Paris – Dakar tour (5 days and 4 nights)

We will leave Marrakesh heading to The Gorges of Dadès crossing the High Atlas where, en route we will be crossing over the Tizi’n-Tichka, at 2,260m the highest in Morocco, and will stop to take in some spectacular views of the highlands. We will take a break on the way for a mint tea and visit a local cooperative which produces argan cosmetics and oils from the nut of the argan tree.

Once over the highest point, we will descend into a more arid, desert landscape as we descend into the valley lined with Berber villages and on to the Kasbah Telouet, which we will stop to visit. Here was the site of the great Palace of the Glaoui clan, a jewel of Moorish architecture, built in the 18^th century to control the salt caravan routes crossing from Sub-Saharan lands through the Drâa Valley onwards to the imperial cities.

From here the route continues through the Unila Valley with its wonderful landscapes and Berber villages, to Aït Ben Haddou, where we can stop for a leisurely meal and then visit the Kasbah, a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and the place where they have filmed scenes from many Hollywood movies such as Gladiator. 

The road continues to Ouarzazate – film location capital, where the studios "Atlas" are based and where movies such as; Gladiator, Asterix and Cleopatra, The Jewel of the Nile, and many other titles were recorded. At the end of the day we cross the mountains of Aït Saoun with its lunar landscape, before arriving in Agdz located in the Drâa Valley. 

Overnight in Agdz

After breakfast we head out into the Sahara at Ouzina, as we follow the Drâa Valley to Zagora. Here we opt for the former Paris-Dakar route through the desert on a day of adventure off the beaten track.

Lunch will be taken under the shade of the acacias and in the afternoon, we will stop at the Kasbah of Ouzina.

Overnight in Ouzina.

After breakfast we will part from the palm groves of the village of Ouzina, with its handful of families heading back out towards the Sahara towards Merzouga, stopping on the way at the village of Khamlia, known for its traditional music, where most of its inhabitants are of Sudanese origin. We will enjoy a performance from one of the groups famous for their "Gnawa" music and dance rhythms while drinking tea in sign of hospitality. Afternoon arrival at the great dunes of Erg Chebbi, where we will change our 4x4 for your mounts – the dromedaries which await to take you into the dunes to enjoy the sunset.

A magical night in our camp, sleeping in the typical Khaimahs nestled by the dunes.

Early start to see the sunrise, breakfast to ride our camels back to our pick up point with the driver and head off to the spectacular Gorges of Dadès. After a stop at Rissani, to see its weekly market, unique in the area, which attracts numerous nomads with its curious “donkey parking” we continue our journey onto the Gorges of Todra, where we will stroll and later have lunch by the banks of the river and enjoy the views of the magnificent rocky canyon. In the afternoon we will arrive at the Dadès Valley where we will book into our hotel.

Overnight in Dadès

After breakfast, we leave behind the Gorges of Dadès heading towards Marrakesh until the Valley of the Roses, where you can visit the oil and rose water cooperative. The Rose of Damascus rose is used to prepare all cosmetics. Later we resume the journey along the so-called “Route of a Thousand Kasbahs”, which leads to the Skoura Valley, where you can visit the beautiful Kasbah of Amridil, one of the most scenic in this area and best preserved. The road turns into a track fringed by palms until we find ourselves heading up the mountain pass of the Tizi’n Tichka which will take us all the way back down into Marrakesh.

Afternoon arrival, and end of our services