14 days desert trip from Marrakech
Tour Details
- 14 Days
- 13 Nights
- 10 Guests
We recommend a 14 days desert trip from Marrakech that explores the Kasbah Trail in Morocco. Meeting people from remote regions and participating in authentic Moroccan culture is essential. The tour takes you to the historic and natural center of Morocco.
Starting in the red city of Marrakech, our 14-day tour of Morocco takes us to the Dades valley, the High Atlas Mountains, and the quaint Berber settlements there. If you keep traveling south, you’ll reach Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, one of the most well-known Kasbahs in Morocco and a frequent location for movies and photographs.
Here are all the details of your tour itinerary from Marrakech:
DAY 1: ARRIVAL AT MARRAKECH AIRPORT AND TRANSFER TO THE HOTEL:
As agreed, the Morocco Colorful Tours team will be waiting for you at the door of the airport. You meet them and they pick you up at your hotel or riad which is usually located at the old Medina of Marrakech.
Overnight in Marrakech.
Day 2: FROM MARRAKECH TO ESSAOUIRA:
In the morning around 9.00 am. Your 3-hour journey starts at the beautiful Essaouira on the Atlantic Coast. On the way, you may get the chance to see the goats climbing Argan trees for Argan seeds, which is an unforgettable thing to see.
Once we get to Essaouira, known as Mogador, you will have enough time to enjoy and discover the charming sights of this pretty secret town; including its ancient historical walls, the beautiful blue-whited square, and the pretty souks (markets), as well as the little alleyways of the ancient Medina. Enjoy a delicious lunch of fresh fish in one of the local restaurants next to the sea. In addition to that, having a walk at the beautiful beach of Essaouira.
Overnight in Essaouira.
Day 3: FROM ESSAOUIRA TO CASABLANCA:
After your breakfast at your hotel in Essaouira, we then start the drive to Casablanca, a 5 hours drive. We drive to Casablanca center, where you will visit the big Mosque Hassan II, Mohammed V square, Casablanca corniche and Rick’s Cafe, and more.
Overnight in Casablanca.
Day 4 : CASABLANCA – RABAT – CHEFCHAOUEN:
After breakfast, we will leave from Casablanca to Chefchaouen. Across Rabat, the administrative capital of Morocco. In Rabat we will visit the Hassan Tower and the kasbah des Oudayas. Then drive to the blue city Chefchaouen, the outstanding blue city located in the middle of the Rif mountains.
Overnight in Chefchaouen.
Day 5 : EXPLORE CHEFCHAOUEN:
Today’s program is for strolling in the blue alleyways of the city. Also, Ras El Ma, an old watering hole, with an entrance to the Medina, is a popular place for both locals and tourists. Furthermore, the Plaza Uta el-Hammam, the main square in Chefchaouen, next to it is also the Kasbah (A walled fortress), the Spanish mosque, and many more.
Overnight in Chefchaouen.
Day 6 : CHEFCHAOUEN - VOLUBILIS - MEKNES - FES:
After breakfast, we will depart to Fes with a stop to visit the Roman ruins of Volubilis, Then we pass by Meknes city which was founded at the end of the 17th Century by Moulay Ismail. Have our lunch, then we continue to Fes.
Check-in to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Fes.
Day 7: FES SIGHTSEEING WITH A LOCAL GUIDE:
After breakfast at your riad, you meet your local guide and the exploration of Fes begins. You start with the Royal Palace, founded back to the foundation of the new Fes.
Then, Mellah, the Jewish quarter, where you see a 17th-century synagogue. Also, The University of al-Qarawiyyin, founded as a mosque, then became one of the leading spiritual and educational centers of the historic Muslim world.
As well as Chouara Tannery is the largest and oldest in the oldest Medina quarter of the city, surrounded by leather shops with terraces from where you look down onto the pits.
Furthermore, you will take a walk around the old souks (markets) of Fes, and wander between the narrow alleys of the old Medina. Have an amazing lunch in one of the narrow streets in the heart of the old Medina.
Conclude the day by staying the night in a beautiful Riad.
Day 8 : FES – IFRANE – AZROU – MIDELT --ZIZ VALLEY -- ERFOUD - MERZOUGA DESERT:
After breakfast, we will leave Fes travelling towards Ifran, a beautiful mountain village, referred to as “the Switzerland of Morocco” and then on to Midelt. During this journey, you’ll experience glimpses of the Middle Atlas and Higher Atlas mountains. Stopping at Azrou, a Berber village in the middle of the famous cedar forest – the largest in Morocco – where you may sight Barbary apes. After some time within the forest, your journey continues to Midelt along the magnificent hills and the Atlas, Then we will be travelling through the fascinating TizNtalghamt pass and the Ziz Gorge, taking in views of the High Atlas Mountains. You’ll notice how the scenery changes to reveal hints of the desert as you approach the city of Errachidia, where you will have lunch and enjoy the Berber hospitality. Afterwards, you will travel along the Ziz Valley, stopping for panoramic views along the way to Erfoud. Upon your arrival to the Merzouga desert, the first night will be spent in a hotel in the desert area.
Overnight in a hotel next to the dunes.
Day 9: SAHARA DESERT SIGHTSEEING:
In the morning around 10 am and after breakfast at the hotel. Our driver/guide picks you up by a 4WD for one of the best experiences in the desert. Your visit to the Merzouga area starts from your hotel driving by the high dunes of the desert. Firstly, a panoramic view stops for the Sahara from a high mountain close to the dunes. Then drive to nomad families living next to the Moroccan/Algerian border to know about their culture and the way they are living in a harsh environment, sitting under their tents while having a cup of tea.
After that, our 14 days desert trip from Marrakech resumes at the M’ifis mascara mountain mine. You explore and have an idea of how workers get mines from the heart of the mountains. From there to Khamlia village, settled by the “black-skinned” people, who are famous for their Gnawa music all around the world. Here you try Berber Pizza, a recommended meal in Morocco this area is famous for. Besides, listening and dancing to Gnawa music played by these friendly people.
Later, we keep up to the Sahara Oasis for a walk inside its almond, palm, and fig trees and different vegetables.
From there on, we drive you back to the hotel, to get ready to ride the camels to camp on the other side of the desert. Your camel man awaits you next to the dunes for lifting you by his camels to the desert camp. The camel ride takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes including an amazing stop for an incredible sunset at the top of a high dune in the middle of the desert. Your camel guide will take several memorable pictures for you along the ride to the camp.
Arriving at the well-equipped camp, you will be welcomed with Moroccan tea and some cookies by the camp workers. In an hour, the working staff serve you a delicious dinner, then they make a fire outside the camp under a sky full of stars, where they will be playing Berber and African music, while you enjoy and dance around the fire.
Overnight at the camp.
Day 10: MERZOUGA – RISSANI – TOUDRA GORGE – DADES VALLEY:
Life is getting up an hour early to live an hour more, but only on this day in the desert. For witnessing one that may be the best sunrise in your whole life, we always advise you to wake up early. After a tasty breakfast at the camp. There are two optional ways to get back to the village of Merzouga to recommence our trip. Either by camels or by a 4×4 vehicle.
We depart the pretty desert to Rissani town. The closest town to the Erg Chebbi. With the legendary history between the 14th and 18th centuries. You explore the largest Souk/market in the area, mainly the sheep and cattle market.
Then, continue your way to Alnif, then to Toudra Gorge, a place visited all year round by worldwide rock climbers for adventuring. You may be lucky to see them climbing during your visit. A place not far from where nomads still live in caves, they come with their animals “sheep, goats, donkeys” for water, and also take water with them for their home use. After a walk near the freshwater, you hit the road to beautiful Dades, a calm Berber town, with a beautiful green valley filled with fruit trees. You spend the night here in a hotel or a Riad with dinner included.
Day 11: DADES VALLEY – OUARZAZATE – AIT BEN HADDOU KASBAH – MARRAKECH:
Your 14 days desert trip from Marrakech still has a lot to reveal. You enjoy your breakfast at your riad, then take the road named “road of thousands of Kasbahs. From Dades Valley to Ouarzazate, by Kelaat M’gouna, the city of roses, and Skoura city. We arrive at Ouarzazate city, referred to as the Hollywood of Africa. Here is an optional visit to the Atlas film studio. Then we proceed to the Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a historical backdrop for several famous movies, including Game of Thrones, Gladiator, and Lawrence of Arabia.
We have lunch at this unique spot, then we make our way to Marrakech, and always through the breathtaking landscapes of the Atlas mountains, through Berber villages, and Tizi N’tichka, the highest pass in Morocco. We stop from time to time at any worthy station, for some unforgettable photo shots and, and for admiring the places.
We reach Marrakech around sunset, check into your riad, and have a possible walk to recognize the city a bit before you explore it with a local guide the next day.
Overnight in Marrakech.
Day 12: MARRAKECH SIGHTSEEING WITH A LOCAL GUIDE:
Today’s program will be for visiting Marrakech. In the morning around 9/10h00, your local guide will be waiting for you at the reception of your hotel. Your guide will accompany and show you all the historical sites of the red city Marrakech, including; Jemaa el-Fna Square, one of the main cultural spaces in Marrakech founded in the eleventh century and considered one of the busiest squares in all the world. And Saadian tombs dated back to the Saadian dynasty(1578–1603). In addition to Bahia Palace, one of Marrakech’s most impressive buildings that were built at the end of the 19th century, and intended to be the most eye-catching palace of all times. Moreover; the 12th Koutoubia mosque was the most important and largest worship place at that time.
Later on, you will stroll inside the narrow streets of the old Medina *old city, and visit the colorful Souks/markets. After lunch in one of the restaurants in the old Medina, you hit the road to the modern area. Where you explore the blue garden of Majorelle and YSL Musume.
Overnight in Marrakech.
Day 13: FREE DAY IN MARRAKECH:
Today will be a free day in Marrakech where you can do and experience the cooking class, Moroccan Hammam(traditional bath), in addition to other things that you might be interested in.
Overnight in Marrakech.
Day 14: TRANSFER FROM YOUR HOTEL IN MARRAKECH TO MARRAKECH AIRPORT FOR DEPARTURE:
Your 14 days desert trip from Marrakech in Morocco comes to an end, after a lot of adventures during your stay in Morocco. Our team makes sure to transfer you to the airport 2 or 3 hours before your departure; so as not to miss your flight back home.
_Here is our customized 14 days desert trip from Marrakech, please let me know if you would like to change anything. We are flexible and happy to change anything you would love to modify and add any extra activities to the trip.
- Pick up at Marrakech airport.
- Private trip the entire 14 days desert trip from Marrakech.
- Transport in an air conditioned touristic vehicle.
- Fuel/gas.
- An English speaking guide / a well-experienced driver during the trip.
- Marrakech, Fes and Volubilis local guides.
- All the accommodations included breakfast for 13 nights.
- Sleep in a luxury desert camp+private tents with private bathrooms.
- Sand boarding in the desert.
- Camel Trekking in the desert.
- Pick up and drop off at the hotel/riad everyday.
- 3 dinners in Dades Valley, Merzouga Desert luxury camp, Merzouga hotel.
- Drop off at Casablanca/Marrakech airport.
- All lunches
- Dinners in Marrakech, Fes and Chefchaouen.
- Drinks
- Entrance fees to attractions and museums(cheap).
- Any other personal expenses.
