Summer Trip Marrakech Desert Essaouira

Pick-up at 8:00 a.m. at your hotel, riad, or the square where you are staying in Marrakech. Departure for a SUMMER excursion to the Merzouga desert towards the High Atlas Mountains, crossing the Tizi N'Tichka pass at an altitude of about 2,260 meters, with stops to enjoy spectacular panoramic views. We will visit the ARGAN oil cooperative, where we will discover the production process and learn about the countless benefits it has for the human body. We will continue south and then turn off onto a 6 km track that will take us to the fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou, where we will visit its famous Kasbah (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO). This spectacular setting has been used as a backdrop for such renowned films as Gladiator, The Jewel of the Nile, and Sahara. We will have lunch in the village and then continue our journey to Ouarzazate, considered the great gateway to the desert, the starting point for major expeditions and home to the great Kasbah of Taourirt. We will continue to the Valley of Roses, passing through the large palm grove of Skoura, until we reach the Dades Valley, where we will spend the night.

Accommodation in a hotel with dinner and breakfast.

After breakfast, we will travel to Merzouga and climb a path to observe the gorges from a strategic spot in the mountains. We will then continue along a road dotted with beautiful kasbahs, each one completely different from the next. After several stops, we will arrive at one of the highlights of the south: the Todra Gorges, 300 m high. The Todra River has formed a gorge with vertical walls of enormous proportions and great beauty. It is a paradise for climbers and a unique place. We will have lunch on site and continue towards the desert until we reach the impressive Merzouga Dunes, where we will have a cup of tea while we rest for a while. We will leave our bags at the hotel and set off in a caravan of dromedaries, which will take us to the Haimas camp in an hour. We will stop halfway to watch the sunset over the dunes and stretch our legs before continuing on to the camp. Before or after dinner, we will have the opportunity to climb the dunes near the camp to enjoy the peace and quiet and the stars of this famous desert. We will spend the night in a haima.

Accommodation in haimas with dinner and breakfast and a live Berber music show after dinner.

We will get up early to watch the sunrise over a dune and then have a leisurely breakfast. You can choose to return to the hotel by camel or 4×4. We will continue on our route, or you can enjoy some time at the pool or visit the dunes if the weather is good. You can also go on a quad bike or buggy excursion through the Erg Chebbi dunes. Afterwards, we will take the 4×4 and go to the village of Khamlia, home to the Gnawa, musicians of sub-Saharan origin (Black Africa), who will delight us with music and dance while we enjoy mint tea (Berber whisky). You can buy a CD of their music for €10 or give them a tip of at least €5. We will then continue to Taouz, from where we will take the old Paris Dakar Rally track to see some wonderful rock engravings, and we will pass through the village of Jdaid where we will eat at the home of a Berber family (Berber pizza and tea), and where we can also get henna tattoos from a person specialized in this art. (a tip must be given to the henna artist). If you are interested, you can take a walk around the village of Ouzina and its oasis. In the afternoon, we will go to the hotel located in the Ouzina desert where we will spend the night.

Accommodation at Kasbah Hotel Porte de Sahara Ouzina with dinner and breakfast.

In the morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we will take the trail to visit the nomads who live in the Ouzina area and then we will go to the Barite mines to see the mine and how they work (barite is a mineral that is extracted there in the mine and taken to Europe, where it is used to make glass). Then we will head to the Bourika Oasis, where we will have a picnic lunch (Moroccan salad or similar and grilled chicken). After lunch, we will go to the Lost City or Oubahlou (the lost city or the Portuguese city), which are ancient Portuguese ruins. We will take a walk around there and in the afternoon we will arrive at the Ramlia Oasis, where we can have tea in a café and also take a stroll around the village and its oasis. In the evening, we will go to watch the sunset in the Erg Ouzina dunes to enjoy the tranquility and peace of this wild desert.

Accommodation at Riad Hôtel Porte De Sahara OUZINA with dinner and breakfast.

We will wake up and have breakfast at 8 a.m. Departure from the hotel to Marrakech for a SUMMER excursion from the Merzouga desert, passing through Rissani, one of the oldest cities in Morocco and capital of the Alaouite dynasty. There we will stop at the edge of town to take a photo of the desert gate, and crossing the arid yet interesting pre-desert landscapes until we reach the Draa Valley, where we will stop to enjoy this beautiful valley that runs alongside the river of the same name. It is the longest river in Morocco and crosses the entire country to Mauritania, with another part reaching the white beach. We will cross the Anti-Atlas (Ait Saouen) to reach Ouarzazate, where we will have lunch in a typical restaurant in the city. In the afternoon, we will cross the High Atlas to reach Marrakech, transfer to your accommodation, and have the afternoon free to enjoy the rest of Marrakech.

Accommodation in a riad with breakfast.

After breakfast, departure at 8:00 a.m. for a 3-hour excursion to Essaouira from Marrakech. You will arrive at the ancient port of Mogador, built by the Portuguese on a narrow peninsula next to an immense crescent of fine sand. Perfectly sheltered by its impressive 18th-century French-built walls, the city is largely pedestrianized and divided into different neighborhoods by its grid-like design. From the top of the Skala, you can see the colorful fishing port, the fortresses, and the Spanish cannons. Essaouira is also famous for its refined craftsmanship, especially wooden objects (tuya) perfectly interspersed with lemon wood, ebony, mother-of-pearl, or copper or silver threads. In the afternoon around 4:30 p.m., we will return to Marrakech and drop you off wherever you want, leaving you free to enjoy your last night in Marrakech.

Accommodation in a riad with breakfast.

In the morning after breakfast, you can take a guided tour with a local guide of the city if you are interested. At your flight departure time, you will be transferred to the airport, marking the end of our SUMMER excursion service from Marrakech to the Merzouga Sahara Desert and the coast and sea of Essaouira, Morocco.