Paris-Dakar Route

Brief description

This tour is for those who want to explore the deep desert with all its different colors; for those who love to travel and knowing new environments. We will go off-road by the Paris-dakar routes, and we will know different types of desert before arriving at the fresh Atlantic coast, where the fresh breeze of the sea is mixed with the dry wind of the desert. This trip is specially suited for people enthusiastic about driving, as well as knowing the cultural diversity of the nomadic life of the desert. There are several unique activities the can make your trip even more special: cooking workshops, traditional music workshop, an astronomy night or riding quads.

The tour is planned in detail for you, according to the time available for the trip, the place of arrival and departure, and your preferences. This itinerary is an example of such tours, and is thus only a suggestion

Route

Day	Route
Day 1	Marrakech
Day 2	Marrakech – Ait Benhaddou – Dades Valley
Day 3	Dades Valley – Todra Gorges – Ziz Valley – Merzouga
Day 4	Merzouga – Khamlia – Ouzina – Ramlia
Day 5	Ramlia – Zagora
Day 6	Zagora – Taroudant
Day 7	Taroudant – Essaouira
Day 8	Essaouira – Marrakech / Casablanca

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Marrakech

Arrival at the airport of Marrakech and welcome by our team. Then we drive to our hotel / riad.
You will discover Marrakesh, the red city of Morocco and the cosmopolitan center of the country. The surprising architecture, the intense aroma of the spices, the colorful and exotic atmosphere, and the nooks and crannies of its history make this city the most attractive and visited of Morocco. The first impression of this intense, vibrant and lively city is usually unforgettable. In the evening, dine in the Jemaa el Fna square, an open-air market where the mixture of smells, music and shows are inspiring and where you can taste the most traditional and typical food. Return to the Riad.

Day 2: Marrakech – Ait Benhaddou – Dades Valley

We start the morning by heading towards the High Atlas. The first stop will be at a traditional Berber village. We then willl take the high mountainous roads of the high Atlas, to take some photos while enjoying the pure air and calm of the Atlas. On the way we will pass in some cooperatives of argan oil, extracted here by ancient methods, that, along with its derivatives, are delicious in the Moroccan bread.

By lunchtime we will stop at Ait Benhaddou, the most important place on the Thousand Kasbahs’ route, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is very famous for having been used as the set in Hollywood movies, such as “The Mummy”, “The Gladiator” and “Game of the Thrones”. We continue the tour through the “Route of the Thousand Kasbahs” to Kalaat Mgouna – The City of Roses. We will also visit the palm grove of Skoura. The day ends in peace, in the breathtaking valley of the Dades. We will stay in a charming hotel that includes dinner and breakfast.

Day 3: Dades Valley – Erfoud – Merzouga

In the morning, there will be time to enjoy a stroll along the river, where you can feel the sumptuousness of this rocky and uneven landscape.
You will have the unique opportunity to explore the Todra gorges, imposing rocky cliffs that reach 600m in height, separated by only 10m in width.
We continue in the road towards the desert. Visit the Ziz Valley, a magical place, for its fertility, and nature. Ahead, we will pass through Rissani, a medieval-inspired town.
Then we will go to Merzouga.There you will have the traditional Moroccan welcome tea and you will have the opportunity to meet and contact with the typical people of this region. In the late afternoon, depart for camel ride through the high desert dunes for about an hour until you reach a Berber tent where you will have a majestic dinner. After dinner there will be traditional music and dancing around the campfire. Then, you can enjoy the absolute and magical silence of the desert, with its clear and starry sky that is inspiring.

Day 4: Merzouga – Khamlia – Ramlia (Dakar Route)

Feel the awakening of the desert as the morning light invades the vast space that gradually begins to reveal its colors.

For the ones who crave adventure, it is possible to do sandboard in the dunes, paragliding, or ride a 4×4 moto as an extra activity.
After breakfast, we head in the direction of the deep desert, where you will have the opportunity to meet the nomads.
We will go to the depositary of the nomadic peoples of Khamila, a lost village where the original Gnawa people live, first brought from the Sudan as slaves. There you can enjoy its music, lifestyle, culture and tradition.
After arriving in the oásis where you will be staying, you can enjoy various activities such as Moroccan cooking workshops, learning about the life in an oásis, or even contacting with the nomads, with their musics and traditions.You will have the opportunity to meet a local family, have lunch with them and share their customs. Moroccans are an incredibly hospitable people.
In the evening, after a delicious dinner, enjoy the night in this magnetic and mystical place.

Day 5: Ramlia – Zagora (Dakar Route)

We will continue through our off-road trails. You will be surprised by the small, traditional villages that you will visit. This is part of the famous Paris Dakar road.
We can stop and spend some time in the traditional communities and in the inhabited oases, when we make local friends and share experiences. During the day you can take a walk in the dunes alone or accompanied by our guide.
The evening will be spent in a private Kasbah where the medieval lifestyle is still felt. This Kasbah / hotel is connected to the SaharaSky, the first private astronomical observatory with sophisticated telescopes in Morocco, available to guests after dinner, subject to good visibility conditions. Expect to see the Milky Way as you never imagined, and explained by a professional Belgian astronomer who will enthusiastically present to you some of the mysteries of the universe in the already mysterious Sahara desert.

Day 6: Zagora – Taznakht – Taroudant (Dakar Route)

We will continue exploring the wonder of Morocco.
We start by visiting Zagora, its desert and fantastic oasis. We will also go to Taznakht, known for its excellent work on rugs. Here, the Sahara desert meets the Atlas mountains creating a fascinating scenario.
Then we pass through the Anti Atlas Mountains to Talioulin the main point on the saffron route. This is also the area of argan oil, luxury oil, known for its therapeutic applications. A single argan tree can serve as sustenance for the life of an entire community. We arrived in Taroundant, an old medieval town with a traditional center, which is sometimes invaded by desert sand. Sleep in a charming Riad in the city center, that maintains the a marvelous privacy and quiet like an Arabic palace of the old, with interior gardens and balconies.

Day 7: Taroundant – Agadir – Essaouira

After a morning walk and a traditional breakfast in Taroudant, we will arrive in Agadir where we can see the open horizon of the Atlantic Ocean. Agadir was rebuilt in European style following an earthquake in the 60s and is famous by the quality of its nearby beaches. Then we will leave for Essaouira along the Atlantic coast, a UNESCO heritage city, still retaining the style of construction of the first Portuguese explorers who conquered it in the XVcentury. Its wall date from this period, but its medina is a rare example of urban planning. The beauty of its architecture is what renders its name: “Essaouira” in arabic means “the beautifully drawn”.
In the way we can see an argan cooperative.
This city has a family style of cosmopolitan life, and is the most artistic city in Morocco. Here you can meet new people, find all kinds of fresh produce, visit art galleries and its charming Medina.

Day 8: Essaouira – Marrakech or Casablanca

In the morning we will depart to the imperial city of Marrakech. We can stop in a local farm which does meals based in cheese. After arriving in Marrakech you will be able to visit the city and its charming monuments, always accompanied by our official city guide that will make you know the charms of this city. He is a person of great knowledge and kindness and will not only show you every detail, but he will also explain in detail the parts of history in which you may have a particular interest. Transport to the airport for lunch and farewell. Alternatively, depending on the departure flight we can proceed to Casablanca Good trip back with a memory full of good memories and with a heart enchanted with this magical country !!!

Additional Information

Included with your excursion

• Accommodations with breakfast during the whole trip;
• Dinners in Dades Valley, Merzouga, Ramlia, Zagora and Taroudant;
• Official guides of the city of Marrakech, which will show you these cities privately and their richness and histories;
• One night in a traditional Berber desert camp;
• Camel trips in the desert in order to arrive at the traditional encampment;
• Private transportation in a 4×4 during the days with driver/guide that speaks English, Portuguese, Spanish and French(fuel included);

Not included in the excursion:

• Drinks, other meals and snacks