From the Atlas to the Atlantic, across the desert

Itinerary:

• Day 1 : Marrakech/Dades Gorges
• Day 2 : Dades Gorges/Agdz
• Day 3 : Agdz/M’Hamid – accomodation: “Kasbah Aladdin“
• Day 4 : M’hamid/Chegaga – accomodation: bivouac “Le charme d’Aladdin”
• Day 5 : Chegaga/Taroudant
• Day 6 : Taroudant/Agadir
• Day 7 : Agadir/Essaouira
• Day 8 : Essaouira/Marrakech

Included In the Offer:

• Assistance to travellers throughout the trip with guide/driver
• All private transfers by 4×4 vehicle or minibus as needed
• Half board during the tour
• Accommodation for 1 night in Dades, “La Port du Dades” or similar
• Accommodation for 1 night in Agdz “Kaasbah IRITRANE”
• Accommodation for 1 night in M’Hamid, “Kasbah Aladdin”
• Accommodation for 1 night in a fixed bivouac at the foot of the big dunes of Chegaga
• Accommodation for 1 night in Taroudent, “Dar Tourkia” or similar
• Accommodation for 1 night in Agadir
• Accommodation for 1 night in Esaouira, “Riad Zahra” or similar
• The excursions mentioned in the itinerary
• All taxes and service charges

Not included In the Offer:

•  International flight tickets
• Lunch, drinks and personal expenses
• Optional excursions
• Tips

Tour details:

Day 1 : Marrakech-Dades Gorges
Departure from Marrakech at 8:00 am to cross the High Atlas by the Tichka pass 2260 mts. It’s the highest road pass
in Morocco that connects Marrakech to the Saharan regions of which Ouarzazate is the crossroad. We will stop for a visit to the famous fortified city of Ait Ben Haddou. Classified as a UNESCO world heritage site, the Kasbah has been the backdrop for many films such as: Lawrence of Arabia, 7 days in Tibet, Alexander the Great and more.
After lunch we will continue our journey by crossing the palm grove of Skoura, the Valley of the Roses and then to the Dades gorges
where we will stay for the night at the hotel.

Day 2 : Dades Gorges-Agdz
After breakfast, you can go for an excursion in the Gorges. The valley of the Dades Gorges is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and impressive sites of southern Morocco. Located between “Boumalne Dadès” and “M’semrir”, in the Souss-Massa region, it takes its name from Dades, a tributary of the Draa River that winds along an arid and desert landscape to water the many oases along its banks, but also the fig trees, date palms and other almond trees.
We will then take the road again to explore new Gorges, those of Todgha, just as remarkable.
While walking in the heart of this immense oasis you will encounter breathtaking landscapes of canyons and green gorges.
The destination will then be toward Agdz via Tazarine.
Dinner and night in the palm grove.

Day 3 : Agdz-M’Hamid
Up to the end of the road there will be this paradox: on the left, the magnificent landscape of the palm grove with its plantations of date palms, olive trees, fruit trees and market gardening, and on the right, a relentless drought and an arid land. The valley of Drâa
is also known for its sumptuous Ksours and kasbahs built in adobe architecture, one of the most remarkable being that of Tamnougalt.
We arrive to Zagora, the capital of the region, where an old sign, indicating “Timbuktu 52 days”, welcomes you and makes you feel the excitement of our close encounter with the magnificent Sahara desert. This was the starting point for the great camel caravans that crossed the Sahara to Mali.
The next stop will be in Tamegroute, a quiet adobe village famous for its green ceramics and its very old Koranic library.
At 90km south-east of Zagora we will finally arrive to the peaceful oasis of M’hamid El Ghizlane (or M’Hamid of the gazelles), where the road ends to make a way for the desert. In the sixteenth century, M’Hamid was the point of departure of Ahmed El Mansour Addahbi, who left with his warriors, his camels and all his tribe to conquer Timbuktu.
Ali will welcome you at the Aladdin Kasbah according to the hospitality of the region and will try to transmit to you the magic of this place which preserves the sacred character of the zaouïa where his ancestor the marabout lived. You will discover the joy of living and the sense of humour always present despite the hardness of life of the inhabitants along the Sahara.
You will be able to admire the sunset from the terrace with a magnificent view of the palm grove or climb a nearby dune for a taste of the desert.
Typical dinner and night.

Day 4 : M’hamid-Chegaga
The next day after breakfast, the four wheel ride (4×4) adventure begins, across the Sahara, toward the Erg Chegaga, one of the two big deserts of dunes of the Moroccan Sahara, which is accessible after about 50 kilometers of tracks between Reg and sand. The Erg Chegaga is composed of several ergs very intertwined, on an extent of about 40 kilometers length and 15 kilometers width, some dunes reach 40 meters of height (a building of 16 floors) for a maximum altitude of 520 meters.
Once on the perfect fold, at the top, the view on the waves of dunes is impressive. Thus, many are those who feel the magic of the desert, through its silence, its extremely geometric and, at the same time, fluid forms, its changing colors, and the infinity of stars that covers you like a protective luminous coat.
You will also have the option of taking a camel ride around the dunes.
Meals and an animated evening around the fire to the sound of the music of the nomads.
Night at the fixed bivouac Aladdin at the foot of the big dunes in a bungalow with a private bath.

Day 5 : Chegaga- Taroudant
We will take the track again after breakfast. At the exit of the dunes we will cross the immense Lake Iriki, generally dried up by a lack of rainfall and where the clay makes mirages outcropping. It is a mythical place in southern Morocco and was, only a few decades ago, the favourite place of southern gazelles.
We take the paved road again and head to the village of Tazenakh, which is a Berber mountain handicraft-carpets center,
They’re called “Ouaouzguites” carpets. Ouzguiti or Gloui are those that are sold the most and are the most appreciated.
We will continue the road to Taroudant, a charming old walled city, where we will spend a night of transition between desert
and ocean.

Day 6 : Taroudant – Agadir
After breakfast, we will drive to Agadir, the number one touristic pole in Morocco.
We will leave you the day free to visit the city, do some shopping, go to the old port or take advantage of the magnificent beaches to swim in the Atlantic.
You will be able to make an optional excursion to the Paradise Valley, a treasure of nature between water points,
palm grove and imposing rocks, where you can bathe in natural pools.

Day 7 : Agadir – Essaouira
We will leave after breakfast following the coast road with a stop at Taghazout, a small authentic fishing village and an unmissable place for authentic surfers from all over the world.
We will then continue to Essaouira, known as Mogador by the Portuguese.
Essaouira has a strategic position on the Atlantic coast and has therefore always been an important trading port since the 15th century. Different populations and cultures have coexisted in harmony for centuries, creating a city with a cosmopolitan atmosphere.
You will fall under the spell of its historical medina, with its souk where you will find all kinds of handicrafts from the simplest ones to the most beautiful wood carvings, especially of thuja.
You can walk on the ramparts, sunbathe on its beautiful beaches, or simply stroll and have tea on the promenade facing the ocean.
Dinner and night in a Riad in Essaouira.

Day 8 : Essaouira – Marrakech
We will leave you the morning for a last day of relaxation and visit and we will take the road in the afternoon to reach Marrakech after about 3 hours of driving.
We will drop you off at your destination and hope that this trip will leave you with wonderful memories.