6 days Off-Road Tour

from Marrakech

Description

Embark on a thrilling six-day off-road journey starting from the vibrant city of Marrakech. Begin by crossing the Atlas Mountains where breathtaking views set the stage for the days ahead. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah. Continue to Ouarzazate and the charming town of Agdz, nestled in the lush Draa Valley with its palm groves and traditional Berber villages.

Your journey then leads to Zagora and Tafroute Sidi Ali, where serene desert landscapes and ancient oases invite exploration. Venture off the beaten path to the remote villages of Ramlia and Ouzina. In Merzouga, the gateway to the Sahara Desert, marvel at the golden dunes and spend your nights under star-filled skies.

As you make your way back to Marrakech, traverse the dramatic rock formations of Todra and Dades Gorges and the historic Thousand Kasbahs Road, a route steeped in history and surrounded by ancient fortresses and breathtaking scenery.

Itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech - High Atlas Mountains - Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah - Ouarzazate - Agdz

Departure in the morning from Marrakech. We will cross the High Atlas Mountains and enjoy panoramic views from Tizi-N-Tichka Pass. You will walk around the UNESCO-listed Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah and visit the Atlas cinema studios in Ouarzazate (where some world-famous movies and TV shows were shot like Gladiator and Game of Thrones). Short visit of Ouarzazate and of its Kasbah Taourirt in the city center. We will make our way to Agdz. Arrival at the hotel in Agdz. Dinner and free time.

Day 2: Agdz - Zagora

Departure from Agdz. We will pass by Draa valley, the largest palm grove in Africa, with more than two million palm trees. Arrival and check-in at the hotel in Zagora. Free time at the hotel by the swimming pool. Visit of Zagora by bicycle or 4x4, according to your preference. Dinner and free time.

Day 3: Zagora - Tafraoute Sidi Ali - Ramlia - Ouzina

Departure from Zagora. Start of the off-road part of the trip. Coming out of Zagora, we will have a tea with a nomad family in their traditional tent. Then, we will pass by Tafraoute Sidi Ali, one of the closest Moroccan village to the Algerian border, for lunch. We will continue our way to Ramlia and Ouzina. Check-in at the hotel in Ouzina. Free time to enjoy the swimming pool and the sunset. Dinner.

Day 4: Ouzina - Merzouga

Departure from Ouzina. After passing by the village of Taouz, we will stop in the village of Khamlia to enjoy some Gnawa music. Khamlia is still exclusively inhabited by descendants of black African slaves coming from Mali, Sudan and Senegal, who now speak Berber as their mother tongue. The tour will continue in the desert, with some panoramic views, a visit to an abandoned mining town and a tea with another nomad family. Adventure in the dunes with the 4x4. Possibility of sandboarding. Berber pizza (“Medfouna”) for lunch. Then, you will have a camel ride from Merzouga to cross the dunes until your desert camp where you’ll spend the night. Dinner, traditional music around a fire, star gazing.

Day 5: Merzouga - Todra Gorges - Dades Gorges

Departure from the desert camp by car in the morning. Visit of Rissani, the birthplace of the Alaouite dynasty in Morocco : Moulay Ali Cherif Mausoleum (the third great-grandfather of Moulay Cherif, the founder of the Alaouite Dynasty of Morocco) and the ancient “ksour” (group of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls). Stop in the Todra Gorges, Morocco’s Grand Canyon. Visit of the Dades Gorges, known for the funny “monkey fingers” rocks. Night at the hotel in Dades Gorges.

Day 6: Dades Gorges - Marrakech

Departure from Dades Gorges to Marrakech. On the way, we will see the Thousand Kasbahs road. Arrival in Marrakech.

End of the 6-day trip.