Marrakech, Grand Desert Tour & Hiking in the Atlas Mountains – 7 Days

Day 1 Day Arrival and Exploring Marrakech

Welcome to Morocco! Welcome to Marrakech! Marrakech is nicknamed “Hongzi” (because of its 1,000-year-old red sandstone walls and buildings). It is a major economic center and home to the prosperous Medina (Old Arab Quarter). Start a new day, explore the Koutoubia Mosque built in the 12th century, and escape the heat in the garden among fountains, pools and palm trees. Indulge your senses, explore the spice market, Souk el-Attarin or Souk Smata market, shop for slippers, carpets and leather Souk des Teinturiers, and see for yourself how leather and fabrics are dyed. Next, visit the Ben Youssef Madrasa Islamic School, experience the 16th century architecture and marvel at the exquisite details: arabesques, Islamic calligraphy and colorful geometric tiles made Him.

When you walk in the alleys of Marrakech, please pay attention to Fondouks or Caravanserai-medieval trips on the ancient trade routes for tourists and merchants and supplies. Take a half-day tour of Jemaa el-Fna in Medina with your guide to explore the plaza’s rich history, culture and hidden gems. Gemma Alfner, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, becomes active in the evening, with vendors and musicians, acrobats, storytellers, and even snake charmers.

Depending on the time and your energy level, you may wish to visit several attractions south of Jemaa el-Fna. Some options to consider are the 500-year-old Saadi tombs, the extensive courtyards and sunken gardens of the El Badi Palace in the 17th century, or the intricate wooden Him and painted ceilings of the Bahia Palace in the 19th century. Return to Jemma el-Fna to eat something, and then return to your accommodation for the night.

Day 2 Marrakech – Ouarzazate – Boumalne

Leaving Marrakech, venture into the desert and cross the High Atlas Mountains to Ouarzazate. On a clear day, Toubkal Mountain, the highest peak of 13,671 feet (4,167 m), can be seen. Pass through Berber farmland and villages and admire the traditional mud-brick houses of the mountain people. Along the way, stop at Taddert to enjoy refreshments and visit the local Argan Oil Cooperative to learn about and taste the oil. Continue to the Tizi n’Tichka mountain pass (7,415 feet or 2,260 meters) connecting Marrakech and Ouarzazate. Stretch your legs and enjoy panoramic views of winding roads and rugged mountains.

Descend from Tizi n’Tichka and arrive at Ouarzazate, which is the gateway to the Sahara Desert and one of the largest film studios in the world. Take an optional studio tour to see the road up close and learn how the surrounding area portrays the desert landscape in many movies, in fiction (Game of Thrones) and non-fiction (Lawrence of Arabia or Gladiator). Continue east to Boumalne Dades, past the El Mansour Reservoir Castle, and along the Thousand Reservoir Castle, along the Thousand Road. Get your camera ready to take photos of the mud-brick fortresses that were once built to resist invaders. Go through Kela’a M’gouna, the Rose Valley until you reach the destination Boumalne Dades.

Day 3 Boumalne Dades – Merzouga

Start your day and drive through the desert until you reach the idyllic Tinghir, which is located in the center of a vast oasis (30 miles or 48 kilometers of dense palm trees along Wadi Todgha). Admire the Todra Gorge, which is 984 feet (300 meters) high, and the Todra River that cuts through the red limestone. Take a leisurely walk to explore the canyon and relax in the cool water of the shallow river below. Continue driving through the arid land and stopping for optional stops at several small towns along the way, including Arpod, known for its figs and fossils.. Visit a craft workshop to learn how to carefully and skillfully transform the fossil-rich rock into a practical and decorative object Him.

When you approach Merzouga, you will see the huge Erg Chebbi sand sea for the first time, looming on the horizon. The dunes here are 656 feet (200 meters) high and cover 14 square miles (35 square kilometers) of land. Ride a camel into the desert and enjoy the sunset on the big sand dunes. Return to your Erg Chebbi desert camp for taking dinner. Relax by the campfire, listen to traditional Berber music, admire the vast starry night sky, and then return to your Bedouin tent.

Day 4 Merzouga – Ouarzazate

Before exploring more deserts, get up early to witness the Sahara sunrise. You can choose to rent a sandboard and test your skills on the sand dunes, take a four-wheeled ATV tour, or relax by the swimming pool. Afterwards, head to nearby Khemliya (or Khamlia) to stroll this traditional Saharan village and enjoy drumming music and dancing. Continue west and stop at Rissani to visit the livestock auction and the “donkey parking lot”, or visit Maison Touareg, a real handicraft Him warehouse, including carpets, jewelry, tin and leather. Continue west to Ouarzazate, pass the umbrella-shaped acacia tree, and have lunch in Alnif. From there, through the verdant Draa Valley, stopped to pick a box of fresh dates from the local date trees.

In the early afternoon, we arrived at the UNESCO-protected Aït Benhaddou Castle. Stroll through the labyrinth of alleys and passages of 11th century buildings, then climb up the old granary-an ideal place to admire Aït Benhaddou and the surrounding area. Look out for the ancient camel merchant trade route that once connected the Sahara and Marrakech. As you continue to explore Aït Benhaddou, fans of movies and power games will enjoy visiting the epic HBO series, as well as the characteristic attractions in movies such as Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia and Jewels of the Nile. Spend the night in the old castle converted into a hotel and enjoy the fun of wandering in the small streets after the crowds have already left during the day. Have dinner on the terrace overlooking the river and valley below.

Day 5 Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech

Say goodbye to Aït Benhaddou, but get up early to explore more castles before the crowds start to flow in. Return to Marrakech through the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. This is your second chance to enjoy the magnificent scenery at the top of the pass. Descending along the northern slope of the High Atlas Mountains, when you leave the arid climate, you will notice dramatic changes in the climate and landscape.

After the tranquility of the mountains and deserts, you will soon be exposed to the hustle and bustle of vibrant Marrakech. According to your energy level and time, explore Marrakech as you wish. Some additional options are Almoravid Koubba, the only complete Almoravid monument, the Marrakech Museum, located in Dar Mnebbi Palace (19th century), which houses sculptures and sculptures of 5 Taji cuisine and enjoys the lively square.

Day 6 Marrakech – Amizmiz

Today you will venture south of Marrakech to the small town of Amizmiz (approximately an hour’s drive) at the foot of the High Atlas Mountains. Before trekking the narrow roads and mule paths in the surrounding mountains with your mountain guide, take time to explore the plain market in Laozi District. Hike between small Berber villages and observe local farmers and shepherds taking care of their animals and scenery.

You may even see children on the way to or from school. These children are usually shared by several nearby villages. Stopped to have lunch with the local family and learn more about their daily life while learning how to make homemade bread. Continue hiking in the afternoon and then return to the home of another local Berber, where you will be welcomed for dinner and provide a room to rest in the evening.

Day 6 Marrakech; Departure

Enjoy breakfast with the host, then bid farewell and set off again. Today, you can choose to continue hiking to further explore the hillside towns and regional scenery, and then return to Marrakech with you. After arriving in Marrakech, complete the last minute shopping and commemoration of Him.

Or depending on your departure details, you may want to check out the Majorelle Gardens. Away from the hustle and bustle of the Medina, visiting these lush and expansive gardens is an ideal place to escape the heat of the afternoon, to escape the heat of the afternoon, and to escape the heat of the afternoon. Leave the silence behind and bring your memories on the way home.