Tour High Atlas: Fes, Marrakech and the Desert

Day 1: Fez – Ifrane – Cedar forest – Midelt – Ziz Valley – Merzouga desert – Camel ride and night in a haima 

We start our Tour High Atlas and we will set off southwards to cross the Middle Atlas Mountains to reach Ifrane, also known as the “Moroccan Switzerland” because of its striking resemblance with that country. One of the animals that used to live there was the Atlas lion. That’s why it has become the city’s landmark and a stone statue has been dedicated to it. We will have time to take some pictures. We will then drive through the famous cedars forest and admire the great Cedre Gouraud, the largest ancient cedar in the region. 

We will be able to feed the hundreds of wild monkeys that live in the area. After having lunch in Midelt, we will continue our trip through the open desert. We will witness how the landscape changes, revealing numerous sand tracks as we reach Errachidia. Our trip will continue through the magnificent Ziz Valley and the Tafilalet palm grove, famous for its dates crops. This palm grove spreads across more than 20 km, and it has more than 10 million palm trees, which makes it one of the biggest palm groves in the world. 

Arrival in Merzouga. In the afternoon, we will ride the camels, guided by an experienced camel driver from the area. We will admire the astonishing sunset on the dunes before reaching the campsite for the night. We will have a typical Moroccan dinner, which includes a tagine and delicious mint tea. We will enjoy some drum music by the bonfire and observe the magnificent sky and the stars. Night in a haima.

Day 2: Merzouga – Rissani’s market – Todgha Gorge – Dades Gorge

Don’t forget to wake up at the crack of dawn to walk up the highest dune next to the campsite to enjoy the sunrise and the relaxing landscape that nature offers. After having a delicious breakfast we will continue our Tour High Atlas. We will say goodbye to the desert and head to Rissani, Morocco’s former capital. This traditional village was at the origin of the ruling family in Morocco, and the meeting point for trade caravans that came from as far as Timbuktu, in Mali. We will visit its bustling market and the Moulay Ali Cheriff mausoleum. We will see many hooded men and veiled women there. 

We will then move on to the Touroug and Tinejdad palm groves. An hour later, we will reach one of the most astonishing places in the south: the Todgha Gorge. The Todgha’s riverbed has formed a series of breathtaking vertical limestone river canyons of great proportions, a unique place and a true paradise for climbers. You will be able to roam around and enjoy the gorge. In the afternoon, we will continue towards the Dades Valley, also known as the “Valley of Figs”, and take some pictures at the Monkey Fingers. Night at the hotel.

Day 3: Dadès Valley – Valley of the Roses – Skoura palm grove – Ouarzazate – Ait Benhaddou – Tizi n’Tichka mountain pass – Marrakesh 

After breakfast of our last day’s tour High Atlas, we will continue our trip to Kalaat M’Gouna and Ouarzazate through the Dadès Valley. The journey through the Dadès Valley, also called the Road of the Thousand Kasbahs, offers multiple opportunities to shoot some of the best photos of the trip. We will make a quick stop at Kalaat M’Gouna, the Town of Roses, and then we will head towards Ouarzazate, where you will be able to visit the Atlas Film Studio if you wish. 

We will then resume our journey to Ait Benhaddou, where we will visit its world-famous kasbah, declared a World Heritage Site in 1986 by UNESCO. Some world-famous films and TV series, such as Gladiator, Asterix and Obelix, The Mummy, The Jewel of the Nile or Game of Thrones, have been shot at this studio. 

We will continue our trip to Marrakesh after visiting the kasbah. We will drive through the Tizi n’Tichka mountain pass, which stands at an altitude of 2 260 m, the highest point of the country.  Throughout the trip, we will enjoy breathtaking scenery, and we will make several quick stops to take some pictures of the Berber villages that can be spotted in between the bends. We will arrive to Marrakesh in the afternoon. Drop-off at the hotel or at the airport. End of our services.

Travel conditions

• Start of the trip: Fes
• End of the trip: Marrakech
• Accommodation in charming hotels with private room and bathroom

The price includes

• Airport or hotel transfers in Fes & Marrakech
• Private transport with A/C
• English-speaking driver/guide at your service during the whole trip
• Fuel
• Accommodation type: half board
• Camel ride in the desert
• Night in the desert in a haima with breakfast & dinner

Not included

• Flights
• Meals
• Drinks
• Tips