Treasures of the High Atlas and dunes of Erg Chebbi

Pick up at the Fes airport and transfer to a riad in the medina or a 5-star hotel. Accomodation and dinner. 

In the morning, visit of the old medina of Fes with a local guide. The medina in Fes is one of the most authentic and best preserved of the entire Arab world. We will walk around its laberyntique medieval alleys where there are some hidden craft centers, mosques and palaces.

Early in the afternoon departure with a 4WD vehicle with a driver guide travelling south to cross the Middle Atlas to Ifrane, also called “Little Switzerland” for its resemblance to that country. We will cross the famous giant cedar forests and if we are lucky we will feed a colony of wild monkeys that are on the top of the mountain. 

We will see the Ziz Valley with over 10 million palm trees inside, and finally get to Erfoud, a town called “ the door of the Desert”. Accommodation and dinner.

Today will be spent entirely in the desert. Journey over the tracks that were used in the Dakar rally, visiting villages and nomadic settlements of the desert. Stop in the Marine Fossil Quarries, going back 360 million years, and picnic lunch in Tisserdimine Oasis, a place where was recorded part of the film “Sahara”.

Drive up to the Big Erg Chebbi desert of dunes of fine sand where we will change our 4WD vehicle for a camel, to enter to the heart of the dunes and watch an unforgettable sunset. We will arrive riding the camel at the Oasis Bivouac Oubira where we will stay in haimas, “tents made by camel skin” like those used by nomadic people. Dinner and accommodation. Great experience to sleeping “under the stars”.

Being away from the villages and shelters means no noise or light contamination, just the warm candlelight and the sound of Jembes of the local people. The accommodation is in individual haimas fitted with carpets, mattresses, sheets, blankets. Tonight we will sacrifice some comfort, as there are no bathrooms or showers, but it will be worth it, enabling us to live in person the reality of the desert nomads. In the morning, return to Kasbah Tombouctou by dromedary where we can take a good shower.

There is the possibility of sleeping in a private bivouac with a supplement, assembled exclusively for the occasion, also located in the Dune Sea, where in addition to other services such as toilet and shower in each haima, you will enjoy the typical "Mechui" cooked roast lamb cooked in the traditional way and served in a  haima-dining room with local folklore. A true "luxury" you could find  in the desert. 

Today you have an appointment with sunrise. We recommend you to get up early to walk to the top of the Great Dune and see the sunrise.

Bedouin breakfast and  return with the dromedary back to the cars, to take us around the Erg to Merdani, an abandoned village.  Visit to the Memphis Mines and the village of Khamlia where locals will show us their traditional dances and will offer us a mint tea.

Arrival at your accommodation. Leisure time, we can walk through the dunes, walk to the nearby villages of Merzouga and Hassi Labyad, or,optionally, enjoy the comforting ritual of the" hammam ". Accommodation and dinner listening the sound of the tam-tam.

Drive to Rissani, to visit some of their centennial Kasbahs. Visit of the market, unique in these latitudes, where the tribes and desert nomads usually go. It is curious to see their "parking" of donkeys.

Return to Kasbah Xaluca to take a relaxing time the rest of the day. We can have a bath in the heated pool, have a jacuzzi, mini golf, tennis or optionally take a hammam "Turkish bath" or a massage (these last two are optional services).

For the more adventurous ones there is the possibility to ride a Quad around the dunes near the hotel, or visit nearby Kasbahs (Optional excursion). Accommodation and dinner. This afternoon cars with drivers are at your disposal if you want to visit the area or go to Erfoud to see a craft supply store or to the factory where fossils are polished.

Journey to Tinghir, small and prosperous town that offers a beautiful panorama with its pink houses and palms, the best starting point to go into the famous Todra Gorges, where we will walk a bit along the river course.

Continuation to Boumalne Dades,town located in the Valley of the birds at 1612 m altitude in the High Atlas Mountains. In the afternoon, tour around Dades Valley and its gorges. Accommodation and dinner.

Today we will get in the depths of the Central High Atlas, discovering spectacular views. Visit of Berber villages such as Boutaghrar and Amskar where time seems to have stopped. We'll see mountains, canyons and valleys and caves where nomads still live in the mountains.

Walk around M'Goun gorges and picnic lunch. Dinner at the hotel.

Optionally you can make an excursion through M’Goun gorges by mule.

Hotel pickup and transfer to Ouarzazate airport. End of our services.