Roses and Dunes

Visit the beautiful Roses Valley and the endless sands of the Sahara.

 

In this tour we discover the beautiful nature of Morocco: the Sahara and the Atlas Mountains are ‘musts’ to see once you are in Morocco.

After exploring Marrakech, the ‘Red City’ and crossing the High Atlas mountains via the famous Tizi n’Tichka road we spend couple of days by discovering Dades and Roses Valleys which give us the opportunity to mix with friendly and welcoming Berber people, celebrate the Rose Festival with the locals (one weekend in May) or dance to the rhythmic sounds of Berber drums.

In the Sahara we will visit Merzouga where you will have the chance to ride a camel or walk over the sand dunes. Both are essential part of a genuine Saharan experience!

On the way back to Marrakech we will also discover the awe-inspiring Todra Gorge with its thousand-foot-high vertical walls and Ait Benhaddou, the world heritage site where famous Hollywood movies were shot. 

 

Itinerary

 

1. Arrive in Marrakech
2. Explore Marrakech
3. Marrakech – Ouarzazate – Boutaghrar
4. Explore Roses Valley
5. Explore Roses Valley  
6. Boutaghrar – Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Merzouga
7. Explore Erg Chebbi
8. Erg Chebbi – Tazzarine – N’kob – Ourzazate
9. Ourzazate – Ait Benhaddou – Marrakech
10. Leave Marrakech

 

Day 1 / Arrive in Marrakech

Arrive in Marrakech – the ‘Red city’ – any time and meet your guide in the hotel or riad.

Lodging: hotel or riad

Provision: -

 

Day 2 / Explore Marrakech

In the morning in order to soak up the atmosphere of this amazing city, we have a guided tour to sample some of the popular sights of Marrakech including the Saadian tombs, the Bahia Palace and the Koutoubia Mosque (from outside). The tour is finishing up in the well-known open-air central square, the Djemaa el-Fna.

The afternoon is free to explore more of the ‘Red city’ like visiting the Badia Palace and the museum Dar Si Said or spend some time in the labyrinthine souqs (markets) looking for souvenirs. You can also take a half-hour Calèche ride (a green horse-drawn carriage) to the Majorelle Garden. This peaceful garden decorated all over in blue was built by Jacques Majorelle, a French painter who fell in love with Morocco and later was bought by Yves Saint-Laurent. You can finish the day by relaxing in a hammam, a traditional Moroccan steam bath.

Lodging: hotel (same one as the night before)

Provision: breakfast

 

Day 3 / Marrakech – Ouarzazate – Boutaghrar

We drive over the Haouz plain to the High Atlas Mountains and cross over the Tizi n’Tichka pass which is the highest road passing (2260 m) in Morocco. During our drive towards Ouarzazate (Moroccan Hollywood) we will have an unforgettable view of panoramic landscape with pine trees, oak forests and several beautiful Berber villages.

After lunch we pass the Skoura oasis and Kalaa M’gouna, the centre of Roses Valley to reach Boutaghrar, the village where we spend the next three nights.

Lodging: gîte (mountain hut)

Provision: breakfast, dinner

 

Day 4 / Explore Roses Valley

Today we do some light walking in the heart of the beautiful Roses Valley. This region is known for producing products of the roses emerging around the fields of cereals. We also cross many Berber villages with their magnificent architecture and we can admire the beautiful nature of the High Atlas Mountains.

If you come in early May you have a good chance to celebrate the Rose Festival with the locals and dance to the rhythmic drumming sounds or folk music of different regions of Morocco.

Lodging: gîte (mountain hut) (same one as the night before)

Provision: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Walking: 3-4 hours

 

Day 5 / Explore Roses Valley

Today we do more walking in the heart of the Roses Valley.

During our stay in the valley we will have opportunity to mix with friendly and welcoming Berber people, to learn more about their everyday life and ladies can have a traditional Henna painting from the local women.

Lodging: gîte (mountain hut) (same one as the night before)

Provision: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Walking: 3-4 hours

 

Day 6 / Boutaghrar – Dades Valley – Todra Gorge – Merzouga

In the morning we pass the ‘Valley of the Thousand Kasbahs’ (Dades Valley) and head towards the magnificent Todra Gorge where we stop for a short walk. Later on – after a short drive – we stop again for a gentle walk in the Palmerie of Tinghir.

In the afternoon we gradually approach the spectacular site of the golden sand dunes of Erg Chebbi where we spend the night in an auberge at the edge of the sand sea.

Lodging: auberge (guest house)

Provision: breakfast, dinner

 

Day 7 / Explore Erg Chebbi

There is time today to explore the largest sand sea in Morocco by camel trek, do some optional activities or just to relax in the shade of a palm tree by the dunes. The sand sea is famous for its pink dunes that have a spectacular rose colour at sunset.

In the afternoon we set on our camels to reach the camp among the dunes where – after admiring the breathtaking sunset – we spend the night.

Lodging: nomad camp (simple Bedouin camp)

Provision: breakfast, lunch, dinner

 

Day 8 / Erg Chebbi – Tazzarine – N’kob – Ourzazate

Early morning we can climb up the dunes to watch the sun rising up, then we set back on our camels and ride back to the auberge to have breakfast and to take a shower.

Later we head towards Ouarzazate via pass Alnif, Tazzarine and N’knob, the centre of the Henna region and we drive along the Draa Valley and Saghro range before we reach our hotel in the city of Moroccan Hollywood.

Lodging: hotel

Provision: breakfast

 

Day 9 / Ourzazate – Ait Benhaddou – Marrakech

In the morning a short drive takes us to the well-preserved Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou. This UNESCO world heritage site is one of the most spectacular sights in the Atlas Mountains, famous for being the location for several Hollywood films, including ‘The Gladiator’ and Lawrence of Arabia.

After a walk in the Ksar of Ait Benhaddou we leave for the magnificent High Atlas Mountain landscape while heading towards the ‘Red City’ of Marrakech. In Marrakech we have enough time to sample some more sights, look for souvenirs or just hang around and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the ‘Red city’.

Lodging: hotel

Provision: breakfast

 

Day 10 / Leave Marrakech

End of trip and we say goodbye. Have a nice flight back to home.

Please note that we are able to organise a post-trip accommodation if you wish to extend your stay for a few more days.

Lodging: -

Provision: breakfast

 

• In the beginning and end of the season (i.e. April and November) there can be still snow in some places in the mountains and therefore we might need to modify the program and/or itinerary of the trip.
• In gîtes (mountain huts) there is shared accommodation and shared facilities (shower and toilet) are available.
• In the Sahara there is not much water available and we will have a certain amount of water for cooking and personal use, so please do not expect shower in the nomad camp.
• As in some places we walk in river beds, do not forget to take water resistant shoes or sandals with you.

 

Services Included

 

• All transport within Morocco, except from and to the airport:
  • comfortable minibus, Four-Wheel Drive vehicles (4WD) or taxi (depending on the size of the group)
  • walking (2 days)
  • camels (in the Sahara)
• All accommodations: hotels/riads, gîte (mountain hut), auberge (guest house), nomad camp
• All breakfasts, three lunches, five dinners (9B, 3L, 5D)
• Professional tour leader and local staff during the whole trip:
  • Berber mountain guide certified by Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism to give you interesting information about the places you visit, the history and the culture of the country
  • a devoted team of experienced drivers, camel drivers and local guides
• City tours: Marrakech (half-day)

 

Services NOT Included

 

• Flight ticket to and from Morocco
• Airport transfer from and to the airport (available for extra charge)
• Insurance covering all your adventure activities (obligatory, please bring a copy with you)
• Meals – except breakfasts, three lunches and five dinners (allow EUR 10 to 15 for each meal)
• Soft drinks and personal purchases all over the trip
• Entrance fee to monuments (except city tours) and optional activities (e.g. hammam)
• Tipping local staff (tour guide, local guide, driver, camel drivers) – not obligatory, only if you are satisfied

 

Food/Provision

 

• All breakfasts, three lunches and five dinners are included
• All other meals and drinks (e.g. water) will be for your expenses. Your guide will help you to discover the local restaurants
• Please inform us of any dietary, vegetarian or special meal requirements at the time of reservation

 

For further information please check ‘General trip info’.

 

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