10 Day Morocco Tour - MARRAKECH to SAHARA DESERT

A member of our team will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel or riad. You can relax and enjoy free time in Marrakesh. Overnight in Marrakesh with AC.

After breakfast in our riad, we will drive south crossing the High Atlas Mountain, the highest road in Morocco, the Tizi n Tichka pass. We stop along the way for lunch. We will make a stop at the woman’s argon oil cooperative and be able to take pictures of the Berber villages, landscapes and valley and learn about the culture. Overnight Isselday

After breakfast we will visit one of the famous sites in Morocco, the Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a fortified castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A place where popular movies have been filmed. Then we will continue our way south descending the Atlas Mountains to the small village of Tagounite. We will have a relaxing evening including Moroccan tea, dinner and entertainment at this traditional family guesthouse. Currently no AC in rooms. Overnight in Tagounite at Riad Dar Talmoudi. 

Today we will take in the local culture of southern Morocco.  We have the opportunity to see how pottery is made in a near-by pottery co-op, go to a Koran library. Overnight at Riad Dar Talmoudi. 

Setting out for our overnight in the Sahara Desert, we will go by 4×4 on a desert safari stopping to have tea or lunch with a family that is still living the nomadic life. We will see the place where Moroccan traders used to meet others to make the long and dangerous route to Timbuktu an ancient major trading center for gold and salt. Lunch is provided along the way.

After arriving at our desert camp at Erg Chigaga, the largest dunes in Morocco, we will be welcomed with Moroccan tea and treats.  Just before sunset we will take our own camel caravan into the dunes for a memorable ride and photos.

Later we will be served a delicious dinner. After dinner, we can gather under the night sky and enjoy a campfire with traditional music.   Overnight at the desert camp.  The camp is well-equipped tents or earthen rooms with a regular bed with comfortable mattress and separate bathrooms with hot showers and western toilets. No AC here. You have the option to sleep under the stars. Overnight Sahara Desert Camp

We will make our way across a different part of the Sahara through Lake Iriki National Park.  The lake nowadays is mostly dry. It was a favorite place of the southern gazelles.  It was established to protect the biodiversity, flora and fauna across 123,000 hectares of south-eastern Morocco. We will also stop at a Berber womans’ carpet co-op to see a demonstration and learn how the carpets are made. Overnight: Isselday

After breakfast we will drive to the quaint port town of Essaouira. Along the way we will stop to see the famous goats in the argan trees. Essaouira has its own fortified old medina that is protected by the 18th-century seafront ramparts called the Skala de la Kasbah. Old brass cannons line the walls surrounding the old city that looks out into the ocean.  Overnight in Essaouira. (no AC-it is a coastal town)

Spend the day enjoying the small port town of Essaouira on your own. Optional activities include camel or horse riding on the beach, yoga or hammam (Moroccan spa treatment). Overnight in Essaouira.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive (3 hrs) to Marrakech. After lunch, our local guide will lead us on a tour of Marrakech including the souks (market place), Jemaa el Fna Square, Saadian tombs, Bahia Palace and Koutoubia mosque. Overnight in Marrakech with AC. 

Transfers to airport in Marrakech for departure. If you would like to extend your trip, please let us know and we can assist with arrangements.