Classic Trip to the Sahara Desert and the High Atlas

As you arrive at Marrakech, transfer will be by private minibus. Estimated travel time 15-25 minutes.

Explore the Jamna El Fna Square
Self-arranged
Explore Morocco's famed Jamna El Fna Square, hustling with acrobats and story tellers as they perform alongside the vibrant souks. Meander the food stalls in the square - though there is a strong influence from the French in popular dishes such as cooked garlic snails, there is also a lot of traditional food to be sampled. Choose a stall which has a lot of locals, this is usually the best indication of authentic quality. In the winter months, why not try a spiced coffee in the square, made with a secret recipe including cloves and cinnamon.

Accommodation: Riad Imilchil or similar

Riad Imilchil is located a short walk away from the Bahia Palace and Jamna el Fnaa Square. This gorgeous traditional property has 7 boutique rooms all decorated in a Moroccan style. They all have en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning/heating, a safe and Wi-Fi. At its centre there is a beautiful indoor garden, adorned with large potted plants and colourful tiles. Adjoining this area is a small swimming pool and comfy sitting room with large sofas to lounge upon. Another great feature of the riad is its spacious roof terrace. It’s not only a great place to socialise, it has stunning views of the city and the snow tipped Atlas Mountains. A continental breakfast is served every morning either in the dining room or on the patio. There is also a 24-hour reception, so your utmost needs can be met round the clock!

Room description: Twin/double
Meals included: Breakfast
Hotel website: https://www.riadimilchil.com

Transfer from Marrakech to Zagora

From Marrakech, travel over the High Atlas Mountains, over the Tizi N Tichka pass and down to the Kasbah of Ait ben Haddou. See the town of Ouarzazate before carrying onwards south to the valley of the Draa with its palmeries and kasbahs. Reach Zagora by private minibus. Estimated travel time 6-7 hours depending on stops and traffic.

When arriving in Zagora, meet your camel team and walk the short distance to the fixed nomads camp in the dunes, on arrival have dinner and have a night under the stars.

Overnight: Desert Camp
Room description: Twin/double
Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Zagora sights
Zagora is a town in the Draa River valley in the Drâa-Tafilalet region of southeaster Morocco. It is flanked by the mountain Zagora from which the town got its name.
Outside the town is the amazing Draa Valley, which follows the twists and turns of the river - an unforgettable place where thick groves of palm trees line the twists and turns of the river, while the Jbel Saghro mountain range rises in the background. Have a stop in Zagora to see the sights that this small town near the desert has to offer. See the potteries, famous for their Tagine dishes and perhaps visit the ancient Coranic Library.

Zagora to Skoura
Travelling from the dunes of Zagora and the edge of the desert, head northwards through the palmeries and past ruined Kasbah of the valley of Draa before reaching the Skoura oasis. Estimated time is 3 hours by private minibus Visit the Kasbah Amerdhil or take a walk around the palmeries to see the Berber farms and fields

Accommodation: Kasbah Ait Ben Damiette

The Kasbah Ait Ben Damiette guest house is ideally located in the palm grove of Skoura, at the edge of the road, at the foot of the High Atlas, and 40km from the city of Ouarzazate in southern Morocco. It was built in the 1950s and fully restored in 2010 with the help of local artisans using techniques traditional and ancestral. Like a riad, the guest house is composed of 11 rooms, a dining room, a lounge and a bar, the whole is distributed around a patio and its fountain. For your pleasure, you will enjoy a swimming pool of 12x6 meters and a mini pool for the little ones. For the bravest, you can enjoy yourself by playing ping pong or pentaquin in the middle of the garden. It is pleasantly shaded with olive trees, almonds of palms and orange trees.

Room description: Double / twin
Meals included: Breakfast
Hotel website: https://www.kasbahaitbendamiette.com/contact/

Skoura to Demnat

This transfer leaving the palmeries of Skoura is a little-known road through the Mountains. You are unlikely to meet any other visitor, just small Berber villages with children playing on the road and flocks of sheep and nomadic shepherds. The road is called the 3 valleys road or the red road due to the colour of the mud brick villages. At the end of the road the valley opens and the gorge of Imi n Infri comes into view. Quite a sight to take in before reaching the town of Demnat, stop for tea with a Berber family before reaching the waterfalls of the Cascades D'Ouzoud. Take a walk down to the bottom of the falls to see some barbary apes that live nearby. The journey would take roughly 5 hours.

Accommodation: Borj des Cascades

A spectacular situation overlooking the town of Demnat adds to the attraction of this kasbah, set in pomegranate and olive orchards. The rooms have full facilities and are decorated in the Moroccan style. The main building houses the reception, a dining room, a lounge, a seminar room and a creative workshop. You will also find a natural swimming pool, a hammam and two terraces.

Room description: Double / twin
Meals included: Breakfast
Hotel website: https://www.borjdescascades.ma

Demnat to Marrakech

Travel through the mountains, pomegranate and cactus fields to the city of Marrakech. Transfer will be by minibus.
Travel time about 3 hours depending on stops.

Afternoon at leisure in Marrakech

You have a free afternoon to explore this fascinating city. Take some time to get to know Marrakesh, a major economic centre and home to many mosques, palaces and gardens. The medina is a densely packed, walled medieval city dating to the Berber Empire, with maze-like alleys where thriving souks (marketplaces) sell traditional textiles, pottery and jewellery. Today you could peruse the beautiful trinkets and haggle for a good price! A symbol of the city and visible for miles is the Moorish minaret of 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque, so take a wander around and admire its intricate details.

Accommodation: Riad Imilchil or Similar
Room description: Double / twin
Meals included: Breakfast

Airport transfer from Marrakech to the airport

Time for your onward flight - you will be transferred from Marrakech city to Marrakech airport. Transport will be by private minibus. Estimated travel time - 15 minutes, traffic depending.