This journey offers a mesmerising blend of Morocco’s diverse landscapes, cultural richness, and timeless traditions. Begin your adventure with the golden dunes of the Sahara, where the Erg Chegaga sands promise unforgettable moments—camel rides, serene sunsets, and stargazing under expansive desert skies. Let the rhythm of Berber drumming and the warmth of luxury campfires create lasting memories amidst the tranquil dunes.
The route weaves through Morocco’s fascinating history and architecture, with stops at iconic Kasbahs like Telouet, the cinematic Ksar Aït Ben Haddou, and Tamnougalt in the Dra’a Valley. Alongside these historical gems, discover the charming town of Taroudant, offering a unique glimpse into the country’s rich heritage. Keep an eye out for Morocco’s endemic argan trees, whose prized oil adds to the allure of the southwest’s rugged beauty.
Conclude your journey in the vibrant coastal town of Essaouira. With its blue-and-white medina, historic ramparts, and bustling souks, this Atlantic retreat offers a refreshing contrast to the desert. Stroll along sunlit beaches, savour fresh seafood, and immerse yourself in the town’s artistic and cultural vibes, making it a fitting finale to a truly enchanting Moroccan adventure.
| Number of persons | 2 Persons | 3 Persons | 4 Persons | 5 Persons | 6 Persons |
| Price per person | 1565 € | 1495 € | 1365 € | 1295 € | 1295 € |
| Total price | 3130 € | 4485 € | 5460 € | 6475 € | 7770 € |
Marrakech is famous for its vibrant Djemaa El Fna square, alive with juice stands, dried fruit and nut vendors, henna artists, snake charmers, storytellers, and a variety of nightly food stalls.
You can explore the following attractions based on your time and preferences:
The Majorelle Gardens: Designed by Jacques Majorelle and later owned by Yves Saint Laurent, these peaceful gardens feature fish ponds, small bridges, and a variety of cacti, flowers, and trees. The garden is famous for its “Majorelle blue” color, which is replicated throughout the city. It also includes a Berber museum, café, and a restaurant offering delicious Moroccan-inspired cuisine.
Le Jardin Secret: A stunning Islamic Paradise Garden divided into four sections, each with a water channel from the High Atlas Mountains. The garden’s calm atmosphere, with its simple color schemes and soothing fountains, is complemented by displays explaining its restoration, as featured in Monty Don’s documentary on Middle Eastern Paradise Gardens.
The Koutoubia Mosque: Marrakech’s largest mosque and a key city landmark, the Koutoubia takes its name from “al-Koutoubiyyin,” referencing its historic role as a center for booksellers. Built in the Almohad style, the mosque’s 69-meter minaret is crowned with four copper globes.
El Bahia Palace: This grand palace, built for Ahmed Ibn Moussa, the Grand Vizier of Morocco, between 1894 and 1900, showcases traditional Alaoui style. With 160 rooms set around beautiful courtyards, the palace features intricate stucco panels, zellij tiles, carved cedar wood ceilings, and marble finishes. It is surrounded by an expansive eight-hectare garden.
Ben Youssef Medersa: A Quranic school founded by Sultan Abou el Hassan (1331–49) and rebuilt in the 1560s, this medersa once housed 800 students. It is a fine example of Moroccan architecture, with its intricate zellij tiles, stucco plasterwork, and carved cedar wood.
The Saadian Tombs: Dating back to the reign of Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur (1578-1603), these tombs were rediscovered in 1917. They are the final resting place for over sixty members of the Saadian Dynasty and remain a major attraction in the city.
The Jewish Mellah: Every Moroccan city has a Jewish quarter, and many still house active synagogues. The Mellah in Marrakech was historically home to all non-Muslims, including Jews, and offers a glimpse into the city’s diverse history.
The Souks: At the heart of Marrakech, the souks offer an array of traditional handicrafts, spices, medicines, and more. You can find Moroccan slippers (babouches), leather goods, textiles, pottery, silver jewelry, and try your hand at bargaining for a good deal.
FYI: Tickets for each attraction can be purchased during your guided tour, but please note that tickets for the Majorelle Gardens must be booked online in advance.
Optional Experience: If you’d prefer to learn how to prepare traditional Moroccan dishes, we can arrange a cooking class for you instead of the city tour, for an additional fee.
You will spend the night in a charming riad, experiencing the authentic atmosphere of Marrakech.
After a morning departure at 08:30 from your hotel or riad, you set out on your 4-day desert tour from Marrakech to Erg Chegaga. You travel over the high Atlas Mountains and via the famous Tizi-n-Tichka pass (2260m). All along the road, you will stop at panoramic viewpoints to admire the beautiful scenery of green valleys, Berber villages and snow-topped mountains.
As you start to descend the mountains, a side road leads to Kasbah Telouet, which used to be the palatial residence of the Lords of the Atlas, the Glaoui Family. The Kasbah now stands in ruins after the last Pasha fled Morocco following the departure of the French in 1956. But, wait to be pleasantly surprised by the architectural marvel of this historic home.
After a scenic drive along the beautiful Ounila Valley, you will arrive at Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and perhaps better known as a film location for several Hollywood blockbusters. After lunch in one of the restaurants alongside the Salt River, you will visit the Kasbah to learn about the history and cinematic artworks filmed on this site.
Just before you each Ouarzazate, you will stop to visit the Film Studios, a movie wonderland, known for keeping its sets and reorganising them to offer a wide range of choices to production studios, but also for letting tourists experience the unique thrill of discovering the locations where many successful films and series have been shot, including “Gladiator”, “Prince of Persia” and “Game of Thrones.”
You spend the night with dinner and breakfast in a beautiful riad overlooking the valley.
After breakfast, your journey continues further south as far as M’hamid at the edge of the mighty Sahara Desert. After crossing the Tizi-n-Tinfifte pass, you arrive in Agdz.
Agdz is part of the ancient Caravan Road which used to supply goods up from Mali and Niger, having crossed the Sahara Desert. Nowadays, its abundant palm groves produce an impressive 44 varieties of dates.
For a short while, we go off-road through the Dra’a Valley, between the mountains and the river, passing through many villages to gain a better idea of the way of life along the oases. You will stop to visit Kasbah Tamnougalte, the oldest Kasbah in the Dra’a Valley. Some parts of the Kasbah are still inhabited, while others, particularly the Jewish quarter, are now crumbling, ever since the departure of its inhabitants to Israel – the last person left in 1963.
From here, you continue your desert adventure, travelling south alongside the Ancient Caravans road as far as Zagora, the last largest oasis in the valley and the venue for today’s lunch. Just outside of Zagora, you visit the local green pottery co-operatives and an old Quranic library in Tamgroute village.
In the afternoon, your desert adventure continues further south as far as M’hamid, where the sand alongside the road signifies the beginning of the mighty Sahara Desert. M’hamid village is the gate to the Sahara Desert and the end of the paved road.
You drive about 45 min to an hour to the dunes outside of M’hamid on the edge of the Sahara. You have dinner and spend the night in a luxury desert camp in your own private tent equipped with a toilet & shower, king-sized beds, mattresses, sheets, pillows, blankets, carpets & lamps.
Get up early to witness the sunrise from the top of the dunes with free time to wander the desert dunes. Back at the camp, breakfast is served and you set out on your adventure to explore the region.
The old villages here are typical of desert dwellings, where houses are constructed entirely of adobe. This excellent building material keeps out the summer’s searing heat due to the walls’ thickness. You will explore these villages and learn about life in this harsh yet equally beautiful environment. You can visit a local family and their home and share a glass of tea with them if desired!
After lunch, you continue to Erg Chegaga dunes, with about 65km of off-road driving through the varying features of the Sahara; ‘erg’ (dunes), ‘hammada’ (stony desert) and oases.
Once at the camp, you check in to your tent at the campsite and enjoy a relaxing glass of tea and Moroccan biscuits. Then, you take a camel ride to the summit of the Erg Chegaga dunes (300 m) to enjoy the sunset. At 300m high and 45km long, the Erg Chegaga dunes are the largest in Morocco. They are far from civilization, and the dunes’ silence and expanse are overwhelming.
At night, dinner is served, followed by an evening of nomad music and drumming around a campfire. You spend the night in your tent, equipped with a private toilet & shower, king-sized beds, mattresses, sheets, pillows, blankets & carpets, lamps, and beautiful Moroccan furnishings, all tastefully arranged to enhance your stay.
After breakfast, we drive another 90 km across the Sahara, traversing the stony desert, or “reg,” and the rocky plains, or “hammada,” before reaching the dried-up Lake Iriqui. In the middle of the lake, you’re likely to witness a mirage. Unless there’s been heavy rainfall (which is rare), the “water” you see is not real. This area is also known for its fossils, some lying loose while others are embedded in the rock.
We then head north to Foum Zguid, where we drive towards Taznakht, a town famous for its Berber rugs and carpets. After a stop for lunch, we continue our journey through the Tizi-n-Ikhsane and Tizi-n-Tighatine passes, eventually reaching Taliouine, the heart of Morocco’s saffron-growing region. Here, we’ll visit the local government-run museum, which offers fascinating insights into saffron cultivation. As you enter, the delightful aroma of saffron fills the air.
Our day concludes in Taroudant, where we’ll rest for the night in a traditional riad.
In the morning, you will explore the medina of Taroudant, known for its impressive ramparts and charming streets. Be sure to visit the souk, a local market filled with silver jewelry, vibrant Moroccan ceramics, and intricate mosaics.
Continuing west, you will follow the Souss River valley, home to thousands of argan trees, native to Morocco. Argan oil is prized for its nutritional benefits and is also used in cosmetics for skin and hair care. The leaves and by-products from oil extraction serve as valuable animal feed.
The journey then takes you along the coast, passing through Taghazout, a haven for surfers, and continuing through the Anti-Atlas Mountains, offering stunning views of the Atlantic coastline. Finally, you’ll arrive in Essaouira, a picturesque town known for its distinctive blue and white architecture.
You will spend the night in a lovely riad nestled in the heart of the medina.
Essaouira is a favorite destination for many travelers! Once known as Mogador by the Portuguese, this charming coastal town on the Atlantic offers a unique blend of history and beauty. Today is yours to explore Essaouira at your own pace.
Start your visit by wandering through the Medina, where you’ll find a variety of local handicrafts, particularly thuja wood furniture, intricate carvings, and small artifacts, all sold in the colorful shops lining the winding alleys.
At the seafront, choose from a selection of freshly caught fish and have it prepared for you right on the spot for a delicious lunch.
In the afternoon, take a leisurely stroll along the ancient fortifications surrounding the town, built by the Portuguese. Many of the cannons used for defense are still visible, facing out toward the sea.
Be sure to visit the Skala and the fortified ramparts, which were featured in the popular TV series Game of Thrones and the opening scene of Orson Welles’ Hamlet. This is a fantastic spot to capture photos and enjoy stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Essaouira’s beautiful beach, coupled with various water sports like surfing, makes it an ideal destination for beach lovers.
After a desert adventure, Essaouira offers the perfect place to unwind—whether on the beach, at one of the cozy cafés by the port, or while exploring the charming little shops scattered throughout the town.
After a traditional Moroccan breakfast at your riad, you begin your journey back to Marrakech. As you drive through the rolling hills, you’ll see argan trees lining the landscape. Along the way, you may even spot the rare sight of goats climbing the branches to feast on the leaves and argan nuts—this is a true phenomenon, not just a myth!
You’ll have the opportunity to visit a women’s cooperative that specializes in argan products. Here, you can observe the extraction and processing of oil from the nuts, and enjoy a tasting of fresh argan oil with Moroccan bread and mint tea—a true culinary delight. The quality of the oil here is superior to most exported products and is offered at a much lower price, making it a great chance to purchase some to take home.
After lunch, you’ll continue your drive through the Haouz plains, passing several villages in the Chichaoua region. You can pause for a tea or coffee break, taking in the scenic views of the surrounding countryside.
Upon reaching Marrakech, your driver will be happy to take you to your riad or to the airport for your departure.
