One week. That’s how long this tour from Agadir to the desert lasts, with a guided tour in Marrakech and many other attractions along the route. And that is precisely why it will surely be one of the most intense weeks of your lives: the program is organized in such a way that there is time for everything: cultural visits, nature walks, free time for shopping or even for a swim… Discover everything we offer on this tour, which you can buy with a single click on our website and which, in addition, you can enjoy privately, with your family and no one else.
For many, the Moroccan desert is the country’s main tourist attraction. And they have good reason. But when we talk about “desert”, we encompass many things… and they all enter this tour. Of course, the sand dunes, which in this case will be those of Erg Chebbi, the most spectacular in the country. But we are also referring to the hammadas: arid and stony terrain, predominant in the south of the country. And as a counterpoint but always associated with it, the oases that arise in the pre-Saharan valleys, with large groupings of palm trees and cultivated lands.
The tour connects two of the main tourist cities in the country, very different from each other: Agadir is one of the pearls of the Atlantic, due to its sun and beach tourism, but throughout the trip we will emphasize local culture and art, such as in the Berber castles (Taourirt, Ait Ben Haddou). And the grand finale, the penultimate day, is Marrakech, which we will visit as it deserves: with a guided tour of its medina, full of historical monuments, crafts and popular atmosphere. Therefore, this tour of one week is the perfect mix between nature and tradition.
7 days and 6 nights, with start in Agadir and end in Marrakech, traveling by road and enjoying a camel ride in the desert. The roadmap is very complete so as not to forget any important destination. This is the route, explained day by day:
Agadir is a welcoming city dedicated to international tourism, so starting this 7-day tour here is a plus: we will pick you up at the airport or at the station and transfer you to the hotel for check-in at tonight’s hotel, so the rest of the day will be free for whatever you want.
Among the proposals that never fail, its beaches, either for swimming or for a pleasant walk along the sea front, always airy thanks to the sea breeze that usually blows here. Its cable car or its marina are other ideas to spend this first day, depending on the arrival time of the flight.
After a first acclimatization to the south of Morocco, on the second day of the tour the route begins, in the direction of the desert. To get there, we will take a route that will take us across the Atlas Mountains, which adds interest to the route, as landscapes of bare slopes with Berber villages and some exceptionally humid and green areas will appear on the other side of the window.
Next to one of those green oases, watered by the humble wadi Asif Ounila, is our first destination of the day: the ksar of Ait Ben Haddou. This fortified town has inspired producers of the big screen, hosting filming of important films and science fiction series (Game of Thrones). Its high crenellated walls, made of the characteristic reddish adobe of the region, give it an imposing air. And its humble hamlet, protected by them, is grouped under a ruined kasbah. A place that seems stopped in time, as it was once a mandatory stop for caravan routes and now it is for the great tourist routes through the country, such as this tour.
Very close to here is Ouarzazate, another city related to the cinematographic world thanks to its Atlas Studios, which were the set for films such as Lawrence of Arabia. And it will be in this city where the hotel for this second day is located, equipped with a restaurant for the included dinner.
If on the previous day we already had our first contact with oases and kasbahs, in the first hours of this third day both will be protagonists. We will depart from Ouarzazate and cross the Anti Atlas Mountains, to then take the route of the Draa Valley, which is considered an oasis in itself, the largest in all of North Africa for its green tongue of more than 100 km in length.
We will only travel the first section, where some charming towns are located, which we will see along the way: especially Nkob, Tazzarine and Alnif, with their respective Berber fortresses, as the name by which this section is known reminds us: the Route of the Thousand Kasbahs.
In Rissani, if our passage coincides with market day, we will discover a town overflowing with traditional life, where there is even a donkey parking lot. In any case, we will get to know its beautiful historical medina, walled and with a large mosque, as is tradition.
Rissani, in addition, announces that we are at the gates of the desert. And this is confirmed in Merzouga, a town that gives its name to this corner of the Sahara. But we will not stop here, but will continue to the heart of the majestic dunes of Erg Chebbi, located behind Merzouga. And to access them, nothing better than dromedaries, as the Berber nomads have done since time immemorial.
Thus, by dromedary (which can be exchanged for 4×4 vehicles) we will arrive at the traditional haima camp. In an open space between these canvas tents, around a bonfire and under a starry sky, dinner will be served. And at night, the most absolute silence will accompany you in your rest.
If you hire this travel package in search of the magic of the desert, you will find it in all its splendor at the beginning of the fourth day, at the time of dawn. The first lights of dawn acquire a special beauty here, so it will be worth getting up very early to see it.
After that, breakfast and return to Merzouga, where a refreshing shower awaits you (if the package does not include it in the haimas) and our vehicle to return to the road. On this occasion, we will take the route of the other valley, that of the Dades. With similar characteristics (small populations in the shade of the oases and the refuge of kasbahs), it will lead us through other places of interest.
In particular, the Todra Gorges: this narrow canyon, formed by the erosive work of the Todra River, will offer us a pleasant walk while we contemplate the spectacular natural walls on both sides. In some points, they exceed 100 meters. That is why climbers from all over the world have this place as one of their ‘Meccas’.
Back on the road of the Dades Valley, we will stop to have dinner and spend the night in a charming riad, without deviating from the route.
On the fifth day, it is time to change scenery: we leave the vast territory south of the Atlas to head to Marrakech, the ‘tourist capital’ of Morocco. But we will do it enjoying the road, as there are important places to discover.
Leaving behind the suggestive Valley of the Roses (especially in spring), we will return to Ouarzazate, on this occasion to stop in front of a monument that there was no time to see on the second and third day: the kasbah of Taourirt. It surprises with its grandeur, its well-preserved architecture and its humble elegance, based on adobe on the outside and ceramics, plaster and wood on the inside. However, it was the residence of one of the most powerful men of his time: Thami El Glaoui, at the beginning of the 20th century.
From here, the road goes uphill: we will be ascending through the High Atlas Mountains until we reach the port in Tizi n’Tichka. Setting foot on land and looking around will be almost mandatory, as from here you can see the highest peaks in the country, snowy for a good part of the year.
On the descent, between Berber villages, livestock farms and humble streams that provide freshness and greenery, we will reach the plain in which Marrakech is located. Exploring this city is one of the attractions of this package, but we will leave that for the next day. On this day, we will take you to the riad for check-in and then you will have free time.
On the sixth day, one of the most anticipated moments of this tour from Agadir to the desert arrives: the guided tour of Marrakech. It will be during the morning and by the hand of an official guide, who will make you discover the most interesting corners of the historical center.
Depending on the availability of each monument, this walking tour will surely take you through the Jemaa el-Fna square, the Koutoubia Mosque (exteriors), the Saadian Tombs, the Bahia Palace or the Ben Youssef Madrasa, which gives an account of the historical-artistic richness of this city. Not in vain, it was the capital of the kingdom on several occasions and is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
And what there is no time for in the morning, you can visit in the afternoon, as this time of day will be of free disposal. Therefore, you can write down other very varied proposals, such as the Majorelle Garden, the Yves Saint-Laurent Museum, the El Badi Palace or the Marrakech Museum… among many other options. Shopping is also an unavoidable proposal and you will find a lot of variety in the souks of the medina, as well as in the trendy neighborhoods, such as Gueliz.
After an intense day, in which you will surely walk a long distance, you will return to rest at night in the same riad, located in the heart of the historical center to facilitate the program.
The seventh day is the last of this tour, and will be conditioned by the flight schedule. If you have it in the afternoon, you can take advantage of the morning to do the last shopping or walks. What is certain is that we will pick you up at the riad to take you in private transfer to Menara Airport, from where your plane will take off. At the terminal will be the farewell, grateful for the trust placed and hopeful for a future reunion.
In these 7 days of route, nothing will be left to chance. Therefore, this travel package includes the following services, essential for the proper development of the tour:
With regard to the following services, they are not included and the client must decide on them in each case:
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.