Tours: High Atlas, Sahara Desert and the Jebel Sahro

13 days, 12 nights

Day 1: Marrakech

Arrival in Marrakech, transfer to hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure in Marrakech.

Day 2: Marrakech – Bougmez

Drive east from Marrakech to the walled town of Demnate and up to the waterfalls of Ouzoud. From here, travel on to the beautiful valley of Bougmez, spending the night at a small auberge.

Day 3: Bougmez – Imilchil

Explore the Bougmez Valley, then head north to Azilal. The route then zigzags through the hills, crossing the massive Bin El Ouidanne reservoir. Continue up through the mountains to Imilchil and the twin lakes of Izli and Tizli (the ‘groom’ and the ‘bride’), to spend the night at an auberge.

Day 4: Imilchil – Merzouga

Explore the village of Imilchil. Leave off-road through dramatic scenery of gorges, cols and valleys, past the Cirque de Jaffar, the Tizi-n-Zou Pass and the Gorge of Amsmir to Midelt. Cross the Tizi-n-Tairhmeht (the Pass of the She-Camel) to descend to the market town of Rich. Pass through the gorge of the great river Ziz, with sudden views of lush green palm groves and ancient kasbahs. Continue on to the desert now, through Erfoud and Rissani, before heading off-road to our overnight stop near Merzouga, in a hotel at the foot of the dunes.

Day 5: Camel trek and camping in the dunes

Morning drive to Merzouga to see Gnaoua musicians perform. Tour the Erg Chebbi dunes and the contrasting ‘black’ desert, visiting villages, abandoned mines, and fossil sites. In the late afternoon, set off by camel for an unforgettable ride into the sunset. Camp overnight in the dunes and dine under the stars.

Day 6: Merzouga – Taouz

Leaving Merzouga, head south deep into the desert towards the Algerian border, passing the dunes and the desert villages of Tisdermin and Mfis, to camp overnight with nomads.

Day 7: Taouz – Tamnougalt

Rise early to see another desert sunrise, then strike camp to follow the river Ziz along the frontier through typical Saharan landscapes, via Tafraoute, Tissemoumine, Tarhbalt and Tazzarine. Reach the Draa Valley at Tamnougalt to spend the night there.

Day 8: Tamnougalt – Dades Valley

Cross the Tizi-n-Tazazert Pass (2283m) to Iknioun, with extensive views of the mesas and volcanic cones of the Jebel Sahro (‘the dry mountains’). Pass small villages, ruined kasbahs and maybe the black woollen tents of the Ait Atta (the last tribe to resist French colonisation). Descend to Boumalne and head up into the Dades Valley, ‘the valley of a thousand kasbahs’, with its green fields and amazing rock formations of red sandstone. Stay for the next 4 nights at a traditional auberge.

Day 9: Excursion to Msemrir and the Valley of the Apples

Travel up through the spectacular Dades Gorges. Continue on above the winding canyons to the town of Msemrir, nestled among apple orchards, with breathtaking views of the High Atlas mountains. From Msemrir, drive off-road up to the Valley of the Apples. Picnic by the river and walk for 1 hour to the dam, with views of spectacular rock formations. Return via the same route, with the afternoon light offering great photo opportunities on the way down.

Day 10: Walking in the Dades Gorges

4-hour walk through canyons. Lunch with a Berber shepherd’s family. Later in the afternoon, possibility also of a 1½-hour walk at Ait Arbi to scramble up through the ‘Monkey’s Fingers’, a spectacular rock formation, with beautiful photo opportunities. In the evening, visit a Berber family for dinner.

Day 11: Excursion to the M’goun Gorges and the Valley of the Roses

1½ hour walk in each of the valleys, with a delicious open air picnic in between. Splendid mountain scenery and traditional Berber villages.

Day 12: Dades Valley – Marrakech

Travel off-road from the Dades Valley to the beautiful Valley of the Roses and the village of Bouteghrar with its kasbahs set amid wonderful views. Rejoin the main road to Ouarzazate, and detour just beyond the town to the hilltop village of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with some of the best-preserved kasbahs in Morocco. It has been the setting for 20 films, including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. Continue via the road over the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass (2200m) through lovely mountain scenery. Arrive in Marrakech at sunset and enjoy your final night in a riad.

Day 13: Marrakech

At leisure in Marrakech until your transfer to the airport.