5 day Merzouga desert tour via Erg Chebbi

5 days Merzouga and Chigaga desert tours from Marrakesh

Day 1 Marrakesh – Ouarzazate – Skoura Kasbahs – Rose valley – Dades valley – Toudra gorges

Departure from Marrakech to the Todgha gorge, we will cross the Tizi N’tichka mountains (High Atlas, the highest mountain in Morocco at 2260 meters).

We will visit the Kasbah of Taouirt in Ouarzazate and leave for Skoura, where there is an ancient Kasbah (Amridil) surrounded by Berber villages still inhabited by locals in a charming oasis.

Soon after we will leave for the valley of the roses and we will head towards the gorges of Todgha passing through the Dades gorges (where by taking a short path on the unpaved road we will visit the typical caves inhabited by nomadic people).

Arrival in the afternoon at the gorges and overnight in a typical riad at the heart of the gorges of Todgha.

Day 2 Toudra oasis – Erfoud – Merzouga – Erg chebbi – Camel trek

In the morning we will depart towards the dunes of Merzouga, stopping in an archaeological area where there are many prehistoric fossils, lunch in Rissani, a typical Berber village with an ancient Kasbah.

Afternoon arrival in Merzouga and sunset with dromedary back.

Dinner and overnight in Merzouga in a nomadic bivouac in Erg Chebi, in the middle of the desert, evening with traditional Saharaoui music from the desert.

Day 3 Merzouga – Rissani – Tazzarine – Dra valley – Zagora

In the morning after breakfast we will leave towards Zagora.

At the village of Rissani where the first danties in Morocco started, and the village where the alaouite denasty started many centuries ago, along the route we will cross the Berber villages of Anif and Tazarine, with the beautiful palm grove and rock carvings and pre-Islamic tombs, where we will resume the road to the Draa valley.

We will stop for some breathtaking photos over the palm grove of draa valley just before arriving at Zagora.

Overnight in Hotel or riad.

Day 4 Zagora – Lmhamid – Chigaga desert camel ride

Departure from Zagora and M’hamid, crossing the Draa valley, a wonderful oasis area crossed by the river draa with beautiful Berber villages and ancient Kasbahs, palm groves and oasis.

On the way to M’hamid we will pass by Tamagroute where we will visit the Koranic library and ceramic cooperatives.

In the afternoon we will continue towards the desert of M’hamid village of nomad desert outpost, called “the door of the desert”, where the asphalt road ends and the track begins in the middle of the desert.

From M’hamid we will start in 4 × 4 towards Chegaga, we will cross 60 km of desert track that will present itself under different landscapes (desert of sand, stones and rivers).

Lunch at the sacred oasis, an ancient oasis with water source natural, resting place and watering of the ancient caravans, considered sacred due to the presence of an ancient Marabut.

Camel trek excursion to enjoy the sunset in the desert. Dinner and overnight in Chegaga in the desert, evening with traditional Saharaoui music of the desert.

Day 5 Chigaga – Irikki Lake – Foum zkit – Ait ben haddou Kasbah – Marrakesh

After a traditional breakfast, we will cross in 4 × 4 the small Iriqui dunes and the black pebble plains; we will resume the asphalt road towards the village of Foum Zguid, to get to Taznakht.

Visit to the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou. Located 30 km from Ouarzazate, Aït Ben Haddou is an ancient UNESCO-listed Berber Kasbah that has kept its original architecture and rhythms intact.

Arrival in the evening in Marrakech.