The Sahara is much closer to Marrakech than it seems: three days is enough to reach the depths of this immense territory, soak up its beauty and return to the same city. That is what this circular route from Marrakech to the desert proposes, in which there will also be time to get to know the attractions along the way: natural corners and historical constructions. Check out this proposal, which Tenere Tours can organize privately for you.
The trip to the Sahara Desert is not only physical, but also mental and spiritual. In this remote place, the footprint of man is weaker or even non-existent in large areas. And getting there is a goal that every traveler should achieve at least once in their life. Our tour takes you to one of the most beautiful corners of this vast territory: the Merzouga desert and, more specifically, the Erg Chebbi dunes, where the Haima camp where we will spend a night is located.
But as with all trips, and in life itself, the beautiful thing is not only the goal, but also the path that must be traveled to reach it. In this case, the road to the desert will bring us unforgettable visits. For example, the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Or the unlikely Todra Gorges, carved by the boxed course of the same name. Or the imposing mountains of the A lto Altas, from where you can enjoy spectacular views of the highest sector of this mountain range.
Starting and ending in the so-called ‘Red City’ (in a place agreed with us), this circular route from Marrakech to the desert lasts 3 days and 2 nights, with road trips in a comfortable vehicle… and through the sand, on dromedaries, when arriving at the Erg Chebbi dunes. This is the day to day:
The beginning of this circuit is in the place you prefer in Marrakech: a hotel (if you spend the night before in it), the airport, the train station, etc. We will travel there for the pick-up and to start, without further delay, this spectacular circular route from Marrakech to the desert.
A few kilometers from leaving the city, the road will begin to ascend through fertile valleys, between Berber villages and livestock farms. And so we will arrive at the port of Tizi n’Tichka, located about 2,260 meters above sea level. It is understandable that, from here, the views of the surroundings are well worth a pause for a photograph.
On the descent, the landscape changes and becomes more arid. But next to a green oasis, the first great visit (optional) of the circuit will arise: Ait Ben Haddou, a ksar or fortified village that seems taken from a movie or a television series… In fact, it has been the filming set of important productions, such as Game of Thrones. Its hamlet, embraced by the adobe battlements, extends along the slopes of a hill, crowned by a kasbah.
After leaving Ait Ben Haddou and the nearby city of Ouarzazate behind, the route will take us through the Dades Valley. Around this humble river arise populations, crops (such as the immense rose bushes of the Valley of the Roses) and ruined adobe castles, because in fact we are on the so-called Route of the Thousand Kasbahs.
In one of the towns in this region, Boulmane Dades, will be the charming riad where you will have the first dinner and rest the first night of this brief but exciting circuit.
The Dades Valley will still have more beautiful corners to offer us. And after breakfast in the riad, we will return to the road to discover them. In particular, the Todra Gorges, which we will access after a detour at Tinghir. This rocky canyon, which surprises with its extreme narrowness and the verticality of its natural walls (well above 100 meters in some points), is a good place to understand the forces that move nature, in this case by geological and erosive processes.
After an inevitable walk through this environment, we will return to the road to get closer and closer to the desert, which will already be palpable in Merzouga, a small town that serves as a gateway to the Erg Chebbi dunes. Therefore, here we will change the vehicle for dromedaries (or 4×4 vehicles, depending on the contracted package) to head towards the heart of the Sahara.
This walk on the fine and golden sand, which here forms soft hills that change shape every day, will be a magical moment, which will be engraved in the mind and in the heart. The arrival at the Haima camp will be most hospitable, with welcome tea. And here, under a starry sky and probably around the fire of a bonfire, a typical Berber dinner will be taken, before sleeping in one of these stores that, despite their simplicity, are full of comfort.
The awakening of the third day is the most special of the circuit. Especially for those who get up early and get up before sunrise. In this way, you can contemplate the dawn, which here acquires a unique beauty due to the enormous field of vision that can be covered and, above all, due to the lights and colors that are dyeing the dune landscape, ranging from cold to warm tones in a matter of minutes.
After contemplating this magical moment and having breakfast at the camp, we will return by dromedary (or 4×4) to Merzouga, for a refreshing shower (if the package does not include it in the Haima camp) and return aboard our private vehicle. Already by road, we will head back to Marrakech.
For this, we will take a different route, in this case through the Draa Valley, the other majestic pre-Saharan valley that is, in itself, the largest oasis in North Africa. Alnif, Tazzarine or Nkob are some of the picturesque towns that can parade before our eyes.
Upon arriving in Ouarzazate, the road ascends to crown the port and begin the descent to the Red City. Our journey will take you to the agreed place (hotel, airport, etc.) and there we will say goodbye with total gratitude for having chosen us for this circular route from Marrakech to the desert, and that we can replicate in other regions of Morocco in the future, if you wish.
For the course of this circuit to be fluid and with all the comforts, the following services are included:
These services are not included in the travel package and, if applicable, must be contracted before the start or during the route:
Fill out the form with your information, be specific with the circuit you are interested in and also if you want to customize it in any way.
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