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5 days tour

Marrakesh & Grand Tour Of The Sahara Desert

$ 961 .25 USD

Total price per person

Reserve with $961.25

Marrakesh & Grand Tour Of The Sahara Desert

This tour includes:

Others

Sightseeing: Entrance fees to listed attractions, such as historical sites, museums, and monuments Activities: Cultural experiences like local workshops, or traditional performances. Support: 24/7 customer support and assistance during the trip.

Transport

Transportation: Private air-conditioned vehicle for the entire tour, including airport transfers.

Guide

Guided Tours: Professional local guides for sightseeing tours in various cities.

Accommodation

Accommodation: 4 nights of accommodation in carefully selected 4/5*hotels or riads.

Meals

Meals: Daily breakfast at the accommodations and Dinner in a restaurant or Accommodation.

Not included:

Others

Sightseeing: Entrance fees to listed attractions, such as historical sites, museums, and monuments Activities: Cultural experiences like local workshops, or traditional performances.

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Marrakesh & Grand Tour Of The Sahara Desert

  • Day 1 Arrive, Explore The Red City
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Arrive, Explore The Red City

      Welcome to Marrakech! Nicknamed the "Red City" for the natural pigment in the sandstone used to build its walls and buildings, Marrakech has always been a major economic center.


      Orient yourself around Marrakechโ€™s main square, Jemaa el-Fna: the souks (el Attarin, Haddadine, and Smata) are to the north, the Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens are to the west, and the kasbah (old fortress or fortification) area home to the Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, and El Badi Palace are to the south. On the southwest corner, you will find the calรจches (French for horse-drawn carriage) that offer a unique way to tour the medina (old quarter). In the Ville Nouvelle, you will find the Majorelle Gardensโ€”a perfect spot for respite away from the crowds.


      Start your day at the Koutoubia Mosque with its towering minaret. Notice the open spaces and courtyards along many alleyways: these fondouks or caravanserai were once inns used by traders and merchants and their animals. Wander the souks and be sure to visit the Souk des Teinturiers (Dyersโ€™ Souk) to see how workers use traditional methods to dye cloth and wool.


      Next, visit the 16th-century Ben Youssef Madrasa Islamic school to appreciate the carved cedar ceilings, zellij (intricate tile work), and Islamic calligraphy. Check out the 500-year-old Saadian Tombs or visit the 19th-century Bahia Palace, one of the largest and most luxurious palaces of its day. And if time allows, visit the 17th-century El Badi Palace for comparison (be sure to check out the sunken gardens).

  • Day 2 Over The High Atlas Mountains And Into The Desert
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Over The High Atlas Mountains And Into The Desert

      Leave the busy city behind and head east toward the desert, ascending the High Atlas mountains. See if you can spot Mount Toubkal, the highest peak at 13,671 feet (4,167 m).  Along the way, you will pass many Berber villagesโ€”made up of traditional mud-brick buildings.


      Lunch in Taddert and tour the local Argan Oil Cooperative and discover how the local women extract the precious oil from the argan nut to make oil used in the health, food, and cosmetic industries. Follow the winding road to the Tizi nโ€™Tichka pass and stop to appreciate the panoramic view. 


      Continue east, traveling through the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs, many in disrepair as theyโ€™re constructed of pisรฉ mud (rammed earth). As you head toward Boumalne Dades, you will pass many small towns where you can see traditional farming methods in use. Be on the lookout for nomads tending to their animals as you make your way through fragrant Kelaโ€™a Mโ€™gouna, the "Valley of the Roses". Youโ€™ll eventually arrive in Boumalne Dades, a major town bridging the Dades River, and your home for the evening.

  • Day 3 Desert Towns, Fossil Workshops, And Camping In The Sahara
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Desert Towns, Fossil Workshops, And Camping In The Sahara

      Today you will drive farther east to your final destination: the sand sea of Erg Chebbi outside of Merzouga. Along the way, stop in Tinghir to admire the river oasis that extends on either side of the town. The surrounding desert landscape reveals impressive buttes, mesas, and plateaus. 


      Nearby, you will have the opportunity to explore the Todra Gorge, a 984 feet (300 m) deep ravine, cut by the Todra River. Continue to the desert town of Erfoud. Known for its figs and fossils, visit a craft workshop and discover how the fossil-rich rocks are skilfully transformed into practical and decorative objects. Itโ€™s a good idea to buy fresh figs here, as well!


      As you near Merzougaโ€”the town closest to the Saharaโ€”stop in the market town of Rissani and be sure to visit the livestock auction as well as the "donkey parking lot." Leaving Rissani behind, you will start to see the beginnings of the massive sand sea of Erg Chebbi looming on the horizon. 


      Upon reaching Merzouga, switch gears and transfer to your personal camel to begin your trek over the sands and to your Bedouin-style camp. Hike to the top of a nearby dune to watch the setting sun before enjoying a warm meal by the fire.

  • Day 4 Date Palms, Movie Locations, And Aรฏt Benhaddou Kasbah
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Date Palms, Movie Locations, And Aรฏt Benhaddou Kasbah

      Wake early to appreciate a desert sunrise and further explore the Sahara: rent a sand board, join the Erg Chebbi tour around the sand dunes or a quad ATV tour, or lounge by a pool in nearby Merzouga.


      Head south to Khemliya, a traditional Saharan village (with its people originally from Mali). Here you can enjoy traditional music, drumming, and dancing before taking a casual walk around the village and its farmed plots in the sand. You will have a second chance to stop in Rissani to visit Maison Tuareg, a storehouse selling traditional arts and crafts, including carpets, jewelry, and leather goods. From there, pass through umbrella-shaped trees of the acacia forests before reaching Alnif for lunch. Continue on through the Draa Valley, dense with date palmeries and another opportunity to pick up a box of dates for the drive.


      Continue west to the desert hub and popular filming location of Ouarzazate. Made popular by the growing movie industry, you will have the option to tour one of the two movie studios and envision how the nearby regions have been featured in many movies. Some popular film credits include Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Prometheus, American Sniper, and Game of Thrones. To learn more about the history and filmmaking process in the area, stop at the Musรฉe du Cinema.


      Continue west to medieval Aรฏt Benhaddou. A protected UNESCO site, Aรฏt Benhaddou is the most famous kasbah in Morocco and, once upon a time, held an important position along the trans-Saharan trade route between Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, and the southern desert. Spend the night in the old town and wander the empty alleys after the day crowds have left. Pay a nominal fee to enter a few of the kasbahs and climb up to the rooftop for pretty views.

  • Day 5 Return To Marrakech, Depart
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Return To Marrakech, Depart

      Before the crowds filter into the old kasbah, explore the narrow passageways and alleys to get a real feel for this 11th-century fortified city. Leave Aรฏt Benhaddou behind, and return to Marrakech, traveling one more time up and over the High Atlas mountains and through the Tizi nโ€™Tichka Pass.


      After exploring Moroccoโ€™s quiet desert towns and various deserts, soon you will be back in the bustling city of Marrakech. You may wish to take the afternoon at a slower paceโ€”find a cafรฉ near Jemaa el-Fna and enjoy your last (local) Moroccan meal before catching your flight home. 

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Personal

Youโ€™ll be just with your guide or pilot. Examples of these activities are paragliding, sky diving, personal mountain climbing, etc.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Average

There are several physical activities that last from 2 to 6 hours in easy terrains, low altitude flats, or water experiences. Please ask if youโ€™re not sure this applies to you.

Age range

Age range

Min: 2 / Max: 80

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