A Private Tour From Marrakech To The Sahara And Roses Valley

DAY 1: Marrakech – Telouet – Ait Benhaddou – Skoura ( 5 hour drive)

As our private tour leaves Marrakech, the distant haze begins to resolve itself into a jagged mountain range – the High Atlas mountains, jutting abruptly from the plain. Our route follows the same route caravans used centuries ago, to bring into Marrakech slaves, gold and precious wood from the other side of the ocean of sand, the Sahara.

Beautiful scenery and small villages built in tiers succeed among oak trees, walnut groves and snow patches before arriving at the Tizi n Tichka pass, at 2260 meters high. Once over the pass a totally different picture is unveiled: the immense vistas of the south. Scent of thyme from the bushes around fills the air. Just after the pass, the tour leaves the tarmac and goes off- road to then reach Telouet and former pasha’s palace dominating the village.

Pacha Glaoui had managed to overshadow the sultan by controlling most of nowadays Morocco and decided to erect a palace in the middle of nowhere, where his family had originated from. He had employed the most skilled artisans to build and decorate his main residence and, in its golden age, armies, stables and Christian slaves were confined within its walls while a flourishing Jewish community was managing the nearby salt mines.  

Leaving Telouet behind, the terraced gardens by the river bed melt into a gigantic green serpent imprisoned between the barren light brown walls of the canyon, only to escape out into the horizon. Here and there, decaying Kasbahs stand witnesses of an age resolute.

Later, skirt past Tamedaght and stop to visit UNESCO site of Ait Benhaddou, the postcard- like adobe citadel. A fat, red sun, only underlines the beige tones of the mud- and- straw mixture and through the covered passages and stone walls, the past filters itself into the present. In spite of the local ‘guides’, the best is to just lose yourselves in its alleyways. 

There is always a new way to reach its peak, from where the snowcapped Atlas Mountains framed by the denim blue sky will steal your breath away. Past Ouarzazate, our bespoke tour of Morcco reaches yet another lush area, nested between the deserted crest and the desolate plateaus: Skoura palm grove. Dinner and accommodation in the palm grove. 

DAY 2: Skoura – Tinerir – Todra Gorge – Rissani – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi ( 5 hour drive)

After breakfast, do not miss a walk in the palm grove. Here, you can witness the ingenious distribution of water through kettaras and seguias and the local craftsmen shape their colorful potteries. Laden trees sway in a breeze that wafts down the valley as the village is softly hushed, the only sound the bleating of far- off goats. 

Later, our trip reaches Kelaa des Mgouna, famous for the nearby Valley of Roses and ‘Rose Festival’. Did you know ? The process uses approximately three thousand kilograms of rose petals to extract a liter of rose oil. Further on, Boulmane de Dades follows, the starting point to explore the spectacular Dades Gorge, a lush carpet set against the massive rocks and quite popular among those interested in some   Morocco trekking. 

Back on the road, our first stop is Tinerhir (Tinghir), with its extensive palm grove, the ksours built into the rocky hills above it and its mysterious decaying Jewish quarter.  Todra Gorges lie only 15 km from Tinerhir, presenting an arresting spectacle with its crystal clear river emerging from it, its 300 meter walls changing color to magical effect as the day unfolds. 

 Rissani used to serve as last stop on the great caravan routes south and gold and slave auctions were taking place here as late as 1800’s. Before it, the caravan trade and the most important city in Morocco was Sijilmassa, the ruins of which lie opposite Rissani. From its gates, Ibn Battuta and Leo Africanus left Morocco to embark on their illustrious journeys across the Sahara into other African countries.

Soon after we reach Merzouga and in the distance you glimpse the first leviathans of sand forming the Sahara: the dunes of Erg Chebbi. We’ll stop for a break at a local kasbah where you can leave some luggage before being hopped onto a camel and taking the route to the camp nested in the middle of the dunes. 

Then, while the staff of the camp is unloading your luggage and preparing your dinner, you climb onto the highest dune you can find. Take a moment and watch the sun hide behind dunes heavily shaded, shadow turning them from golden to burnt orange. Dinner and accommodation in an Erg Chebbi camp tent. 

DAY 3: Erg Chebbi  – Alnif – Nkob – Agdz ( 4 hour drive)

Should you have missed the sunrise… well, try not to. And how about hopping on a surf board and slide your way down the dunes ?  Back in the vehicle, the road to Tazzarine sees almost no traffic, providing a scenic link between Tafilalet and Draa Valley. Fossils and prehistoric rock carvings are this region’s main attraction. 

The scenery grows wilder as you approach Tazzarine, set in a grassy oasis surrounded by bare mountains. Past Nkob, we will pass by Djebel Saghro, a starkly beautiful jungle of volcanic peaks. This is where in the winter of 1933, a 2000 Ait Atta Berber army resisted a 8000- man and 44 planes strong French army as the French were looking to complete their colonization of Morocco.

General Guillaume, one of the French army heads wrote: ”Our opponent reveals the best warrior of North Africa. He is brave to temerity. He accepts deliberately to sacrifice his possessions, his family, and even his own life, to defend his freedom… This instinctive horror proven against all coercion and domination justifies the  desperate resistance opposed to any foreign penetration. Everyone defends his territory until the end, with a fury that can surprise, but which commands admiration.”

Later, reach the palm grove of the Draa Valley and stop for dinner and accommodation. 

DAY 4: Agdz – Ouarzazate – Fint Oasis – Marrakech ( 5 hour drive).

Back on the road, our 4 day Morocco tour leaves the palmgrove behind as the road climbs, twists and turns its way up into the mountains, before breaking through the scarp at the pass of Tizi n’Tinififft. Stopping at the pass and looking back, you catch a glimpse of the Draa valley and the oases, a green river of palms snaking up into the haze bordered by the Kasbahs, adobe guardians rising as if from the earth where the green gives way to the desert.

The nearby Fint Oasis provides a precious opportunity to witness life within an oasis set among a stone desert, albeit hundreds of miles away from the Sahara. Smaller in size than a palm grove, an oasis is an essential component of the desert, where water comes out of the ground and used to be shared equally among the caravans. A small community still inhabits the lush gardens surrounding the oasis, preserving the century-old traditions.

Then our tour crosses Ouarzazate, made famous by its film studios where scenes of  ‘Game of Thrones‘ were recently shot. We will then start our way back crossing the High Atlas. Few people know it but this route was first laid out by the French Foreign Legion back when Ouarzazate was no more than a French army outpost. Our trip serpents its way through the abrupt valleys and mountain peaks and arrives in Marrakech later in the evening.

Please find below the resumed 4 day desert itinerary:

(driving times don’t include stops):

Day 1: Marrakech – Telouet – Ait Benhaddou – Skoura ( 5 hour drive).
Day 2: Skoura – Tinerir – Todra – Rissani – Merzouga – Erg Chebbi ( 5 hour drive ).
Day 3: Erg Chebbi – Alnif – Nkob – Agdz ( 4 hour drive).
Day 4: Agdz – Ouarzazate – Tizi n Tichka – Marrakech ( 5 hour drive).

You may choose to follow the original tour itinerary as described on the website or have us create a tailor made itinerary around your preferences. Please note that all our tours of Morocco are private and daily stops are accommodated along the way every couple of hours for you to visit a site, take a stunning photo or stretch your legs.

The following extras can be added:

– lunch inside a Berber home;
– visit the nomad grottoes and Berber granary;
– learn about life in the palm grove, the khetarra irrigations, the pottery craft, the olive oil press, etc.
– try and blend in at a village market;
– visit the Black People village, have tea with the nomads, awe at Bronze- age rock engravings and pry out fossils;
– trek in Dades Gorge or High Atlas mountains;

How much a 4 day Morocco itinerary costs ?

Bellow you will find our tentative rates ( no two itineraries are similar ) based on two persons traveling together, with the relevant accommodation option. For discounted rates, we invite you to book off season. 1 % of our revenues are donated towards social causes in Morocco.

Dreamers: starting from 665 US $/ 610 €/ 545 £ per person ( double room & comfort desert tent);
Privilege: starting from 970 US $/ 895 €/ 795 £ per person ( junior suite & comfort tent with en suite shower and toilet);
Divine: price available on request.

Our portfolio accommodations do not fit into a rigorous star rating system, so we have named them Dreamers, Privilege and Divine, to best resume their nature. To ensure availability, we recommend booking at least 3-4 months in advance.

Pricing can vary at different times of the year. If you book your tour to take place in December, January ( outside NYE holidays), February, June, July and August, you will enjoy our low season rates. An exact rate will be offered once we have agreed on the precise itinerary, accommodation range preferred and any extras you would like to include. Discounts apply when 3 or more persons share the vehicle(s). You can also choose to mix different accommodation ranges within the same circuit.

The rates of this 4 day tour include:

– private use of the English fluent driver- guide & modern air- conditioned Toyota 4×4;
– boutique/ luxury hotel accommodation for 2 nights;
– Sahara camel trek and private basic/ luxury tent for 1 night;
– 3 three- course- meal dinners and 3 breakfasts for 2 persons;
– airport or hotel pick- up and drop- off;
– private guided visit of a palm grove or trek in the High Atlas with local guide;
– refreshing drinks inside the vehicle all along the itinerary;
– local English speaking guides;
– admission fees to all local sites and attractions;
– 24 hours travel assistance ( with Privilege and Divine level);
– gasoline and transport insurance;
– VAT and visitors tax.

WHY BOOK WITH US THIS 4 DAY DESERT TOUR FROM MARRAKECH ?

# We are based in Morocco since 2006 and no, we don’t work from home :). We scout for the most unique sites & local experiences all year round. We present these on our blog and Instagram  pages. And only a travel agent based in Morocco can keep you up to date with latest travel advice in Morocco or restaurant openings.

# We anonymously test, hand- pick and continuously update the best boutique and luxury hotels, Riads , eco lodges and Kasbahs across Morocco;

# We strive to bring you most authentic experiences. Some of them are unique: private flight to the Sahara; visit of a medina with a local university teacher; mechoui with a nomad family;

# 1 percent of our receipts go towards local projects, like help educate girls from rural Morocco or restoring the agadirs of southern Morocco;

# we accept payments by credit card, bank transfer and, starting in 2023, select cryptocurrencies;

# we are on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, before and during your tour, by email, WhatsApp or Skype/ Zoom.

Ready to create your unique Morocco tour? Get in touch here with our on- the- ground team in Morocco.