DAY 1

Drive from Marrakech to the Dades Gorge via Aït Benhaddou

Your driver will collect you from your hotel in Marrakech and drive you over the spectacular Tizi n’Tichka, the highest motorable road in Morocco, across the High Atlas Mountains. Then, we make a small diversion to visit the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site of Aït Benhaddou. This traditional fortified settlement (or ksar), is surrounded by high walls and impressive corner towers, and is the best-preserved example of a ksar in Morocco.

After lunch, we will pass through many Berber villages and drive onwards through the Dades Valley, renowned as the “Valley of 1000 kasbahs”, and finally up into the Dades Gorge itself. Overnight in the Dades Gorge.

DAY 2

Drive from Dades Gorge to Erg Chebbi via Todra Gorge and ride camel to camp

After breakfast, we continue our drive onwards to the Todra Gorge. Following a short stop here, with time to walk between the gorge’s spectacular vertical rock faces, we continue to Merzouga and our auberge on the edge of the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi, arriving at around 4.00pm.

After a short break, we set off on a one-hour camel ride across the dunes to our camp, right on the edge of the dunes themselves. Local guides will teach you how to mount and dismount your camel and how to tie a turban to keep the desert sun off your face.

Once arrived at camp, enjoy a warm welcome and enjoy a beautiful sunset followed by a traditional dinner under the stars. There will be time to hear stories about life in this region and perhaps, if we are lucky, to be treated to some traditional music on the drums.

Please note: there will be a chance to repack your belongings at the auberge before the camel ride as we should each only take an overnight bag to the camp. The accommodation on the dunes is basic, with four people per tent, while some prefer to sleep outside under the stars. Bathroom facilities are also basic and shared. Mattresses with a sheet and blankets are provided. For winter months (November to April), we recommend bringing a sleeping bag for additional warmth. There will be the chance to shower at the auberge upon your return to Merzouga the following morning.

DAY 3

Ride camel from camp and drive to Marrakech

We wake up early in the morning to enjoy the sunrise over the dunes, then once more ride our camels across the dunes and finally back to the auberge where we take breakfast and a shower. From here it will be a long day driving back to Marrakech, crossing over the Tizi n’Tichka pass once more.