Adventure & Desert Tours

After your breakfast at you hotel, your guide will meet you for full day guided tour of Marrakech. Marrakech was founded in 1062 by one of the chieftains of the Almoravid king Youssuf Ibn Tashfin. The Almoravids were desert warriors, very much attached to their Islamic religion; the original garrison developed very quickly into a city where numerous mosques and madrasas (Koranic schools) were built.  Andalousian craftsmen built and decorated several palaces, merging their style with the Saharan and African traditions, which gave the city a distinctive architectural flavour. Nowadays, Marrakech is a vibrant city which exhibits a curious blend of the ancient and the modern, allowing travellers the chance to experience the genuine medieval atmosphere of the old medina, and visit the trendiest bars, art galleries and restaurants in the French Quarter, Guéliz, built at the beginning of the 20th Century, all in one day. Highlights of your visit will include: El Bahia Palace Built in the late 19th Century, and decorated by the best artisans of Morocco at the time, this palace – intended to be the most magnificent of its age – features an exquisite blend of Andalousian and Moorish styles. Specially interesting are the harem apartments, the trapezoidal garden, and a huge tiled courtyard with fountains. The Koranic School Medersa Ben Youssef  Theological college founded by the Merenid Sultan Abu Hassan in the 14th century, and restored in 1564 by the Saadians who made it the largest theological college in the Maghreb and a rival to the important Medersa Bou Inania in Fés. The Koutoubia Mosque Built by the Almohads in the late years of 12th Century, the Koutoubia Mosque, and specially its minaret, is the most important landmark of Marrakech, and a symbol of the city itself. The minaret served as model for the Giralda in Sevilla and the unfinished Tour Hassan in Rabat, all three being designed by the same architect. Koutoubia means ‘booksellers’, as the trade of books was concentrated in the neighbourhood during the Middle Ages. The minaret of the Koutoubia, 77 meters high, is visible from almost any point of the city – an old ordinance, still in force, forbids any building of Marrakech to surpass the Koutoubia minaret in height. Djemaa El Fna, the Square Nobody knows for certain of the origin of this square, whose name evokes, in Arabic, the contradictory notions of assembly or gathering, and that of absence.  Probably as old as the city itself, it was a place for public executions during the day, and the meeting point of musicians, mystics, food sellers, pickpockets, acrobats, snake charmers, storytellers, dancers, fortune tellers and other exotic characters at night (happily enough, nowadays it only retains its more playful aspect). Watching sunset from one of its terraces when the call to prayer from the Koutoubia minaret fills the air is one of these ‘zen’ moments that Morocco offers – do not miss it! Despite its lack of significant monuments, Djemaa el Fna became an UNESCO Heritage Site in 1985, as one of the last places in the world where old oral narratives are still enacted.  The Souks Filling the alleys north of Djmaa el Fna is the souk, or traditional market – the largest one in Morocco. It is, in turn, subdivided in some 18 souks, each one of them devoted to a specific trade or craftsmanship – from spices or ironwork, to the ingredients necessary for casting magic spells. The number of shops – often not much bigger in size than a closet - is overwhelming, and in them Moroccans can indulge in one of the activities that they enjoy most: bargaining. Cunning, patience, sense of humour, and strategy are needed for the game. Try your skills at it! Overnight at hotel in Marrakech

Breakfast at the hotel then departure to Boumalne Dades via Skoura, crossing the High Atlas via Tizi-n-Tichka (2260 meters above sea level). Skoura you will visit its famous Kasbah Amerhidil and take a walk in its beautiful Oasis which takes you between its palm trees and makes you discover Berbers life from this Atlas region. Continue to El Kelaa through the Dades Valley with a short sightseeing of El Kelaa M'Gouna, most known for the "Roses Festival" which takes place in the city every year. This place is really a must if you go there in May when the roses bloom. Their smell smells the surroundings and we see them everywhere. In addition, the landscapes are beautiful. Continue to Boumalne Dades Dinner and overnight at hotel in Boumalne Dades

After breakfast at the hotel, departure to Erfoud through Tinghir, visit of the Todra gorges (large canyons), situated on the east side of the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco.  The Todra Gorge is recognized around the world as one of the most spectacular canyons resort and mountaineering. Continuation to Erfoud via Rissani cradle of the Alawite dynasty. Arrive in Erfoud, your gateway to the Sahara Desert. Built by the French in the early 1900s, the town features tightly packed red sand buildings that blend seamlessly into the desert surroundings. While here, be sure to try some dates fresh from the local market – the dates in Erfoud are so delicious they celebrate them with a festival every year.

Take a 4WD ride to Merzouga desert, where you will meet camels for a ride of 45 minutes to end of the day with a truly unforgettable experience – a camel ride across the desert during sunset, watching the landscape turn remarkable shades of orange. Sleep under the stars in tent or hotel depends on the weather and enjoy the relaxation and calm of desert Dinner and overnight in Merzouga

Take the Jeep and Head to Khamlia (or the Gnawa village as it is fondly known), a small village located on the edge of the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi in southeast Morocco near the Algerian border. Where you will sit for lunch and enjoy a special dish known in the area as medfouna (also called 'Berber pizza'), a traditional stuffed bread prepared with meat, herbs, and spices by the nomadic peoples of the High Atlas. Traditionally prepared by women to feed local farm workers, this hearty delicacy is a great introduction to the cuisine of the desert region Dinner and overnight at luxury camp in Merzouga desert

If you wake up early enough, you can watch the sunrise, when the color of the dunes and the game of shadows are an impressive sight.  After a quiet and memorable night in the dunes of Erg Chebbi Sand, departure to Ouarzazate, via Agdz, through the Drâa Valley, stopping at farming villages and towns along the route, and admiring views of the High Atlas Mountains. Arrival to Ouarzazate and transfer to hotel Dinner and overnight at hotel in Ouarzazate