This itinerary offers a mix of cultural experiences, natural wonders, and adventure, showcasing the diversity of southern Morocco from the Atlas Mountains to the Sahara and back in 7 days. It involves significant driving time, especially on days 4 and 5, but provides a comprehensive tour of the region. The tour covers diverse landscapes including the Atlas Mountains, Sahara Desert, and traditional Berber villages.
City and Desert in One
Overview
Included
Excluded
Highlights
Itinerary
You will be picked up by a driver at the airport who brings you to your accommodation. After a break and freshening up after your journey, you will enjoy a guided tour of various historical sites and stroll through the medina (old city). Wander through the colorful souks (markets), visit Jemaa el-Fna square—the bustling heart of the city—and enjoy a mint tea and some Moroccan pastries at a café.
Accommodation: Hotel or guesthouse in Marrakech
Meals: Lunch or dinner (depending on arrival time)
Guided Tours: Historical sites in Marrakech, medina, souks, Jemaa el-Fna,
City tour, exploring souks, tea at a café
You will be picked up by a professional driver at 8 a.m. local time from your accommodation in Marrakech. You will cross the High Atlas Mountains via Tizi n'Tichka pass (2260m) and reach the famous kasbah Telouet. You will then continue driving towards Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and famous ksar (fortified village). After a nice break, continue driving through the valley of Ounila, with its typical Berber villages, to reach Ouarzazate, known as the "Hollywood of Africa" for its film studios. Here, you can visit the museum of movies and take pictures of the kasbah Taourirt. Afterwards, proceed to the Valley of Fint, a hidden oasis with palm groves and traditional villages.
Accommodation: Guesthouse in the Valley of Fint
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Guided Tours: Kasbah Telouet, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate movie museum
Enjoy a guided morning walk in the Valley of Fint before driving to Erg Lihoudi through the Draa Valley, an amazing and historical valley lined with palm oases. Along the way, visit Kasbah Timidert before continuing to Tamgroute, where you will visit an old Quran library and a subterranean kasbah with a guide. Once you arrive at Erg Lihoudi, known for its golden sand dunes, settle down at the desert camp and enjoy a delicious dinner under the stars.
Accommodation: Desert camp in Erg Lihoudi
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Guided Tours: Morning walk in Valley of Fint, Kasbah Timidert, Tamgroute
In the morning after breakfast, visit Kasbah Bono and enjoy Moroccan tea with locals before driving to M'hamid, the very gateway to the desert and the end of the paved road. From here, your off-road adventure begins across breathtaking desert landscapes, with a picnic lunch along the way, to reach the desert camp at Chegaga. Chegaga features some of Morocco's highest dunes, offering a true Sahara experience. In the afternoon, go on a camel ride and enjoy the spectacular sunset on the dunes. Dinner and overnight stay at the desert camp under the immense starry sky.Accommodation: Desert camp in Chegaga
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, and dinner
Guided Tours: Kasbah Bono, Camel ride, sunset on the dunes
Wake up early to witness the sunrise from the top of the dunes at Chegaga. After breakfast, drive approximately 90 km through the desert, passing unique landscapes such as the natural dried lake of Iriqui. Rejoin the asphalt road at Foum Zguid and continue north to Taznakht, a major center for Moroccan carpets. Stop for lunch before crossing two mountain passes, Tizi-n-Ikhsane and Tizi-n-Tighatine, to reach Taliouine, the heart of Morocco’s saffron-growing region. Visit a government-run saffron museum to learn about saffron agriculture. In the evening, arrive in Taroudant and check into your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel or riad in Taroudant
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Guided Tours: Saffron museum in Taliouine
Explore Taroudant, a charming town situated in the Souss Valley and surrounded by well-preserved city walls. After your visit, drive back to Marrakech via the scenic Tizi'n'Test pass, crossing the High Atlas Mountains. Along the way, visit the Tin-Mal Mosque, a historic site. The rest of the drive takes you through mesmerizing landscapes, passing hamlets and villages such as Ouirgane, Asni, and Tahanouet, before arriving in Marrakech.
Accommodation: Hotel or riad in Marrakech
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Guided Tours: Taroudant city tour, Tin-Mal Mosque
Depending on the time of your departure flight, you may have time for last-minute sightseeing or souvenir shopping before being transferred to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch (depending on departure time)