriving in Marrakech about six hours after we depart.