As we travel from Marrakech to Ouarzazate, we will see wonderful diversity in the cities, geographical landscapes, and the villages of the mountainside; it might seem like a dream as we see a multitude of Kasbahs as we travel through Ouarzazate, the Dades, the Todra Gorges, Erfoud, and Risani.At first, as the road follows the Dades Valley to Skoura, the palm trees are replaced by orchards and irrigated gardens. Roses raised to make perfume are the specialty of Kella des Mogauna. After the Boumalen Dades, we come to a large town, the local administration center, at the foot of the gorge that is a dried-up riverbed. A series of Kasbahs leads to Tinerhir, a former military outpost built on terraces above a magnificent palm grove. This is the way into the awesome Todra Gorge (300m high). A little farther on, to the right, there is a holy spring said to cure sterility in women. The drive is continued to Erfoud and Risani, locations sometimes referred to as "doors of the Sahara." Erfoud was founded as a military outpost to bring the Bedouins in the region under French control in Morocco, and Risani is an ancient town with an old history from the time of Sijilmassa; it is a place where caravans coming from the south, through the vast Sahara desert, passed for many centuries.
From Erfoud, we travel directly to the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi through the fossils beds, the only place where millions of years-old natural fossils such as ammonites, trilobites, and orthomerus’ can easily be observed.
In the southwest near Erfoud (50km), the largest and highest sand dunes of Erg Chebbi are located. This is the best place to experience the hospitality, traditions, and lifestyle of the Berber people; it is where camels are used to get around the immense dunes by following a series of corridors. We will pass through part of this area taking in the magnificent views of the Erg Chebbi (300-350m high) and the huge plain to the east that really is a flat black desert where Berber families live in their unique tents.Here we find ourselves in a desert of extraordinary beauty and variety. All of the standard desert landscape types are present in this location from high sand dunes, oasis palm trees, and Berber villages, as well as a variety of rock landscapes and seasonal lakes (a favorite spot for migrating birds and where flamingos can sometimes be seen). It is a place of constant fascination from camel trekking to wonderful sunsets and sunrises. You may even want to go on a 2-3 day journey, or perhaps even a week’s journey through the beautiful and magical Saharan landscape.
To the north of Erfoud is the Ziz Valley; the largest palm tree oasis (100km long) in Morocco. It was a part of the caravan route that took travelers from the Sahara Desert to the Mediterranean Sea via Fes. The entry point into Ziz is a water source, Bleu de Meski (the blue spring). Men are seen here tending fields and driving donkeys carrying goods from village to village up the river to the ruins of the old KasbahsTo the north, in the Atlas Mountains, is the Hassan Addakhil Dam. This is a rare chance to see from a short distance one of Morocco's several lakes that separate the Ziz Valley and the Ziz Gorges. As we travel 40km through Berber villages seen on both sides of the river, a famous landscape of palm trees and a wide variety of fruit will be seen. This area was made famous by the "Legionnaire Tunnel" that was built by French colonial troops in 1930 in order to create a passageway from the north to the south.
To the north, in the Atlas Mountains, is the Hassan Addakhil Dam. This is a rare chance to see from a short distance one of Morocco's several lakes that separate the Ziz Valley and the Ziz Gorges. As we travel 40km through Berber villages seen on both sides of the river, a famous landscape of palm trees and a wide variety of fruit will be seen. This area was made famous by the "Legionnaire Tunnel" that was built by French colonial troops in 1930 in order to create a passageway from the north to the south.
From Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi Sand Dunes of Merzouga, you will discover all of the things that you traveled to Morocco to see. You will be fascinated by the simple life and traditions of the people of the south, and also by the varied landscapes of this beautiful and exotic country, landscapes that can change completely in just a short hour’s drive.
Here Are some of our trips :
3days/2nights): Marrakech-Erg chebbi sand dunes:
day1 :Departure from Marrakech at 7:30 a.m. to the Todra Gorge via Tizin'tichka pass, Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, the movie film center, Kella Mgauna, Boumalen Dades, as well as night at the Todra Gorge.day2 :Departure from Dades Gorges to Merzouga via Tinerhir, the Todra Gorge, the palm trees oasis of Tinejdad, Er-Rachidia, Ziz Valley, Erfoud, and night at the Merzouga Sand Dunes.
day3 :Departure from Merzouga to Marrakech via Risani, the palm trees oasis of Tinejdad and Touroug, Taourirte Kasbah, and back to Marrakech.
2days/1nights): Marrakech-Erg chebbi sand dunes
day1 :Departure from Marrakech to Merzouga via Tizin'tichka Pass, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Kella des Mogauna, Boumalen Dades, the Todra Gorge, Erfoud, and spend the night at Merzouga
day2 :Departure from Merzouga, Ziz Valley, Tinerhir, Ouarzazate, Tourirte Kasbah, the movie film center, and back to Marrakech.
Please contact us for more informationss or other programs.