DAY 1:
Your journey begins heading towards the High Atlas Mountains, visiting Telouet Kasbah. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to visit villages with the locals and wonderful places they reside. We will enjoy lunch at a mountainside restaurant. Telouet Kasbah is a Kasbah along the former route of the caravans from the Sahara over the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech. The kasbah was the seat of the El Glaoui family's power, thus sometimes also called the Palace of Glaoui. Its construction started in 1860 and it was further expanded in later years.
Thereafter, we will continue to the Kasbah Ait Benhaddou going through many tiny villages and the river of Telout. Our day will end with your choice to spend the night in Ouarzazat at Dar Chamaa or Hotel Les Jardien de Ouarzazat.
Aït Benhaddou is a historic ighrem or ksar along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh in Morocco. It is considered a great example of Moroccan earthen clay architecture and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
DAY 2:
Our morning departure will take us toward Zagora via Tizi-n-Tinifift pass in the Anti-Atlas Mountain range to reach Agdez and the Draa valley. We will travel on the unpaved road starting from Tansikht village through the forest of palm trees toward the Oasis of Zagora where you will stop for lunch.
In the afternoon, we will adventure the first sand dunes of Tinfou and the mediaeval library of Tamegroute with its old books which goes back to 11 century. When our day is coming to a close, you will have your choice to check into the hotel in Zagora at Riad Lamane or Hotel Kasbah Asmaa. This decision will be made when you book your trip.
DAY 3:
Beginning this day, we will pick you up and will continue our trip to Merzouga through the Oasis crossing the Stone Desert and over the Anti-Atlas with it's beautiful landscapes. Midday we will stop for lunch in Tazarine village. In this area of desert landscape and fortified clay villages, the route used to be the old caravan road bringing gold from South Africa to exchange for sugar and salt. Continuing through to the dunes of Merzoug we will meet our camel guide and begin your camel trek into the beautiful Erg Chebbi dunes where we will spend the evening in a bivouac (camp), enjoy an authentically prepared Moroccan dinner, and sleep in a traditional Nomad camel hair tent.
DAY 4:
Waking up to sunrise in the desert is magical. Breakfast prepared for you after a good night sleep in the desert is surreal. After breakfast, Bivouac trekkers will return by camel, to lead us on camelback to Tinerhir for lunch, to visit the dramatic Todra Gorges, continue through the Dades Valley to the spectacular “Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs” and on to the former French Foreign Legion outpost of Ouarzazate. We will spend the evening in Kasbah Itran or Xaluca Dades. There can be limited availability, but I will confirm your stay.
DAY 5:
After you enjoy breakfast, we will continue our journey to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aït Benhaddou that is situated on a hillside along the Ouarzazate River. This beautiful example of southern Moroccan architecture has been used as a backdrop for over 20 films including Lawrence of Arabia, Jewel of the Nile, The Mummy, and Gladiator. We will spend some time here and will then continue to Marrakesh over the Tizi N’ Tichka Pass while enjoying scenic views of the High Atlas Mountains and of the Berber villages along the way. This tour will conclude with dropping you off at your desired location in the afternoon/evening.
