Day 1: Fez / Dades gorges
We will meet you at your (Fez) riad or hotel at 8:00a.m., depart and transport (7 hours) over the Middle Atlas mountains through the cedar forests of Ifrane, Midelt and the Ziz gorges towards Sahara. We’ll arrive in Dades valley of a thousand Kasbahs. You will pass through many Berber villages, and once in the desert, see barren hillsides clustered with kasbahs (fortified dwellings that house many families and their livestock). After visiting the Tamnalt hills, we stay Dades valley auberge (small country inn) in the upper gorge.
Day 2:Dades gorgres / Todra gorges
After breakfast we have a short drive to walk through a massive fault dividing the High Atlas mountains. Todra Gorge sheer rock walls rises to 300 m in its narrowest part. After lunch you can wander with a guide through palmeries, gardens, and kasbahs for a close look at traditional Berber ways of life. Visit the market in Tinehir and old kasbah quarter. Stay in traditional old kasbah with evening Moroccan dinner by the pool.
Day 3: Todra gorgres / Merzougua
Our mid-afternoon destination is the Riad (small country inn) in the Erg Chebbi dunes 5 km from Merzouga. Along the way we pass through folded exposed rock slabs of fossils and we can stop and visit a fossil workshop for a closer look at Sahara’s wonderful varieties of ancient life. We continue deeper into the desert landscape, until the dunes appear on the horizon. Upon arrival you will meet your camel guide and ride into the dunes to the bivouac (camp), where a traditional tagine dinner is prepared (vegetarians welcome) under the evening stars shining brilliantly in the night sky. Climb the dunes and watch the moon rise before retiring to your bed in the nomad wool tent.
Day 4: Merzougua / Fes
Bivouac trekkers return by camel at sunrise to the Riad for breakfast and shower. Depart for long days drive to Fez, traveling from the desert through the Ziz gorge to the Middle Atlas mountains. The alpine town of Ifrane is a nice contrast from the desert. You can stop here, before descending to the hilly lowlands where the ancient city of Fez is situated. You will need to book a hotel in Fez this night.
Book this tour
Includes: Transport by 4x4; experienced driver; ensuite rooms with air conditioning, breakfast and dinner (vegetarians welcome); swimming stops (April to September); personalised extended walks and exploration of oasis palmeries and kasbahs, markets and medinas; camel trek to overnight in nomad desert bivouac with guide and camels of course…
NB : Each one of our offers can be adapted to suit individual needs. The Sahara is a mysterious, magical and powerful experience. You will be accompanied by local and experienced nomad guides as well as knowledgeable drivers who can increase your enjoyment in gaining a feel for this special place.