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From Marrakech I took a 3 day 2 night Sahara trip ending in Fez. This was to get a glimpse into the Sahara Desert on a 3-day trip from Marrakesh to Fes with accommodation included. It was an immersive experience with the local culture and scenery as we visited quaint villages, spent a night in the desert, and embarked on a camel trek through the dunes.
Day 1: Marrakech – Tizi n’Tichka – Ait Ben haddou – Ouarzazate – Rose Valley Tinghir
I began early in the morning with a pickup from my Marrakech hotel . We drove east and passed quaint villages to reach the High Atlas Mountains. As we drove through the mountains, occasionally stopped for scenic photos, to stretch your legs, and to have a quick cup of coffee. After driving through the famous Tizi Ntichka pass, we stopped at the Berber fortified village, Ait Benhaddou Kasbah. The ksar, a group of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls, is a traditional pre-Saharan habitat. The houses crowd together within the defensive walls, which are reinforced by corner towers. It is a striking example of the architecture of southern Morocco. Located in the foothills on the southern slopes of the High Atlas in the Province of Ouarzazate, the site of Ait-Ben-Haddou is the most famous ksar in the Ounila Valley. The Ksar of Aït-Ben-Haddou is a striking example of southern Moroccan architecture. The ksar is a mainly collective grouping of dwellings. Inside the defensive walls which are reinforced by angle towers and pierced with a baffle gate, houses crowd together – some modest, others resembling small urban castles with their high angle towers and upper sections decorated with motifs in clay brick – but there are also buildings and community areas. It is an extraordinary ensemble of buildings offering a complete panorama of pre-Saharan earthen construction techniques.
This was the filming locations of the Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, and the Kingdom of Heaven as you spend about 1 hours exploring this famous UNESCO sight with a local guide . We walked through the village and hiked up to the top with an amazing view of the surrounding landscape.Then we purchased a delicious lunch before continuing to Rose Valley (Tinghir) , driving past Ouarzazate, Skoura Oasis, Klaa Mgouna, and Dades. Dades valley also is an amazing place to drive through specially after sunset. I reached my hotel late in the afternoon. It was relaxing dinner in Rose valley Tinghir before retiring for the night.
Day 2: Tenghir – Todra Gorges – Tinjdad – Erfoud – Merzouga Dunes
After breakfast, I departed for the Erg Chebbi Sahara Desert in Merzouga. We passed through the many Berber villages scattered along the way, including Todra Gorges, Tenghir, Tinjdad, Jorf, and Erfoud. We stopped at Todra Gorges to walk around and take picturs . I also stopped at Erfoud briefly. Once we reached in Merzouga,we packed a small overnight bag to take on your camel trek across the Erg Chebbi sand dunes. After arriving at a traditional Berber camp, I left the camels and walked to the highest dunes to watch the sunset. I spent the night in Berber nomad tents under the stars, listening to drum music in the middle of the Sahara.
Day 3: Camel trek – Sunrise -Errachidia – Medilt- Atlas Mountains – Ifran- Fes
I got up bright and early had my breakfast in the tent and then hopped back on the camel to see the stunning sunrise over the desert. After reaching Merzouga, I began my drive back to Fes crossing the Ziz Valley through Errachidia. Around midday, we stopped in Midelt to buy lunch. We the continued to Fes via Ifran Imouzzar with its Cedar Forests and Berber towns, which are both famous as winter ski resorts for Moroccans. We spotted some Barbary apes on the way and seized the opportunity to take some pictures. I arrived Fes late in the afternoon and then dropped off to my accomodation.
