The Grand Tour of the South 5 Days
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About This Tour
Embark on an unforgettable adventure with the 5 Days Morocco Desert Tour from Marrakech, offering a rich blend of culture, landscapes, and authentic desert experiences. This tour is perfect for those wanting to discover the raw beauty of Morocco’s southern regions while immersing themselves in the ancient traditions of the Berber people.
Your journey begins in the vibrant city of Marrakech, where you'll leave behind the bustling medinas and head towards the Majestic High Atlas Mountains. As you traverse the winding roads of the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, you’ll be captivated by the dramatic scenery. The landscapes gradually change from lush green valleys to rugged mountain peaks, dotted with small Berber villages perched on hillsides, showcasing the rural charm of this region.
Along the way, you’ll visit the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an iconic example of traditional Moroccan architecture. This ancient fortress has stood for centuries along the old caravan route, offering insight into the region’s history as a trade hub. As you continue, you’ll explore the oasis towns and the impressive Dades and Todra Gorges, two of the most scenic spots in southern Morocco. These towering canyon walls create a striking contrast against the surrounding desert landscape, providing an ideal backdrop for hiking or simply admiring nature’s beauty.
The highlight of the 5 Days Morocco Desert Tour from Marrakech is the journey into the heart of the Sahara Desert. You’ll arrive at the majestic Erg Chebbi Dunes near Merzouga, where you will mount a camel and trek across the golden sands. The camel ride through the shifting dunes is an experience that will stay with you forever, as the vast emptiness of the desert offers a peaceful retreat from the modern world.
As night falls, you’ll arrive at a traditional Berber camp, where you’ll sleep in a tent under the starry desert sky. The evening will be filled with the sound of traditional Berber music around a campfire, creating an atmosphere of warmth and connection with the local culture. Sharing stories with the Berbers and enjoying their hospitality adds a personal touch to the tour, making you feel like a welcomed guest rather than just a traveler.
On the final day, you’ll have the unique opportunity to spend time with a local Berber family, gaining a deeper understanding of their customs, daily life, and the rich cultural heritage that defines the desert region. The journey back to Marrakech takes you through more stunning landscapes, from hidden oases to ancient kasbahs, providing plenty of opportunities to soak in the beauty of Morocco’s southern desert.
The 5 Days Morocco Desert Tour from Marrakech offers an ideal balance of adventure, culture, and relaxation, leaving you with lasting memories of your time spent exploring one of the most captivating regions in Morocco.
What’s Included
- Private SUV Toyota Landcruiser
- Pick up & Drop off at your Hotels
- Local Guides in Telouet, Ait Ben Haddou & Todra Gorge
- Camel Trek to and from the camp
- Dunes Tour
- Option to go to/from the camp by 4×4
- Private rooms/tents with en suite bathroom
- Entrance fees in Skoura & Telouet
- Luggage service to the camp
- Berber drumming and music in the camp
- Flexible and customized stops
- Free time to explore the sites
- No forced Shopping stops
- Lunch
- Drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments
Tour Plan
Expand allCollapse all1: Marrakech - Ait Ben Haddou
Your driver will pick you up at 08:00 am from your hotel or the closest accessible point for the car. Cross the Atlas Mountains via the stunning Tizi n'Tichka mountain pass, which offers spectacular views from its 2,260 metres. Several stops for coffee, toilets and to appreciate the panoramic views and to take pictures. Reach Telouet Kasbah where you will be introduced to your Local guide and learn about the history of the lords of the Atlas " Ethami El Glaoui". From here we will drive along the beautiful and awe-inspiring Ounila Valley, full of bends in the roads, surprises at the hues of the rock and soil, Berber villages and gardens, as well as smaller Kasbahs until you reach the village of Ait Ben Haddou.
2: Ait Ben Haddou - Dades Gorge
After breakfast we will continue our journey to the nearby city "Ouarzazate" to discover how the area has been featured in movies, including Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, and Black Hawk Down. Follow the route of the Thousand Kasbahs to Skoura and Kelaat M'Gouna " Valley Des Roses". Once in Kelaat M'Gouna we will take the route north into the High Atlas Mountains along the Mgoun River to Bou Tghrar. From here the journey is off-road to discover Ait Atta Berber nomads living in caves in the mountainside. We stop to share some mint tea in their caves before continuing on rocky tracks to enter the Dadès Gorge. After a full day full of impressions & colors we will arrive to our hotel in Dades valley.
3: Dades Valley - Merzouga Desert
Today you will drive further east to the sand sea of Erg Chebbi outside of Merzouga. Along the way, stop in Tinerhir to admire the river oasis that extends on either side of the town. The surrounding desert landscape reveals impressive buttes, mesas, and plateaus. Here, you will have the opportunity to discover the Gorge of Todgha and walk along the canyons of about 300 m high, a preferred place of mountain climbers.
Continue to the desert town of "Erfoud", known for its figs and fossils, visit a craft workshop and discover how the fossil-rich rocks are skilfully transformed into practical and decorative objects. Upon reaching the edge of the dunes, the camels will be waiting for us, you will ride with the caravane into the dunes while the luggage will be transported to the camp in an SUV.
After the sunset, the camel caravane will continue to the camp, where you will be welcomed to mint tea, then shown to your tents so you can rest, freshen up sort your luggage while dinner is being prepared.
4: Merzouga Desert - Draa Valley
Wake early to appreciate a desert sunrise and further explore the Sahara: trya sand board, join the Erg Chebbi tour around the sand dunes or a quad ATV tour. Drive south to Khemliya village, a traditional Saharan village (with its people originally from Mali). Here you can enjoy traditional music, drumming and dancing.
Afterwards we continue our journey to Draa valley, stop in the market town of Rissani to visit the livestock auction as well as the "donkey parking lot". From there, pass through umbrella-shaped trees of the acacia forests before reaching Alnif for lunch. Continue on to Draa Valley our today's final destination, dense with date palmeries. Overnight in a traditional hotel in Agdez.
5: Draa Valley - Marrakech
After breakfast we will continue our journey, following the former caravan route, (which was used by Sahara traders in pre-historic times and it goes all the way to Timbuktu in Mali.) Cross the Anti-Atlas by Tizi N Tnifift ( 1600m ) towards Ouarzazate and Fint Oasis, a lush, green paradise in the middle of the dry, Moroccan desert. It is made up of four villages, and around 100 people live in Fint Oasis. Go an a short walking tour in this hidden place and enjoy the opportunity to dine or sip the mint tea with a local family. After exploring the best attractions of the south and varieties of desert towns, soon you will be back in the bustling city of Marrakech. You may wish to take the afternoon at a slower pace— and visit the nearby Kasbah of Tifoultout, an impressive 300-year-old castle. Arrive in Marrakech in late afternoon, drop you off at your accommodation.