Tea with Nomads Desert Tour
5 Days Desert Tour
Discover Morocco's southern gems on a 5 days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert. Enjoy an authentic Sahara desert experience, picturesque landscapes, gorges, oases and tea with nomads.
Carefully selected hotels, Kasbahs, Riads. Includes one night in a traditional Berber camp
Qualified multilingual local guides / drivers.
Air-conditioned 4WD vehicle(s), mini bus or motor-coach
Marrakech, Atlas Mountains, Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, Ouarzazate, Skoura, Roses Valley, Todra Canyon, Roses valley, Erfoud, Erg Chebbi dunes, night in Sahara, Erfoud, Rissani, Draa Valley, Agdz
Conducting preliminary research on flights from your nearest airport to find the most cost-effective options for landing in and departing from Morocco would be valuable. Please note that our tours are flexible, and we can commence from any city that aligns with your schedule.
Marrakech → Atlas Mountains → Ait Benhaddou → Ouarzazate → Skoura Oasis → Roses Valley → Dades Valley
On this first day in your 5 days desert tour your guide and driver will pick you up directly from your accommodation or port of entry before escaping the hustle and bustle of Marrakech. You will cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka Pass, which reaches an altitude of 2,260 meters (7,415 feet) and is the highest mountain pass in North Africa. The road passes through various villages typical of the northern slopes of the Atlas, where corn can be seen ripening in the sun on the packed-earth roofs of the stone houses and snow during winter time.
On the way you will cross the territory of the powerful Glaoua tribe where a number of ancient kasbahs and fortified granaries can be seen dotting the countryside before you reach Ait Benhaddou, a fortified village classified by UNESCO as one of the world's cultural treasures. At Ait Benhaddou we will stop for lunch and to give you some time to explore the kasbah for yourself.
Our journey will continue towards the Skoura Oasis, filled with dense palm groves crossed by a network of tracks running between kasbahs, ksours, and farms. We will head towards the Roses Valley and into the Dades Valley on the "Road of a Thousand Kasbahs", passing the fortresses of M'Goun and the countless traditional Berber adobe houses, sometimes barely distinguishable from the rocks themselves, that perch along the riversides. We will spend the night in the Dades Valley.
Dades Valley → Todra Canyon → Erfoud → Erg Chebbi Sahara Desert
After having breakfast and checking out of our hotel, we will drive to Tinghir, a former military outpost on the banks of the Oued Todra, where olive, pomegranate, and orange trees flourish. The road through the Todra Gorges follows the right bank of the river, which is covered with palm trees and is one of the most beautiful oases in Morocco.
You will then continue farther east into the narrowest and most spectacular section of the gorges, where we will take some time to wander among the towering rock walls of the narrow corridors. That afternoon we will leave for Erfoud, crossing the palm grove of Tinjdad and Touroug, and visit a workshop where local fossils are produced. Afterwards we will continue straight to the desert village of Merzouga, which lies right on the edge of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes.
Upon your arrival, you will be greeted at our kasbah. You'll have the opportunity to freshen up from the drive and enjoy a refreshing glass leave all unnecessary luggage behind in safe rooms in our kasbah. Afterward, you'll take on a 3 mins 4WD ride to meet your camels and begin the ride, you have the option to continue with the 4WD ride upon your request in case you get tired (or 4WD transfer if you can't do the camels).
Our camel trek experience is adjustable, allowing you to choose a duration ranging from a brief 10 minutes to an immersive 2 hours. Both options include ample time for pausing to witness the breathtaking sunset and capture stunning photographs before reaching your private tent in our luxury camp or similar in the middle of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes.
Upon reaching the camp, you'll be shown your tent and treated to the dinner, followed by traditional music around the campfire. Assistance will be available in arranging any possible additional excursions or activities of your interest during your desert stay experience.
Overnight in the silence of the desert, and you can relax outside stargazing and marvel at the Milky Way spreading across the pitch-black night sky.
If you would like to wake up early so that you can watch the spectacle of sunrise, when the color of the sand contrasts beautifully with the play of shadows on the dunes - after which you might want to try your hand at sand-boarding down them.
On the tour we will visit the oasis of Merzouga, the nomadic depository, and Khamlia Village, where we will be able to hear gnawa music from the local people who are descendants of ex-slaves that found their way to Morocco from Senegal via the Salt Route. We will continue on to meet desert nomads in their tents and discover their way of life.
We will also visit the nearby Lake of Merzouga, with its diverse population of birds. Afterwards we will leave for Rissani. Once called Sijilmassa, this was the meeting place for the salt caravans coming from Timbuktu, Mali. Here you'll be able to walk through the souk, where you will be able to find spices, vegetables, and clothes. After having a pizza lunch in Rissani we will drive back to our Kasbah, where we will be greeted with a glass of tea or glass of wine and have some time to relax before we go to the camp where you will enjoy a second enchanting overnight.
Merzouga → Rissani → N'Kob → Tazarine → Draa Valley → Agdz → Ouarzazate
A refreshing shower and breakfast before starting our journey into the Draa Valley. Besides the natural, historical, and architectural wonders found in the valley, there are also countless villages that seem to have remained untouched by the modern world. Our road will take us through the millions of palm trees of the Draa Valley and Agdz, a village on the ancient caravan route that linked Marrakech to Timbuktu.
In the afternoon we will arrive in Ouarzazate (pronounced Warzza-zat), a city in the middle of a barren plateau at the crossroads of all routes going north, south, east, and west, a geographical position which has made it an important trading post since ancient times. Known as the "Hollywood of Morocco", the film studios of Ouarzazate have produced films including "Alexander the Great", "The Last Temptation of Christ" and "The Living Daylights". After checking in at our hotel, you can enjoy an afternoon beside the swimming pool and enjoy the clean desert air before spending the night in Ouarzazate.
Ouarzazate → Atlas Mountains → Marrakech
After breakfast we will visit Ouarzazate's museum of cinematography before leaving the city and continuing our journey into the Ounila Valley. From there we will have an amazing view of the imposing mountains that our route will lead us into, winding up their spectacular valleys and over the Tizi n'Tichka Pass, which offers stunning views over the mountains before descending past Berber villages to the plains surrounding Marrakech. We will arrive in Marrakech in the early evening, and your guide will escort you through its winding streets to your Riad.
At your request, our staff will wake you at the crack of dawn to witness the spectacle of the desert sunrise, the colour of the sand contrasting beautifully with the palette of shadows on the dunes. After waking up to a desert sunrise and having breakfast, we will be able to relax for a couple hours before taking a 4WD off-road tour for an immersive desert experience. We start by meeting some desert nomads in their tents and discover their way of life; We will drive along the high plateau of rocky desert with a huge panoramic view of the sea of dunes and varied desert landscapes to the "Ghost Town" of Mifis , an abandoned mining village where they excavate the ancient eye cosmetic of Kohl and quartz, here also you can still spot turtle, trulobites, Ammonites, and orthoceras fossils from the creatures which inhabited this ancient sea millions of years ago; Our discovery continue from Geology to music, to the town of Khamlia Village, sattelled by darker skin Berbers, here we will be able to hear the unique gnawa music from the local people who are descendants of ex-slaves that found their way to Morocco from Senegal and Sudan via the Salt Route. After enjoying the live show of Gnawa spiritual music and having a home-made Berber pizza lunch, We drive to the nearby seasonal lake of Merzouga, with its diverse population of migrant birds. From there we will head to the oasis of Merzouga, the community gardens, then to the nomadic depository; (If it's the souk day; you have the option to visit the authentic market of Rissani. Once called Sijilmassa, a medieval Moroccan city that was once the meeting place for the salt and gold trade caravans coming from Timbuktu, Mali. Then a short drive back to our Kasbah where you can relax by the pool, (Here you have the option to do ATVs: quad biking or dunes buggies or 4WD drive back to the camp), where we will be greeted with a mint tea and have some time to relax. In the afternoon we will mount our camels / 4WD and ride into the pink sands of Morocco's highest dunes. We will have time to wander around the dunes before watching the sunset. In the evening we will dine on Moroccan cuisine and enjoy traditional live music around the campfire, sit down and chat with locals, or enjoy some drumming lessons.. You will spend the night in warm Berber tents in the silence of the desert, and you can relax outside and marvel at the Milky Way spreading across the pitch-black night sky, and maybe even see some shooting stars.
We exclude the entrance fees to monuments and cultural sights from the tour total cost in order to not charge you for things you might not be interested in visiting, Please let us know if you need a list of all the monuments that require a fee for entry.
Our tours are designed to be flexible and accommodating. Our knowledgeable guide will offer various options ( both paid and unpaid worth to visit ) for objectives and sights not only in each city but also along the way. Additionally, we're committed to offering the best possible experience for our clients.
We intentionally exclude dinners in urban areas or big cities for two main reasons. Firstly, dining at Riads or hotels in city settings tends to be relatively expensive. Secondly, the presence of a variety of restaurant options in cities allows our clients to choose according to their budget and preferences.
We can arrange cooking classes/ Hammam & SPA / Hot air balloon / ATV Quads / Dune buggies and any additional activiy available in any destination upon request.
We have over 20 years of experience crafting a Moroccan experience perfectly tailored to our guests needs. These are our most common itineraries, to be used as starting points in developing yours.
Marrakech → Atlas Mountains → Ait Benhaddou → Ouarzazate → Skoura Oasis → Roses Valley → Dades Valley
On this first day in your 5 days desert tour your guide and driver will pick you up directly from your accommodation or port of entry before escaping the hustle and bustle of Marrakech. You will cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka Pass, which reaches an altitude of 2,260 meters (7,415 feet) and is the highest mountain pass in North Africa. The road passes through various villages typical of the northern slopes of the Atlas, where corn can be seen ripening in the sun on the packed-earth roofs of the stone houses and snow during winter time.
On the way you will cross the territory of the powerful Glaoua tribe where a number of ancient kasbahs and fortified granaries can be seen dotting the countryside before you reach Ait Benhaddou, a fortified village classified by UNESCO as one of the world's cultural treasures. At Ait Benhaddou we will stop for lunch and to give you some time to explore the kasbah for yourself.
Our journey will continue towards the Skoura Oasis, filled with dense palm groves crossed by a network of tracks running between kasbahs, ksours, and farms. We will head towards the Roses Valley and into the Dades Valley on the "Road of a Thousand Kasbahs", passing the fortresses of M'Goun and the countless traditional Berber adobe houses, sometimes barely distinguishable from the rocks themselves, that perch along the riversides. We will spend the night in the Dades Valley.
Dades Valley → Todra Canyon → Erfoud → Erg Chebbi Sahara Desert
After having breakfast and checking out of our hotel, we will drive to Tinghir, a former military outpost on the banks of the Oued Todra, where olive, pomegranate, and orange trees flourish. The road through the Todra Gorges follows the right bank of the river, which is covered with palm trees and is one of the most beautiful oases in Morocco.
You will then continue farther east into the narrowest and most spectacular section of the gorges, where we will take some time to wander among the towering rock walls of the narrow corridors. That afternoon we will leave for Erfoud, crossing the palm grove of Tinjdad and Touroug, and visit a workshop where local fossils are produced. Afterwards we will continue straight to the desert village of Merzouga, which lies right on the edge of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes.
Upon your arrival, you will be greeted at our kasbah. You'll have the opportunity to freshen up from the drive and enjoy a refreshing glass leave all unnecessary luggage behind in safe rooms in our kasbah. Afterward, you'll take on a 3 mins 4WD ride to meet your camels and begin the ride, you have the option to continue with the 4WD ride upon your request in case you get tired (or 4WD transfer if you can't do the camels).
Our camel trek experience is adjustable, allowing you to choose a duration ranging from a brief 10 minutes to an immersive 2 hours. Both options include ample time for pausing to witness the breathtaking sunset and capture stunning photographs before reaching your private tent in our luxury camp or similar in the middle of the Erg Chebbi sand dunes.
Upon reaching the camp, you'll be shown your tent and treated to the dinner, followed by traditional music around the campfire. Assistance will be available in arranging any possible additional excursions or activities of your interest during your desert stay experience.
Overnight in the silence of the desert, and you can relax outside stargazing and marvel at the Milky Way spreading across the pitch-black night sky.
If you would like to wake up early so that you can watch the spectacle of sunrise, when the color of the sand contrasts beautifully with the play of shadows on the dunes - after which you might want to try your hand at sand-boarding down them.
On the tour we will visit the oasis of Merzouga, the nomadic depository, and Khamlia Village, where we will be able to hear gnawa music from the local people who are descendants of ex-slaves that found their way to Morocco from Senegal via the Salt Route. We will continue on to meet desert nomads in their tents and discover their way of life.
We will also visit the nearby Lake of Merzouga, with its diverse population of birds. Afterwards we will leave for Rissani. Once called Sijilmassa, this was the meeting place for the salt caravans coming from Timbuktu, Mali. Here you'll be able to walk through the souk, where you will be able to find spices, vegetables, and clothes. After having a pizza lunch in Rissani we will drive back to our Kasbah, where we will be greeted with a glass of tea or glass of wine and have some time to relax before we go to the camp where you will enjoy a second enchanting overnight.
Merzouga → Rissani → N'Kob → Tazarine → Draa Valley → Agdz → Ouarzazate
A refreshing shower and breakfast before starting our journey into the Draa Valley. Besides the natural, historical, and architectural wonders found in the valley, there are also countless villages that seem to have remained untouched by the modern world. Our road will take us through the millions of palm trees of the Draa Valley and Agdz, a village on the ancient caravan route that linked Marrakech to Timbuktu.
In the afternoon we will arrive in Ouarzazate (pronounced Warzza-zat), a city in the middle of a barren plateau at the crossroads of all routes going north, south, east, and west, a geographical position which has made it an important trading post since ancient times. Known as the "Hollywood of Morocco", the film studios of Ouarzazate have produced films including "Alexander the Great", "The Last Temptation of Christ" and "The Living Daylights". After checking in at our hotel, you can enjoy an afternoon beside the swimming pool and enjoy the clean desert air before spending the night in Ouarzazate.
Ouarzazate → Atlas Mountains → Marrakech
After breakfast we will visit Ouarzazate's museum of cinematography before leaving the city and continuing our journey into the Ounila Valley. From there we will have an amazing view of the imposing mountains that our route will lead us into, winding up their spectacular valleys and over the Tizi n'Tichka Pass, which offers stunning views over the mountains before descending past Berber villages to the plains surrounding Marrakech. We will arrive in Marrakech in the early evening, and your guide will escort you through its winding streets to your Riad.
We are experts at creating a Moroccan experience perfectly tailored to our guests needs. These are some of our most popular itineraries, and they may be customized to the utmost extent of your imaginations.
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hello@besttravelmorocco.com
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Casablanca 20300 Morocco
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