Marrakech - Talouate - Ait Benhaddou - Ouarzazate - Agdez - Zagora

Atlas Mountains - Starting from Marrakech, we venture into some of Morocco’s most breathtaking landscapes, framed by the towering Atlas Mountains. We navigate along rugged cliff edges to reach small Berber villages in North Africa’s highest mountain range. As we head towards Ait Benhaddou, we cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2260m/7400ft) to the magnificent Glaoui Kasbah in Talouat and the verdant Ounilla Valley, all the way to Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO-protected red mud-brick Ksar from the 11th century, where we offer a home-cooked meal experience with a local family.

Draa Valley - The more scenic route takes you to the “Ouallywood” movie studio and the expansive Taourirt Kasbah. You then descend into the Drâa Valley, a 125km stretch of palm tree oasis that eventually blends into the Sahara near M’hamid. At Agdez, a classic caravanserai oasis with a well-preserved palmeraie, a 17th-century ancient mud-brick Kasbah, and a hidden desert prison, you reach one of the Drâa Valley’s highlights, Tamnougalt, a 16th-century fortified Ksar perched on a hill 6km south of Agdez. Finally, you arrive in Zagora.

Zagora - Tamegroute - M’hamid El Ghizlane - Erg Chigaga Desert

Tamegroute - Today, we journey to Morocco’s wildest desert via Tamegroute, a unique place that was once the most significant settlement in the Draa Valley, known for its green pottery. The Zawiya Naciria remains a pilgrimage site and refuge for the mentally ill, and it houses a working Quranic school with a library that once held Morocco’s richest collection of ancient illuminated texts, containing 4000 books.

Erg Chigaga - Departing from Tamegroute, we traverse a stark landscape of sun-scorched rubble to the end of the paved road at M’hamid El-Ghizlane. Here, we begin our off-road journey to Erg Chigaga, where you can drift off to sleep under a canopy of twinkling stars in the midst of a vast golden sand sea after dinner.

Erg Chigaga - Foum Zguid - Taznakht - Taliouine

Foum Zguid - Just before the sun becomes a glowing ball of fire, we leave Erg Chigaga, heading north to Taliouine via a rough road out of the desert through the 80km long dry lake bed of Lac Iriki, made famous by the Paris-Dakar rally. We continue through the Sahel and Reg to Foum Zguid and then 85km north to Taznakht, a convenient stop for a quick bite, coffee, petrol, and, yes, carpets. We then proceed to the struggling village of Taliouine, home to the African Centre of l’orrouge (red gold) or saffron, the most expensive spice.

Taliouine - Taroudant - Tizi n’Test - Marrakech

Taroudant - From Taliouine, we travel to Marrakech via Taroudant, considered one of Morocco’s most elegant purely Berber towns, with its majestic, tawny-brown, and honey-gold 7km circuit of walls. As you stroll and linger, note the distinctive, highly beautiful blue veils worn by many of the older local women.

Atlas Mountains - Later, we drive along the road carved through the high Atlas Mountains by the French in the late 1920s, renowned for the Tizi n’Test pass, which offers one of the best panoramic drives in Morocco. Heading north to Marrakech, we will stop at Tinmal village to visit the 1156-year-old mosque.

• Home-cooked meals with local families
• Private transportation with on-board WiFi and air conditioning
• Camel ride through the desert
• All meals included: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Visits to local women’s cooperatives
• Chance to give back and engage with local communities
• Fuel surcharge included

• Gratuities

If you’re solely focused on the financial aspect, you might view a two-day trek into the desert as strenuous and devoid of significance. However, for those who seek a genuine desert escape, complete with immersive cultural encounters, join us at MSITravels for a Moroccan cultural journey that unveils the desert’s hidden marvels.\nThis excursion promises to be an unforgettable adventure, beginning with a drive through the majestic Atlas Mountains and continuing into a 125km stretch of oases peppered with date palms, which seamlessly transition into the Sahara near M’hamid. Here, you will navigate 60km of dunes to reach Erg Chigaga, where you can fall asleep under a blanket of stars, amidst an expanse of golden dunes, following dinner. In the morning, awaken to the spectacle of a new day as the sun ascends against a cool blue sky, dispelling the night’s shadows, heralding the start of the day with its fiery presence.

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.