One Night in the Desert

In this trip you will have the opportunity to discover and explore the dunes and sand from the Sahara desert. With a rich diversity of landscapes to enjoy, this trip joins the hectic life of Marrakesh, the pure, clear air of the Atlas and silence vibrating Desert. The trip includes a chance to discover the genuine Morocco and to approach the Moroccan culture without barriers mass tourism, having the opportunity to participate in typical activities and know firsthand the traditions.

The desert of Morocco is known for its endless dunes and the nomads and theur amazing and surprising culture. The desert offers a unique opportunity for introspection as well as the possibility of contact with real nomadic people, knowing their traditions and art.

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

Route

Route

Dia 1: Marrakech – Ait Benhaddou – Draa Valley – Zagora Desert (Sahara)

We will meet after breakfast in Marrakech in a place at your choice and we will begin our tour in direction to the High Atlas.
We follow the same route the caravans used to bring spices, wood and gold from the other side of the desert to Marrakech. The first stop will be on a traditional Berber village. Above us we have a harmonious landscape with tiny villages built on a terraced field, almond trees, walnut trees and oaks. We keep on the highest road of Morocco, where you can find amazing views, which can be seen as the set of movies as “Babel”, with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and “Mission Impossible”.
By lunchtime we stop in Ait Benhaddou, the most important place in the ‘One Thousand Kasbahs’ route, listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is famous for being the set of several Hollywood movies, such as : “The Mummy”, “Gladiator” and the famous HBO series “Game of Thrones”.

We keep en route to Zagora, passing through the Anti-Atlas and the berbere villages of Agdz and the colorful Draa valley, with long palm tree forests, considered the biggest of Morocco, where we can find one of the most precious things of Morocco: water.
At the arrival to Zagora it will be served a traditional morocco tea. The journey continues, now by camel, as we go deeper into de desert, for about an hour. Deep there we will stop at a nomad Berber tent where dinner will be served, and you will hear nothing but your own voice and the voice of your travel companions.

Dia 2: Zagora Desert – Ouarzazate – Marrakech

The sun rising between the dunes is a moment you will never forget; the desert freshness in the morning is also unique. After a full breakfast served by a local family, go back to the supporting hotel in Zagora by camel.
After some time at the hotel to take a bath, our adventure continues. We continue to Ouarzazate, the North African Hollywood, where we will visit a major film studio or alternatively, the Kasbah of Taourirt. We will pause for a light lunch.
Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou are two places of great historical and cultural interest in the Atlas, that allow people to see through time and understand how the landscape and lives of those who dedicated themselves to trade were.
The golden sun in the faded mountains creates a scenery of a Western movie, ideal for those who enjoy photography or mountains. We will stop for lunch and expermient the delights of the high Atlas. We will then continue to Marrakech, the red city of Morocco, through what was once the route of the _caravans_ coming from the desert.
Along the way we will briefly stop occasionaly in small places that will surprise you for both its natural beauty as well as for the tradition and its people.
We continue our journey with the road and landscapes of the Atlas, arriving at Marrakech in the early evening.

Additional information

Included in your trip:

• Transportation from and to the airport
• Private transportation in a new and safe car with driver, with air conditioning, as well as a guide that speaks italian, spanish, english, french and some portuguese.
• One night in a Berber tent, with half pension
• Camel ride in the dunes.

Not included with your trip:

• Drinks, lunches and other snacks.