A tour from Agadir, with an in-depth exploration of the desert and Marrakech? That’s what this 8-day program offers you, allowing you to discover not only the landscapes of the desert and the monuments of the so-called ‘Red City’, but also to go a step further: live with the people of the Sahara and deepen your knowledge of Marrakech with a guided tour. And of course, without forgetting all the attractions along the way… which are many. Take a look at this tour, which we organize in a private format so you can enjoy it with whoever you want, and no one else.
The Sahara in Morocco has many faces. And we will discover them all on this 8-day tour. Of course, one of them is the sand dunes , in this case in Erg Chebbi. But also hallmarks are the wadis (dry or seasonal rivers), the stony terrains in the form of hammada or the oases that arise in valleys bare of vegetation and between rocky canyons. But what makes this tour different is that you can also see another face: the human one. The faces of the people we will introduce you to hide exciting stories, especially those of the Gnawa musicians and the nomadic families.
This tour starts in Agadir and ends in Marrakech. But in this case, the ‘Red City’ is not only the final point, but an attraction in itself that you can discover in depth. That means we will organize a guided tour of its medina, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, which is the best way to learn about its history, its monuments and its lifestyle . And also, you will have free time to explore it at your own pace, with your priorities: craft shopping, museum visits, leisure and gastronomy experiences… All this fits in the two days that this tour will stop here, before the transfer to the airport to return home.
8 days and 7 nights, starting in Agadir and ending in Marrakech. And to make it possible, transfers in a comfortable private vehicle by road, but also by dromedary through the dunes and in 4×4 on the unpaved tracks of the desert. Here is the program:
Agadir is one of the most successful tourist cities in Morocco, and therefore it is an unbeatable destination to start a tour of the country. Especially if, as in this case, you can enjoy free time for a dip in its beaches or to enjoy other attractions, such as its cable car.
Everything will depend on the arrival of the flight and the check-in at the hotel. What is certain is that our staff will be punctual at the airport terminal or at the train station for the pick-up and transfer to your accommodation, where you will spend the first night.
After a first day of acclimatization and free time, it is time to start this tour from Agadir, and get to know the desert and Marrakech in depth. The first section of this route will make us leave the arid landscapes around Agadir to enter mountainous terrain, in the Atlas.
In this way we will arrive at the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, one of the highlights of this tour. Not surprisingly, it is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a filming set in many film productions. The reason: its unique architecture and urban layout. It is a ksar with high crenellated walls, made of adobe, as is typical in the Berber tradition. Inside, an old village where the families who depended on the caravan route that passed through here lived. The ruins of the kasbah, at the top, are another reminder of the need for defense and protection of this strategic enclave. Currently, the inhabitants of Ait Ben Haddou have moved to the new area, but this historic hamlet retains all its charm.
After this visit, we will continue about thirty kilometers until we reach Ouarzazate, a city also known for its importance in the film industry: its Atlas Studios host the filming of many scenes set in the desert, as was the case with Lawrence of Arabia. They are open to visitors, so we will give interested parties instructions on how to do so, depending on the program’s schedule. And in this same city, Ouarzazate, you will find the riad where you will sleep and have dinner on this second night of the route.
This 8-day tour includes key sections of the Route of the Thousand Kasbahs, both on the way to and from the desert. On this third day, we will make contact with it after crossing the mountains of the Anti Atlas and circulating through the Draa Valley: this valley is famous for hosting the longest oasis in all of North Africa, with a continuous palm grove of which we will discover a good stretch.
The Route of the Thousand Kasbahs takes its name from the many Berber fortresses that exist on the itinerary. They are military constructions in adobe, preserved in a disparate way: some in ruins and others, renovated as a symbol of the people who host them. This is the case of Nkob, one of the localities through which the route runs.
The same is true of Rissani, which preserves its fortress and walled enclosure, as well as a picturesque mosque. This town is also famous for its lively market, in which we will stop if our passage coincides with it, as it is only organized on certain days of the week.
From Rissani to the desert there is only a small stretch of road, until you reach Merzouga. Here the asphalt ends for us, so we will leave the vehicle parked. To continue, dromedaries will be needed (one per person), as the end of the day takes us through the dunes of Erg Chebbi, the best known in Morocco.
The final goal is the jaimas camp that is located in the heart of the dunes, decorated with a cozy bonfire (if the wind allows it) and ready to serve welcome tea and dinner. Escorted by the bright stars of the sky, you will retire to sleep in your comfortable Berber tent.
The fourth day of the tour is dedicated entirely to the desert, with the most genuine experiences, from early morning until night. In fact, the day starts very early: the suggestion is to get up early to see the sunrise over the dunes of Erg Chebbi, where it acquires a special color.
To start the route, we will have to return by dromedary to Merzouga, but before there will be time for a refreshing shower, either in a hotel or in the camp itself (depending on the package contracted).
From then on, we will travel through unique corners of the desert, meeting people who embody the magic of this place. For example, Khamlia, where the black population, of sub-Saharan origin and descendants of slaves, have established themselves as the best ambassadors of Gnawa music: this folk expression is an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and here we will attend a characteristic show, with its classic rhythms and tribal root chants.
From Khamlia we will travel along unpaved tracks in our all-terrain vehicle, where the Paris-Dakar Rallyorganized its most demanding stages. Old khol mines and abandoned villages line the route, and are remnants of the time of the French Protectorate.
But although mining activity and many villages have ended up uninhabited, in other places in the desert nomadic families continue to resist in the process of sedentarization, with a way of life still anchored in tradition, such as animal herding. We will meet the members of one of these families, in a responsible tourism coexistence that is most enriching.
The accommodation for tonight will be in a hotel-kasbah in Merzouga, decorated according to Berber taste and tradition. But before we will find the moment to make a stop at a strategic and elevated point, and thus enjoy panoramic views of the dunes of Erg Chebbi, which will give even more value to our dromedary rides and the night spent in the jaimas camp.
Completed our exciting journey through the desert, it is time to continue the route, in this case through another of the valleys that make up the Route of the Thousand Kasbahs: the Dades Valley. In it and along the way, the Berber castles are also numerous, being a source of pride for the inhabitants of the towns in which they are located.
This is the case of Tinghir or Tinerhir, where we will take a detour to the Todra Gorges: the road, in unlikely curves, descends to this canyon formed by spectacular natural walls, used by climbers from all over the world. Walking along the banks of the stream and raising your eyes will be a moment to remember, as there are few places endowed with this beauty.
Back on the main road, we will continue between palm groves, kasbahs and humble villages. And in one of them will be the charming riad for dinner and rest on this fifth night.
On the sixth day of the route we leave behind the Dades Valley, getting to know another unique valley along the way, the Valley of the Roses: so called because the land is full of rose bushes, whose flowers are used by the cosmetics industry and are the protagonists of a moussem in spring.
Ouarzazate will be our next stop on the way: although we were already in this city on the second day of the route, on this occasion we will take the opportunity to discover the kasbah of Taourirt, a monumental palace-fortress that was the residence and bastion of the El Glaoui family, one of the most powerful lineages in Morocco in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
From the kasbah of Taourirt we will head to the High Atlas mountains and, through the Tizi n’Tichka pass, we will arrive in Marrakech. This city is one of the main attractions of this tour, but we will not start its exploration together until the next day. For the moment, you will check in at the riad in the medina and enjoy free time until night.
There is much to see in Marrakech. That’s why having a official guide is so useful: not only will it make you discover the most interesting corners of the historic center, but it will also help you prioritize places and optimize your time.
In the morning you will visit the most iconic places in Marrakech together. Surely you will not miss the Jemaa el-Fna Square, always crowded with stalls of all kinds, at the foot of the walls and with the minaret of the Koutoubia mosque in the background. Visiting that temple is not possible for non-Muslims, but depending on the criteria of your guide, the route can take you inside other monuments: the T Saadian Tombs, the Ben Youssef medersa or the Bahia Palace are some possibilities.
The afternoon is free, so it presents itself as the ideal time to go shopping: those who prefer traditional crafts will find them in the souks of the medina; those looking for something more modern and sophisticated can move through other neighborhoods such as Gueliz. And if the preferred option is to delve into local culture and history, museums and monuments will not be lacking: Marrakech Museum, Yves Saint-Laurent Museum, El Badi Palace and even the Majorelle Garden are postulated as venues to discover before night arrives and you return to the riad to sleep for the last time on the tour.
On the eighth day of the route, you will return home. Before the time of that flight arrives, it will be assessed if there is an option for a last walk through the city for shopping or visits. In any case, with sufficient time in advance, we will pick you up at the riad to make the transfer to the Menara Airport. And there we will say goodbye with gratitude and the desire to have satisfied the expectations of a trip as complete as this.
To make the trip a success, the package includes transportation, accommodation and other aspects, which you can consult below:
The following services are at the discretion of each traveler, so they are not included:
Fill out the form with your information, be specific about the tour you are interested in, and also if you want to personalize it in any way.
We will respond as soon as possible.