Southern Morocco: Marrakech, the Atlas Mountain & the Sahara

Images of desert palms, camels and exotic food float through your head as you make your way from the airport to the hotel. See the mix of the old and new as you pass modern buildings and ancient structures that begin to tell the story of this bustling city. We welcome you to Morocco, and invite you to embrace all of the new cultural traditions, landscapes and delicious food that await.

Arrive to Marrakech at any time and transfer to your hotel. Meet your fellow group members at the welcome meeting in the evening and get all the important information about the adventure ahead. Afterwards, head to a local restaurant for a delicious welcome dinner accompanied by traditional music, storytelling and entertainment that will set the tone for the adventure ahead.

Additional Information: Please Note: Your time in Marrakech is short, if you want to visit the medina we recommend arriving a day early.

TRANSPORT: You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

ACTIVITY: EVENING Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

See the landscape change dramatically as you pull away from Marrakech, passing verdant green farmland and rocky desert outcroppings before crossing the Atlas mountains along a winding road. You arrive to Ouarzazate, considered to be at the crossroads of the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara desert, where the land becomes more stark as you approach the striking valley of the Dades Gorge.

Drive from Marrakech to the Dades Gorge via the Atlas mountains, stopping in Ouarzazate along the way for lunch and a chance to stretch your legs. Make your way to Dades and enjoy an afternoon walk through the gorge before dinner.

TRANSPORT: Sit back and scan the scenery from the comfort of your private vehicle from Marrakech to Dades with a stop along the way in Ouarzazate.

ACTIVITY: EVENING Traverse the winding Dades Gorge, taking in the dramatic landscape and rich colours of the mountains all around you. Listen to weird and wonderful facts about the fascinating geology of the area.

Keep the camera handy as you continue east to the sprawling expanse of the Sahara Desert wilderness. There is something magical about the sea of sand for as far as the eye can see, and particularly stunning at sunset. Reaching your comfortable desert camp by 4x4 and riding a camel up the dunes for sunset will be an unforgettable experience, and watching as the sky starts to glimmer with stars as you take it all in from around a campfire.

Drive to Merzouga with a stop in Arfoud for lunch and a brief visit. You arrive in Merzouga and continue by 4x4 to the desert camp. Climb a nearby sand dune riding on the back of a camel at sunset and enjoy a mint tea accompanied by melodies from bedouin musicians as you settle into the evening.

TRANSPORT: Sit back and scan the scenery from the comfort of your private vehicle from Dades Gorge to Merzouga with a stop along the way to the town of Arfoud.

ACTIVITY: Pause along the journey to Merzouga in the picturesque town of Arfoud. Often celebrated as the, "Fossil Capital of Morocco" there are plenty of cultural and natural wonders of the Sahara region to discover during your time here. Arfoud is nestled within the heart of Morocco's southeastern expanse and also boasts some of the friendliest people you will ever meet.

TRANSPORT: Take a 4x4 vehicle to reach our desert camp in Merzouga. Upon arrival, check in, then hold on and enjoy a ride on camel up to the highest dune for sunset. Bring your camera for some fantastic photos of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Local guides will teach you how to mount and dismount and other handy camel-related safety tips as the group climbs the dunes in the Sahara to observe the sunset. Tea and blankets will be available.

ACTIVITY: After arriving to your accommodation for the night, slip into the traditional attire laying on your bed and indulge in a desert-infused dinner at the camp's restaurant by the warm glow of a fire. Local Berber musicians will play enchanting melodies for you beneath the sprawling desert sky.

The people who live in this area have thrived despite the harsh environment, settling near natural oases where water and date palms provide some essential elements to survive. Set off into the dunes in 4x4s where you'll have the choice to focus more on the cultural traditions of the Sahara meeting with nomads and villagers, or to focus more on the natural history of the desert, exploring an oasis and meeting with a local farmer.

Choice of activity in the morning, both including lunch. Enjoy some free time in the late afternoon for optional sandboarding or a buggy ride before settling into camp again for the night.

ACTIVITY: Option 1: Board a 4x4 and cruise into the breathtaking panorama of Erg Chebbi's sand dunes and stop at a Kohl mine and learn about this ancient mineral. Deeper in the region you will encounter the welcoming Amazigh nomads and be able to immerse yourself in their ways of life. Sip some mint tea in the heart of their traditional dwellings. Continue on to the village of Khamlia and learn about Gnaoua music. Then, delight in a Medfouna cooking demonstration in Taous village and savor the delicious traditional dish after your lesson.

Option 2: Start by exploring the camp's traditional organic garden where you will witness how sustainable ancient methods came to be and learn more about this agricultural haven's commitment to sustainability. Travel by 4x4 and traverse Erg Chebbi's dunes before arriving to the palmeraie (oasis). Accompanied by a local farmer, wander through this lush landscape, an emblem of life in the Moroccan Sahara, and delve into the intricacies of how the lands are shared among the local communities. Enjoy a Medfouna cooking demonstration by locals and savor this delicious traditional dish with nature's beautiful landscape as your backdrop.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Spend the afternoon free and try some of the optional activities in the area. Opt for a thrilling buggy safari or a sand boarding session on the dunes.

ACTIVITY: After arriving to your accommodation for the night, slip into the traditional attire laying on your bed and indulge in a desert-infused dinner at the camp's restaurant by the warm glow of a fire. Local Berber musicians will play enchanting melodies for you beneath the sprawling desert sky.

Leaving the desertscape behind, you'll head back through farmland and dusty, rocky terrain on the way to the ancient kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou. Wandering the narrow alleyways next to massive clay buildings, picture yourself in one of the many famous movies or tv shows which have been filmed here, all of which the locals will be thrilled to tell you about.

Drive from Merzouga to Aït Ben Haddou and take a guided tour of the site. In the evening take a cooking class to learn how to make a traditional tagine for dinner.

ACTIVITY: Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site and kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou. Of all the remaining kasbahs in Morocco, the walls and interior of this area are the most intact. The kasbah still houses a few families, but many now live in the adjacent village. Like many of the earthen built fortresses in Ouarzazate, Aït Ben Haddou has been used in many film and television productions like Gladiator, Babel, and Game of Thrones.

ACTIVITY: Learn all about the quintessential Moroccan dish — tagine. Start with an introduction to the tagine itself (a clay pot) and the different ingredients and spices used. Get hands on with the ingredients and then tantalize your taste buds by indulging in your delicious creations for dinner.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

The views are stunning as you head up into the High Atlas Mountains, passing through Berber villages and along lush valleys on the way to Ouirgane. The town itself sits next to a reservoir of the river amongst olive trees, and is the perfect base for exploring the area.

Travel to Ouigane with some stops along the way to take in the beautiful Atlas Mountain scenery, arriving in the afternoon. Enjoy a stroll in the beautiful and fragrant gardens of the hotel before dinner.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

The picturesque mountain scenery will be your playground as you set off on a hike through olive and juniper trees and quaint villages. Immerse yourself into the daily life of a Berber family and take part in some of their routines like harvesting crops, mastering the art of tea-making, and creating of butter from freshly obtained milk before sharing a delicious traditional meal with them.

Hike from Ouirgane in the surrounding mountains and spend time with a local family in a Berber village. Enjoy a farewell dinner in the garden of the hotel in the evening.

ACTIVITY: Today's adventure includes a hike through Ouirgane's quaint villages passing through olive and juniper trees. The higher you climb the more the landscape will change into the striking reddish mountains. Connect with local life as you enter the home of an Amazigh family and their daily rhythm. Engage in hands-on activities like harvesting crops, the art of tea-making, and milking cows. If lucky, the local women will share their wisdom and guide you in creating butter from the fresh milk. Together cook a nourishing lunch and sit down around the table to share the meal with your Amazigh hosts.
Elevation: 817-1575m (2680-5167 ft)

Today your adventure comes to an end, but the memories made during your time in Morocco will live on.

Drive to Marrakech in the morning, where the tour ends on arrival. Outbound flights should depart no earlier than 2pm.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.