3-Day Tour Fes – Merzouga – Marrakech

Early in the morning we head south through the Middle Atlas, passing Ifrane, the “Switzerland of Morocco”, and Azrou. We stop in the cedar forest to visit the Cèdre Gouraud, where you can see the Barbary macaques. From here we drive south through several villages, past nomads living in tents by the roadside and volcanic rocks. Our next stop is Midelt for lunch. We then cross the Tizi n’Talghomt pass (1,907 m) with panoramic views, the Ziz gorge and its tunnel. Near Errachidia you can see the Hassan Addakhil dam and its turquoise water. On the way to Erfoud we stop for a panoramic view of the Aoufous palm grove along the Ziz river. From Erfoud we take the track to the hotel at the foot of the dunes, then ride dromedaries into the heart of the desert to spend the night among the dunes. Drums, stars… Accommodation in a haima with dinner and breakfast.

Wake up very early to watch the sunrise and enjoy breakfast, then ride back to the hotel for a shower. We leave for Rissani to visit the Zawiya of Moulay Ali Cherif and explore the souk (local market), with the chance to see the fondouks where the donkeys gather. We continue towards Tinghir via Erfoud, “the capital of marble fossils”, seeing the khettaras (traditional irrigation channels) on the way. Lunch in Tinejdad or Tinghir. We follow the river road to the gorges for a walk through this wonderful place, surrounded by rock walls up to 300 metres high — a unique place and a climbers’ paradise. Then on to Boumalne Dades and its gorges to explore the rock formations known as “human bodies” and “monkey fingers”. Hotel dinner and accommodation.

We drive through Kelaat M’Gouna and Skoura, admiring the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, the Valley of Roses and the Skoura oasis on the way. We reach Ouarzazate, the city of cinema, and visit the Taourirt Kasbah, built by the Glaoui dynasty. From here we head to Ait Ben Haddou, the best preserved kasbah in the country and a World Heritage Site, where many films such as Gladiator were shot. Lunch at the kasbah. We cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m), enjoying the High Atlas mountain scenery and the Berber villages along the way. Arrival in Marrakech and transfer to your riad. End of our services.