Marrakech Desert Tour & Essaouira – 7 Days

Day 1 Arrive in Marrakech – Tour Guide

Welcome to Marrakech! Marrakech is nicknamed the “Red City” because of its 1,000-year-old red sandstone walls and buildings, and is a major economic center. Marrakech has Berber roots rather than Arab roots, and was once an important trading capital for the tribes of the Atlas Mountains. Take the bustling jamaa al-Fna Square in Marrakech: the Sook (Bazaar) to the north, the Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens to the west, and the kasbah area has the Saadien tombs mausoleum and Badi Palace and Bahia Palace are in the south. In the new city, you will find Majorelle Garden.

To visit the Medina (Old Town) in a unique way, board the calèche (French for the carriage). Please pay attention to fondouks-medieval hotels that provide accommodation and supplies for merchants and travelers. Today, some have been transformed into residences or large shopping areas and studios that you can explore. Find the way to the Koutoubia Mosque and escape the heat in the garden between the fountain and palm trees. Although non-Muslims cannot enter the mosque, its 12th century foundation and minaret are worth seeing.

As night fell, Jemaa el-Fna became active with musicians and storytellers, acrobats and dancers, and even snake charmers. Stroll through rows of food stalls, serving everything from dinners to fruit drinks, dried dates and snacks. For a bite, or for a more relaxing experience, please look for one of the many cafes above the square and enjoy the food while watching the show below.

Day 2 Marrakech – High Atlas  – Ouarzazate

Leaving the busy city, head east to the desert and climb the High Atlas Mountains. See if you can find Mount Toubkal, the highest peak at 13,671 feet (4,167 m). Along the road inside hight atlas, you will see many Berber villages made up of traditional clay brick buildings. Enjoy lunch in Taddert and visit the local argan oil cooperative to learn how local women extract precious oil from argan for health, food and cosmetics industries. Follow the winding road to Tizi n’Tichka pass and stop for a panoramic view.

Continue east to the popular desert center and the filming location of Ouarzazate. Due to the growing popularity of the film industry, you can choose to visit one of the two film studios and imagine how the nearby area appears in many movies. Some popular film works include “Gladiator”, “Black Hawk Down”, “Prometheus”, “American Sniper” and “Game of Thrones”. To learn more about the history of the area and the filmmaking process, go to the Musée du Cinema.

Day 3 Ouarzazate – Zagora

Today you will meet up with your driver and continue east to the small but magnificent city of Zagora. Cross the Tizi-n-Tinififft mountain pass and cross the Jebel Saghro mountain range. Along the way, you will pass the busy service center Agdz, and then continue on to the Draa Valley. The Dela River produces fertile soil that can be intensively cultivated. Pay attention to the prolific date palm trees, and be sure to stop for a road trip snack at one of the many stalls. Continue south along the Dera Valley through dense palm trees until you reach Zagora.

Zagora’s wealth, obtained from the successful cultivation of date trees, is evident in the wide central avenue and the quality of many buildings. Explore Zagora before heading to your accommodation outside the city. You can choose to shift gears and trek into the desert and campsites on a private camel, walking between the dunes parallel to the High Rockies. Enjoy the sunset and dinner, then sit around the campfire and listen to traditional drumming and singing. Go back to your Bedouin tent and sleep under the stars.

Day 4 Zagora – Ait Ben Haddou

Wake up early to experience the sunrise in the desert, and then ride a camel to greet you. Stop at nearby Tamegroute, a humble city on the edge of the desert. Its houses are the same color as sand and are worth exploring. Explore the Islamic Library, which houses nearly 50,000 books from all over the world. The library was once considered the richest library in North Africa. For a unique course on pottery, visit one of the oldest family-run pottery workshops to learn why Tamegroute’s pottery is green.

Return to Ouarzazate and drive north to nearby Aït Benhaddou Kasbah. Aït Benhaddou is a UNESCO-protected site and is the most famous castle in Morocco. It once played an important role in the Trans-Saharan trade route between Marrakech, Ouarzazate and the southern desert.. After the daytime crowds leave, spend the night in the old town and stroll through the empty alleys. Pay a symbolic fee to enter some castles, then climb up to the roof and enjoy the beautiful views of the surrounding ksours (personal castles) and the Ouarzazate valley.

Day 5 Ait Ben Haddou –  Marrakech

Go to nearby Aït Benhaddou. Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is believed to date back to the 11th century, when it occupied an important place on the trans-Saharan trade route between Marrakech, Ouarzazate and the southern desert. Walk along the narrow street until you reach the granary and admire the surrounding scenery. From there, ascend the High Atlas Mountains, looking for the highest peak of Mount Toubkal (13,671 feet or 4,167 m). Stop near the top of the Tizi n’Tichka Pass (7,415 feet or 2,260 m) to enjoy the view of the mountains.

When you descend to the High Atlas Mountains, you will notice a dramatic change in climate and landscape. Soon, you will be part of the hustle and bustle of Marrakech. After a long day on the road, check into your hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon as you wish.In the evening, the main square — and the busiest square in Africa — Jamaa al-Fna square is full of musicians, artists, snake charms, game and food and entertainment stalls.. If you want to admire the spectacle from a distance, please choose one of the many cafes around the square and enjoy the food.

Day 6 Marrakech – Essaouira

After breakfast, head west to the Atlantic coast and the charming seaside town of Essaouira. The route along the way will take you through vast rolling plains and unique Moroccan argan forests. If you are lucky, you may see goats eating argan on the tree, which is a sight to see when the pasture is limited or unavailable. Along the way, you can choose to stop at the Argan Oil Cooperative to see how to extract precious and expensive oil from nuts.

Arrive at the laid-back port city of Essaouira, in stark contrast to the frenetic Marrakech, and spend the rest of the day of your choice. Stroll along the coast Skala de la Kasbah (18th-century seaside city wall). Designed by European engineers, old brass cannons are lined up on the walls, offering views of the Atlantic Ocean. Before heading to the wind-blown beach, explore the UNESCO-protected Medina. Fans of Jimi Hendrix will to take you short taxi to Diabat at the end of Essaouira Beach, where he reportedly spent some time there. You can arrange short trips on the beach, such as windsurfing lessons or horseback riding. Return to Essaouira and enjoy a meal of fresh seafood.

Day 7 Back to Marrakech ;Depart 

Essaouira is known as the “Wind City” because of its powerful Alizée trade wind blowing over its crescent beaches and is a popular kite surfing destination. Spend a morning watching windsurfers and kite surfers, or take a more adventurous course, then bid farewell and return to Marrakech.

Depend on your flight time details, you may wish to visit the kasbah area south of Jemaa el-Fna. Visit the Saadi dynasty tomb and discover the 500-year-old craftsmanship in its construction. As you walk through the Mellah (Jewish Quarter) and the 19th-century Bahia Palace, you can Tour the Menira gardens of the 17th-century Al Badi Palace. Visit the 12th-century Almoravid Kubba, the only surviving Almoravid monument, then spend time at the Marrakech Museum in the 19th-century Dar Manebbi Palace and admire modern and traditional Berber. and Moroccan art.