Marrakech, the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara

Marrakech

Arrive into Marrakech and transfer to your hotel before meeting your group for a welcome dinner. The evening is relaxed, with time to sit down together, try traditional Moroccan dishes and ease into the trip after the flight.

Marrakech gives you an immediate introduction to daily life, with busy streets leading into the souks around the old medina. You’ll see stalls stacked with spices, leather goods and ceramics, hear traders calling out as shops stay open into the evening, and get a sense of how the city operates before heading south into the mountains and desert.

Across the Atlas Mountains to Dades Gorge

Leaving Marrakech, travel south over the Atlas Mountains on winding roads, stopping along the way to take in views of valleys, villages and high passes. The landscape shifts as you go, with farmland thinning out and rockier terrain taking over as you head towards the desert.

Continue through Ouarzazate, a working town long linked to desert trade and film production, before reaching Dades Gorge. Here, a narrow river runs between steep red rock cliffs and tightly packed roads. Dinner is included and evenings are quiet, making it a straightforward place to rest after a long day on the road.

Merzouga and the Sahara Desert

From Dades, travel east towards Merzouga, where the road gradually disappears into open desert. For the final stretch, switch to 4x4 vehicles and drive straight into the dunes to reach your desert camp.

In the evening, take a camel ride up into the dunes for sunset, with wide views across the Sahara as the light fades. You spend two nights at the camp, with dinner included and time to sit outside once it cools, watching the stars come out.

One full day is spent exploring the area by 4x4. You can visit desert communities to see how daily life works in such a harsh environment, or head to an oasis to meet a local farmer and learn about the agriculture of the land.

Aït Ben Haddou – The Caravan Route

Leaving the desert, the journey heads west to Aït Ben Haddou, one of Morocco’s best preserved kasbahs and a former stop along ancient trading routes.

Walk through the narrow lanes and terraces with a guide, learning how the clay buildings were constructed and how the settlement functioned historically. Many visitors recognise the site from films and television, but the value here lies in understanding its role in desert trade and travel.

Ouirgane and the High Atlas Mountains

The final leg takes you into the High Atlas Mountains, where the air cools and the scenery turns green. Ouirgane sits in a quiet valley surrounded by olive groves and small villages.

A guided hike leads through the countryside and into nearby Amazigh villages. Visit a local family, learn about daily routines and traditions, and share a home cooked meal. This is a straightforward, respectful look at mountain life and provides a calm contrast to the desert days before returning to Marrakech.