Enjoy a fascinating 8-day tour starting and ending in Marrakech, crossing breathtaking landscapes, traditional villages and one of the most beautiful deserts in the world: the Sahara. This route will allow you to explore the best of southern Morocco, combining culture, nature and adventure.

Along the way, you will visit the majestic kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, the Dades and Todra Gorges, and the Berber villages clinging to the High Atlas Mountains. You will spend a magical night in a bivouac in the desert of Merzouga, where you will enjoy a camel ride at sunset and a traditional dinner under the stars.

The journey continues through the Ziz Valley, the Skoura palm grove and Ouarzazate, known as “the Hollywood of Africa”, before returning to Marrakech with a heart full of unforgettable memories.

Day 1: Arrival in Marrakech

You will be greeted upon arrival and transferred to your hotel. Our representative will give you a brief overview of your 8-Day Tour from Marrakech to Marrakech via the Sahara Desert.

Day 2: Marrakech – Ait Benhaddou – Dades Gorges

We will begin this day from Marrakech to the Sahara Desert at 8:00 AM, departing from Marrakech towards the High Atlas Mountains, passing through a good number of Berber villages. We travel through the valley to another Kasbah, more famous as a film set and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Ait Benhaddou is a fortified ksar on the riverbank, and it was also on the original trade route to the Sahara and Timbuktu with camels loaded with salt. After lunch at a nearby restaurant, we will head to Ouarzazate and Skoura with its hidden kasbahs. We will enjoy the journey through the Valley of the Roses on the way to Dades, where we will spend the night.

Day 3: Dades Gorges – Tinghir – Todra Gorges – Night in the Desert Camp

After breakfast, we will stop to visit the unique gorges with their crazy rock formations before taking the road to Tinghir and its hidden canyon. The Todra Gorge is a massive crack in the mountain with 300-meter-high vertical rock walls and a crystal-clear river running through it. We will stop at some highlights so you can take photos. Our journey continues south toward Erfoud and finally to Merzouga with its golden Erg Chebbi dunes. After a welcome glass of mint tea, you’ll be introduced to the camels that will take you into the dunes to enjoy the sunset and your camp for dinner and music with the nomads around the fire. If the sky is clear, you can gaze at the stars.

Day 4: Merzouga – Tazzarine – Agdz – Ouarzazate – Marrakech

Sunrise is something not to be missed, so you will wake up early. It is a magical moment when the dawn chases away the night, colors shift across the golden dunes, and the silence and setting make it very special and memorable. For some, it may be a life-changing experience. You will return by camel to the hotel for breakfast and a freshen-up. Our journey to Marrakech crosses vast lunar landscapes, desert mountains, and villages with adobe kasbahs, from Merzouga to Alnif and Tazzarine, passing through the Draa Valley and the oasis town of Agdz, known for its dates. Following the oases, we’ll cross the mountains and pause for lunch in Ouarzazate before crossing the High Atlas and descending into the plains of Marrakech.

Day 5: Marrakech – Jemma El-Fna – Traditional Market

After breakfast, we will guide you on a visit to a unique city, Marrakech, the pearl of southern Morocco. We will visit the Bahia and El Badi Palaces, the Saadian Tombs, the Menara reservoir, and many other hidden treasures. Lunch. Then we will discover the magnificent Koutoubia Mosque and the famous Djemaa el Fna market square, which is well worth visiting as one of Marrakech’s main attractions, full of life at night with local storytellers, snake charmers, and… a variety of foods with their typical mouth-watering smells and colors.

Day 6: Marrakech – Essaouira – Marrakech

Your driver will pick you up at 8 AM at the agreed location to begin your day trip to Essaouira from Marrakech, enjoying the surrounding nature along the way. You will have the opportunity to visit an Argan Cooperative along the route, as the region is known for argan oil. You’ll see how the women of the cooperative work hard and enthusiastically to extract oil from argan nuts to produce cosmetics or delicious cooking oil. You’ll discover a unique process that requires time and effort by the women involved. Once we arrive in Essaouira, you have the whole day to explore the medina, which is surrounded by medieval walls with a castle at its southern end. Its whitewashed houses with blue shutters give it a beautiful appearance. Stroll through its entertaining and narrow streets to explore old French and Portuguese architecture, enjoy the beach, visit the port, and savor a delicious lunch at one of the restaurants in the fishing port. If you wish, you can hire a local guide for a city tour, but we recommend exploring on your own, as it’s the best way to experience this small and peaceful town. Return to Marrakech in the afternoon around 6 PM.

Day 7: Marrakech – Ouzoud Waterfalls – Marrakech

At the agreed time, you will be picked up from the designated location. The tour takes you through a scenic typical route until reaching the small village of Ouzoud, passing numerous souvenir stalls. To reach the waterfalls, you go down steps placed between numerous cafés. Before starting on the stairs, you can enjoy your first unique and wonderful view of the waterfalls. This is also home to the famous macaque monkeys, the naturally tailless monkeys often seen performing in Marrakech’s main square. It’s a delight to see them roaming freely in their native habitat. There are several restaurants at lunchtime (not included) with spectacular views.

Day 8: Marrakech – Transfer to the Airport

Transfer to the airport or departure point. End of Our 8-Day Tour from Marrakech to Marrakech via the Sahara Desert.