Day 1: Marrakesh to Boumalne Dades

In a blue-skied morning, our professional driver will pick you up from your accommodations at an already appointed time. Then, we will begin our journey in discovering the historic towns of the semi-arid plain of the High Atlas Mountains. Leaving Marrakesh to the High Atlas Mountains, we will appreciate its snow covered peaks of which will slowly become visible as we drive towards the Deep South of Morocco. As we reach closer to the peak, we will encounter the numerous winding switchbacks of the Tizi Ntichka Mountain pass. It is a marvel of modern engineering and design. At 2,260m above sea level, we will stop at the crest of the Tizi Ntichka to gaze at the surrounding mountaintops. As we descend on the other side of the High Atlas Mountains, we will veer off the main road to visit the UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Benhaddou. An ideal model of the many sand castle villages and Kasbah’s that dot the south of Morocco. The ancient town of Ait Benhaddou enchants its thousands visitors with its curious towers. They stand stout in face of surrounding desert resisting its harsh weather forging a place in Morocco’s history. During the 20th century, this Kasbah was the stronghold of Ethami Glaoui as one of the most powerful men in Moroccan History. His fame was worldwide inviting V.I.P.s from all over the world to attend his affluent ceremonies. George Orwell paid him a visit in one of these Kasbah as well as in Marrakesh. Towns like Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou played an important role in Morocco’s past as key stops on the lucrative sub-Saharan trade routes. They were a safe stopover as well as a link over the vast desert and mountain ranges for commercial caravan coming from Timbuktu to the heart of Morocco: Marrakesh. Like Ait Benhaddou, Ouarzazate encloses an important fortified midpoint, the Taourirt Kasbah. Ouarzazate is the administrative capital and the biggest city of a province well known for its Kasbahs. The same ones that might have inspired Jimmy Hendrix during his visit to Morocco in 1965 to write his famous song “Castel made of Sand”. The etymology of the word ‘Ouarzazate’ comes from the Berber expression meaning ‘without noise’. As part of its effort to join the human struggle against climate change, the province of Ouarzazate had settled the world largest solar power plant. In a collaboration with many other international entities and organizations such as the NASA, its value is estimated at around $9 billion. These solar plants will provide 75% of the Moroccan national needs of energy. Our journey today will start in the old town of Taourirt with its large ancient Kasbah. Its noble founders have moved out, leaving its many towers to families of White storks. The next stop will be in Morocco’s largest movie studios. Over the years, thanks to their prime desert location, these studios have helped turn out classic film like Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000). Recently, certain episodes of Game of Thrones were filmed here. For flexibility purposes and time restraints, we will have to choose of these options, we can visit either the cinema museum or one of the studios. Leaving Ouarzazate, we will be pass through the Dades Valley. This a region famous for its sprawling palm groves growing over an underground river. Along our way, we will visit the famous little town of Kalaat M’gouna. It is identified across Morocco for its high quality rose water. A traditional Rose Festival is yearly organises in May where a local committee elects a beauty queen. Our journey for the day ends upon our arrival to the town of Boumalne Dades where we will spend the night in a traditional Kasbah hotel overlooking the sand castles and the palm groves.

Day 2: Drive from Boumalne Dades to Merzouga

After local breakfast in our Kasbah in Boumalne Dades in the morning, we will leave the town to explore the little villages on our way to the sprawling desert sands of Merzouga. Our first stop of the day will be in the small town of Tinghir. It is a small picturesque town where we can get a glimpse on how locals in this region live. We will also make a short break in the Todra Gorges. The 300m high cliffs attracts climbers from around the world to fight gravity and fear as they scale vertically. Our journey will take us on foot to have a better sight on this fascinating area. Continuing on our way, we will notice how the landscape gets more and more arid, as the temperature gets hotter. As we make our way away from the mountains and towards the desert, we will pass through the town of Erfoud. We will stop for lunch in this beautiful little town and visit a fossil museum. Upon our arrival to Rissani, a local guide will lead us though this town to unveil all the myths that surround the life in this sacred village. We will notice hooded men and men bargaining and trading as they used to do centuries ago in their uncovered traditional market. After our little tour of Rissani, we will drive directly towards the shores of the Sahara desert to get to Merzouga. It is the last towns before the end of the road and the beginning of the desert. Upon our arrival, a camel caravan will be waiting to take us over the sand dunes to our Berber camp deep in the Sahara Desert. Our Berber hosts will cook us traditional desert meals. They will also teach us about their culture and the secret tips they inherited from their ancestors to ease their life in the harsh climate of the Sahara. Our evening will be a mesmerising one. We will huddle around a under the Milky Way and the Poles Stars.

Day 3: Drive from Ouarzazate to Marrakesh

After breakfast and before heading north to Marrakesh, we will start our day exploring the sights in Ouarzazate. This city is clean, quiet, and sunny. It is the administrative capital and the biggest city of a province well known for its Kasbahs. The same ones that might have inspired Jimmy Hendrix during his visit to Morocco in 1965 to write his famous song “Castel made of Sand”. The etymology of the word ‘Ouarzazate’ comes from the Berber expression meaning ‘without noise’. As part of its effort to join the human struggle against climate change, the province of Ouarzazate had settled the world largest solar power plant. In a collaboration with many other entities and organizations such as the NASA, its value is estimated at around $9 billion. These solar plants will provide 75% of the Moroccan national needs of energy. Our journey today will start in the old town of Taourirt with its large ancient Kasbah. Its noble founders have moved out, leaving its many towers to families of White storks. The next stop will be in Morocco’s largest movie studios. Over the years, thanks to their prime desert location, these studios have helped turn out classic film like Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000). Recently, certain episodes of Game of Thrones were filmed here. Leaving Ouarzazate, we will turn off the main road to visit the UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Benhaddou. An ideal model of the many sand castle villages and Kasbah’s that dot the south of Morocco. The ancient town of Ait Benhaddou enchants its thousands visitors with its curious towers. They stand stout in face of surrounding desert resisting its harsh weather forging a place in Morocco’s history. During the 20th century, this Kasbah was the stronghold of Ethami Glaoui as one of the most powerful men in Moroccan History. His fame was worldwide inviting V.I.P.s from all over the world to attend his affluent ceremonies. George Orwell paid him a visit in one of these Kasbah as well as in Marrakesh. Towns like Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou played an important role in Morocco’s past as key stops on the lucrative sub-Saharan trade routes. They were a safe stopover as well as a link over the vast deserts and mountain ranges for commercial caravan coming from Timbuktu to the heart of Morocco: Marrakesh. Lunch will be at one of the numerous restaurants that overlook the picturesque town. Then we will proceed our drive to Marrakesh. We will notice the atmosphere’s change as we climb higher into the High Atlas Mountains. We leave the arid desert plains and hills to forests, mountain streams, and maybe snow-capped mountains. We will follow the road to the very top of these mountains. Then, we will stop at the Tizi Ntichka pass before heading down the other side. First constructed by the French in 1936, but remodelled and modernized many times since, the Tizi Ntichka pass is a true feat of civil engineering. Once over the mountains, it will be a straight shot to the ochre mysterious city: Marrakesh. Our professional driver will drop you off at your accommodation.