day1: Marrakech - Ouarzazate (200km)

HB. Departure for Ouarzazate through the Atlas Mountains and the Tizi N'Tichka Pass, the highest in Morocco (2260m), presenting beautiful sceneries of green valleys covered with forests of cedar pines and oaks. Stop in the blooming Ounila Valley to visit to the village of Telouèt and its Kasbah, belonged to Pacha Glaoui. Telouet Kasbah is a less touristy destination compared to others probably beacuse of its decadent exteriors, but its richness, made of precious Italian marbles, Andalusian Zelij and original frescoes, hides inside the building. Arrival in Ouarzazate in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight in a traditional local riad.

day2: Ouarzazate - Boumalne Dades (165km)

HB. Departure for the Trail of the 1000 Kasbahs and the Dades Valley. This territory is rich in history and spectacular natural landscapes. The drive starts from the Palmeraie of Skoura, a Berber village where the famous Trail of the 1000 Kasbahs begins, with a moltitude of buildings made of mud seem to be scattered from the village to the foot of the mountains. In ancient times this was the place where caravans loaded with gold and spices stopped exhausted by the labors of the Sahara: while the nomads unloaded the goods from the dromedaries, the mountain inhabitants of Skoura loaded them onto the mules headed for the High Atlas and Fes. The famous palm groves are protected by Unesco. The journey proceeds along the Dades River for a visit to the village of damask roses, where essences, perfumes, rose water and scented oils are produced every year in May. The hike reaches its peak at the Dades Gorges, where you'll admire a landscape made of bright red rock formations and palm trees. Arrival in Boumalne Dades for dinner and overnight in a local kasbah-maison.

day3: Boumalne Dades - Merzouga (200km)

HB. We leave the Atlas in direction of Tafilalt Valley, crossing numerous palm groves once fed by the "khettara", underground water channelswhose structures are still in some way visible. Stop at the Oasis Museum near the village of Tinjdad. The journey resumes south towards the Ziz River Valley, consisting of a series of gorges at the end of which stands the Hassan Addakil dam with its artificial basin. Also in this area is the Legionnaire's Tunnel built by French colonial troops in 1930. The area is rich in ancient fossils. Our drive continues towards the date palm groves oasis of Errachidia - Efroud and Rissani, small pre-Saharan villages. Arrival in Merzuoga, the last oasis before the small sand desert called Erg Chebbi. Dinner and overnight in a typical kasbah-hotel overlooking the dunes.

day4: Merzouga - Zagora (250km)

HB. Leaving Merzouga we cross the "oasis circuit", a track of incredible beauty leading us through palm groves, small vegetable gardens and centuries-old villages of straw and mud. We pass the village of Alnif known for the production of cumin, the spice that is the undisputed star of Moroccan cuisine; we are in the south-east of Morocco at 880m above sea level in a village perched at the foot of the eastern Anti Atlas mountains, at the bottom of a lunar-looking valley made of red and stony earth. Durum wheat, date palms, almond trees, oranges, figs are grown in this oasis, but the most particular products of this harsh and arid territory are precisely henna and cumin. Continue to Tazzarine, a former caravan village and point where the Draa and Tafilalt Valleys meet. Arrival in Zagora, dinner and overnight in the riad.

 

day5: Zagora - Chegaga deser (93km + 68km)

HB. We proceed along the Draa valley and its immense palm grove, 400 sq km of date palms that accompany our journey to Zagora. The expanse of palm trees is actually made up of 6 distinct palm groves that follow one another uninterruptedly, organized according to landowner criteria; farmers are called "5", because they are entitled to a fifth of the harvest. Six Km from Zagora we come across a peculiar village, Tissergat, with its covered Medina (still inhabited), almost a real fortress built in defense against the Arab invasion. Arrival in Zagora, a passing town and the last outpost before the desert. It is a place that boasts a souk with a decidedly Saharan atmosphere as well as the famous sign indicating the distance from Timbouctou by camel (52 days). 6 km from Zagora there is a renowned Koranic school where over 4000 ancient religious texts and scientific treatises are preserved, some of them are engraved in pure gold on gazelle skin. The library is housed in a particularly revered sanctuary. Towards sunset, we silently enter in the dunes of the Sahara to reach the tented camp and admire the starry night from there. Dinner and overnight in BASIC desert camp in the erg of the region called Chegaga. Possibility to stay overnight in a LUXURY desert camp.

 

day6: Chegaga Desert - Ouarzazate (150 + 68km)

HB. Excursion out of the desert made part of stone (hammada) part of sand (erg). In the afternoon, return to the asphalt in the direction of Jabel Bani through the village of Taznakth, to testify how Berber carpets created in women's cooperatives, are  still entirely handmade on a loom. We then reach the former military outpost Foum Zguid, made famous by the passage of the Paris-Dakar Rally. Dinner and overnight in the douar (small village) of Tamdaght, not far from the famous kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, Unesco Heritage and international set for many filming. Dinner and overnight in kasba-hotel.

 

day7: Ouarzazate area - Marrakech (200km)

B&B. Early morning departure for a path that leads us through the Tizi Tichka pass, known on the outward journey. A small stop at the unmissable, but definitely touristic, Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Individual visit to the Agadir (fortified granary) from which you can admire the 360 ​​° valley and the Mellah river. Arrival in Marrakech in the afternoon. Free dinner and overnight stay in selected riad.

 

day8: Flight from Marrakech

Breakfast and private  ransfer to the airport 3 hours before departure. End of services.