South Morocco Adventure: Marrakesh to Merzouga – 9 Days

South Morocco Adventure: Marrakesh to Merzouga – 9 Days

In 9 days, you’ll travel from the imperial city of Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi Sand Sea beyond Merzouga. During this time, drive over the High Atlas to visit an argan oil cooperative and eat bread with a Berber family in the foothills of the Dades Valley before riding camels to your desert camp in Erg Chebbi. Smell roses at Kelâat M’Gouna, listen to music at Gnawa House in Khamleya, visit film sets and see filming locations in Ouarzazate, and explore the souks, palaces and gardens of Marrakech.

Highlights

  • Visit Ouarzazate and learn about films made in the desert region

  •  Explore the Dades Valley on foot and have lunch with a Berber family

  •  Ride a camel across the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert to your Bedouin camp

  •  Explore the mosques, squares, courtyards and hidden gardens of Marrakech

South Morocco Adventure: Marrakesh to Merzouga – 9 Days program itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive in Marrakesh

Welcome to Morocco! Upon arrival at Marrakech International Airport, your guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. Relax and take a break before a busy week, or go on a short city tour to get acquainted with the city.

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D 2 Explore Marrakech with a Tour Guide

Known as the “Red City,” you’ll quickly see why as you walk with your guide past the historic red sandstone walls and buildings. You’ll visit the bustling medina (old town), starting at Jemaa el-Fna square, the city’s iconic square filled with markets, street food, and performers. From here, you’ll visit some of the best souks, including Souk el Attarin’s famous spice towers and Souk Smata’s traditional Moroccan slippers. The Hadaddin Souk sells brass, silver and other smithy items. But don’t miss the Souk des Teinturiers, where you can watch locals dye and hang cloth and yarn.

Next, you’ll see the 19th-century Bahia Palace. Stroll through the courtyard’s lush gardens and admire the palace’s interior with its intricate woodwork and ornate ceilings. Then head to Koutoubia Mosque and Gardens, the largest mosque and gardens in the city, featuring elegant gardens with fountains, swimming pools, palm trees and flowers. While non-Muslims cannot enter the mosque, anyone can enjoy the surroundings. Finally, you’ll head to the Majorelle Gardens, a botanical garden and museum complex where you can cool off from the heat. Dating back to the 1920s, fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent restored the gardens to their present state.

In the evening, follow your nose with tantalizing scents from the food stalls of Jemaa el-Fna. Watch the locals prepare authentic meals, savor the flavors of Marrakech as the sun goes down, and street performers come out to entertain. Or, opt for a culinary tour and sample traditional delicacies, from unique sweets to delicious tajine (clay pot stew).

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Day 3: Transfer to Boumalne Dades Valley

Enjoy a private transfer to your accommodation in Boumalne Dades in approximately 7,5hours. You’ll travel through the Tizi n’Tichka Pass and the High Atlas mountains, through arid desert landscapes and forested foothills. Try to discover Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in the range, and take note of traditional Berber villages and unique farmlands along the way.

your journey begins along the “Valley of a Thousand Forts”, many of which have fallen into disrepair. Beware of the nomads tending to their animals, especially if you are near the Boumalne Dades.

Enter the Dades Valley to enjoy the scenery, then continue to the “Valley of Roses” Kelâat M’Gouna. Here you can admire cultivated rose bushes and visit rose colonies. Learn how artisans transform rose petals into rose water and rose oil for the cosmetic industry. Your final stop is Boumalne Dades, a major town straddling the River Dades. Admire the contrast of arid landscapes and traditional architecture with verdant river valleys.

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Day 4: Hike & Lunch with a Local Family in Dadès Valley, Optional Carpet Weaving

This morning you will meet your guide for an easy walk (four hours) through the foothills, stopping at several villages to meet locals. The perfect introduction to authentic Berber culture and traditions. In addition to admiring the unique architecture, you’ll also have the opportunity to hear stories of local history, participate in fun activities, observe traditional farming techniques and enjoy live entertainment. You will get a complete course about the Berbers and their way of life.

You will end your day with a family lunch in their traditional house. Learn more about the history of this unique culture while enjoying Berber and Moroccan cuisine. End your meal with an authentic tea ceremony before driving back to your accommodation in Boumalne Dadès.

There is also the option to visit local women and watch traditional carpet weaving, gaining insight into the cornerstones of Berber culture. Carpet making is vital to these communities, and you’ll see it first-hand as you visit these women and their families. You can even help with knitting.

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Day 5: Dades valley to Merzouga via Erfoud, Enjoy a Sunset Camel Ride

The day begins as you head to your Bedouin tented accommodation in Merzouga (4 hours). You’ll pass through the 300-meter deep Todra Gorge, stopping for an easy walk among the red limestone rocks and relaxing in the cool shallow water. Just before Ilford, you’ll start to catch glimpses of the Sahara dunes. Erfoud is a bustling market town known for its annual dating festival, fossil mining and artisanal factories. Keep going and you’ll soon see the ever-changing sand waves of Erg Chebbi in the distance.

Upon arrival near Merzouga, enjoy a short break to prepare for a camel ride across the dunes to your luxury camp before sunset. After your tent is settled, climb the nearest dune to watch the sunset reveal its colors over the sand. Return to the camp for dinner and spend the night by the campfire listening to the traditional Berber music of the locals. Before going to bed, savor the stars scattered across the unobstructed night sky.

Day 6: Desert Adventures Around Merzouga

Today you will explore the desert. Rise early to enjoy the desert sunrise, then take a 4WD trek across the Erg Chebbi dunes, meet nomads, have a cup of tea with a local family, visit the Gnawa house in Khamleya, and discover healing music. Traditionally popular throughout Morocco, Gnaoua music originated in the sub-Saharan region and is fundamentally spiritual music, although popular maâlems (music masters) are making the music mainstream.

In the late afternoon, rent a sandboard and test your skills on the dunes, or go on a four-wheel quad bike tour. Afterwards, climb up the nearest dune and watch the colors of the sea of sand as the sun sets before returning to the camp for dinner and spend the night by the campfire enjoying traditional Berber music under the desert sky.

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Day 7: Merzouga to Ouarzazate via the Draa Valley

Your journey continues to Ouarzazate, the “Gateway to the Sahara Desert” . Your first stop is the town of Rissani, entered through its impressive gates. Known for its livestock auctions, take some time to observe the donkey “lots” and browse the town’s popular market. Be sure to check out Maison Touareg, a warehouse full of traditional crafts, including rugs, jewelry and leather goods. Continue through the Acacia Forest, an umbrella-like tree adapted to the harsh conditions of the desert. Stop for lunch in the town of Alnif and visit one of the local fossil workshops.

Next, you’ll pass the Draa Valley, a fertile riverside area covered in endless date palms. Pass by a stall, buy a small box of sweet dates, drive to eat. Upon arrival in Ouarzazate, check into your hotel, then set off to visit a film studio or visit a film museum, as this picturesque town is popular for its film industry. Learn about the films made here by seeing props and sets up close. The area around Ouarzazate has been featured in many films, including “Black Hawk Down”, “Prometheus” and “American Sniper”, as well as the HBO series “Game of Thrones”.

Ouarzazate, an isolated military outpost during the French protectorate — which means “no noise” in Berber language — has long lived up to its name. Today, however, the town is Morocco’s Hollywood, and you can often see filmmakers setting up shop in this vast desert crossing, full of wide boulevards and fringed with palm trees. The center of Ouarzazate can be easily explored on foot. The main street, Avenue Mohammed V, runs from east to west and is lined with shops, cafes, banks, pharmacies and travel agencies.

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Day 8: Ouarzazate to Marrakesh via Aït Benhaddou

Drive back to Marrakech today, driving back from Ouarzazate via the scenic Tizi n’Tichka pass and over the High Atlas Mountains. After leaving Ouarzazate, you will travel across flat plains to the historic Aït Benhaddou, the most famous Kasbah in Morocco and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ancient ksour (fortress) dates back to the 11th century, when it occupied an important position on the trans-Saharan trade route between Marrakech, Ouarzazate and the southern desert. Explore the historic alleys, passages and markets of the Old Town.

You’ll stop in Tadette to visit the Argan Oil Cooperative and learn how local women extract the precious oil from the argan for use in the health, food and cosmetic industries. You’ll return along the north-facing slopes of the High Atlas, where you’ll notice dramatic changes in climate and landscape, with river valleys carving into the mountainside. After all the tranquility of the mountains and desert, you’ll soon be surrounded by the hustle, bustle and bustle of vibrant Marrakech.

In the evening, the main square, Jemaa el-Fna, comes alive with musicians, performers, snake charmers, games and food stalls. If you want to entertain yourself from afar, there are a number of cafés around the square where you can sit and enjoy the show.

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Day 9 Departure from Marrakech

When the time comes, you will be transferred from your accommodation to Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK), which takes approximately 20 minutes. Your driver will ensure you arrive at the airport in sufficient time for your flight. Have a safe and comfortable journey home or to your next destination!

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INCLUDED

  •  include Private tour
  • Daily breakfast Hotel accommodation and all transportation in Marrakech
  • Airport Full transportation with air-conditioning,
  • gas and driver English speaking guide and driver Overnight in Dades Valley, Merzouga, Ouarzazate and Marrakech ,
  • Tour Guide in  Marrakech
  • including breakfast 
  • Daily including breakfast, free time to explore scenic spots, take photos, etc.
  • Customized and flexible stops
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NOT INCLUDED

  • Lunch
  • Travel insurance
  • Entrance tickets to monuments
  • Tips

NOTE : At Traveling Morocco Agency we offer Luxury & Standard accommodations Tour from Marrakech to Marrakech via Ouarzazte,Merzouga & Dades valley…
So please feel free to contact-us

Book Your South Morocco Adventure: Marrakesh to Merzouga – 9 Days

with Traveling Morocco Agency , We have Luxury & Standart options for our guests .