This excursion combines desert trekking with a walk in the Valley of Roses.
Together we experience the sharpest contrast that nature can offer us: at the beginning – green and wild valleys, blooming roses and dense forests. Going up, we leave all that behind and dive into the remote world of the desert. During the multi-day hike, we get a chance to familiarize ourselves with the local berber families and their way of life when we roam in the Valley of Roses.
We walk along crystal clear rivers and through giant gorges, stop in green wide valleys and small berber villages, admire old kasbahs, relax in terraced gardens, breathe in the scents coming from fields of roses, seek shelter from the sun in the shade of walnut and fig trees. Afterwards we dive into a completely another world as we hike through the sandy desert. We spend many nights at the foot of the highest sand dunes, in fertile oases and at the range of the Erg Chebbi, one of the greatest dune landscapes formed by the wind. We will experience fantastic sunsets in the Sahara and spend many nights in tents under the starry night sky.
We will stay a few days in Marrakech. In Marrakech, you will meet Moroccan jugglers, snake charmers, storytellers, soothsayer, artists and musicians, and stroll through the colourful, magnificent souks. We explore the labyrinth of the alleys of the old town of Marrakech and for a moment dive into the time of the folk tales of the “One Thousand and One Nights”.
This trip is ideal for those who like to hike in small groups, prefer demanding trails and enjoy the rewarding sights of colossal nature in all its beauty.
dunes, picturesque villages and mysterious kasbahs with typical houses of clay and stone
After your arrival in Marrakech we will be waiting for you outside the airport building. According to the new legislation, only passengers are allowed to enter the airport building, so we kindly ask you to exit the terminal and look for the sign of the agency at the exit. A member of our team will then welcome you and drive you to your hotel in the city center. No activities are planned for this day, thus you can indulge in free leisure time. Relax or explore on your own the fabulous souks of Marrakech with their lively Moroccan oriental merchants and numerous colourful stalls. Marrakech is a safe city with many banks and currency exchange stores if you would like to change money. Our staff will be happy to advise you at any time. Overnight stay is in hotel in Marrakech.
We explore the city on foot and visit the Bahia Palace, Saadian tombs and the exterior of the Koutoubia Mosque, the largest mosque in Southern Morocco and one of the city's landmark. Then we stroll through the countless alleys and colourful souks of Marrakech. The afternoon is at your leisure. Our staff will be happy to advise you at any time. Overnight stay is in hotel in Marrakech.
Distance 350km, approx. 5.5 hours We cross the High Atlas, passing through majestic places and taking beautiful photographs. The landscape is decorated with white peaks, bare and rugged mountain ranges. On the plateaus we can see archaic houses, made of clay and terracotta, with only steep winding roads connecting them to the outside world. We reach the 2260-meter-high Tizi n’Tichka pass and head towards the valley basin between the towns of Tadaout and Telouat. We visit the residence and the Kasbah of Taourirt of Pasha El Glaoui, who, in those times, was one of the most powerful men in Morocco and had owned about one-eighth of the entire country. Many well-known films and series have been shot in this area, for example, "Game of Thrones", "The Gladiator", "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Jesus Video". Our route brings us through the Skoura oasis to Kalâat M'Gouna, the capital of the Valley of Roses. The city of Kalâat M'Gouna is located at an altitude of about 1400m, on the Road of a 1000 Kasbahs, in an area of rose cultivation. During the harvest season, about 500 tons of roses are harvested and processed into rosewater. The annual Rose Festival is celebrated here at the beginning of May. The festival lasts almost the whole month and is a special experience for all. Afterwards we continue on towards the village Taberkhacht, in the center of the Valley of Roses. There we will meet the local population. Overnight stay is in a hostel in the village of Taberkhacht.
Hike approx. 6 hours Today we begin the four-day trekking tour. We meet our berber fellows and load up their mules. Then we walk along the riverbank Oued M'gouna, passing green, fresh and fragrant fields, and visit ancient mysterious kasbahs. After lunch we arrive in the village of Boutaghrar and spend the night at the home of a berber family.
Hike 5 - 6 hours We continue on along the Oued M'gouna towards the village of Agouti. There we visit a few kasbahs and dive into their intriguing history. We enjoy our lunch in a scenic location, under the fig trees on the riverbank. In front of us we can see the impressive gorge of Agouti with its high and rugged rock cliffs, through which we will walk for about an hour. Our destination is the village of Alemdoun, where we spend the night in a hostel.
Hike 5 hours We cross a striking landscape and the forest of red junipers of Tamteda and arrive in the oasis village of Ighrem Akdim. We are invited to lunch by a berber family. In the afternoon we go for a walk in the surrounding area to discover small hidden local secrets. We spend the night at a home of a local family.
Hike 6 hours We walk and slowly reach the arid and remote plateau of Ait Atta, where the nomads (non- sedentary berbers) reside. In the afternoon our route brings us to the village of Ait Youl in the Dades Valley. The river of Dades crosses bare, reddish, surreal, porous and eroded rock formations, known as Monkey Fingers, and gives life to numerous oases of palms, olives, figs and fruit trees located nearby. We spend the night at the home of a local family in Ait Youl.
Distance 280km, approx. 4 hours We drive on the road of the 1000 Kasbahs into the heart of the desert, the city Merzouga. We make a short stop in the town of Tinerhir, afterwards we visit the irrigation systems from the late Middle Ages and hike through the imposing 400 meter high Todra Gorge and the surrounding palm oases. The gorge is formed of limestone and is known as a climbing paradise all over the world. Now it is time to arrive in Merzouga. The warm desert wind has touched us, the immense sand dunes continuously emerge on the horizon, and the silence of the desert finally shows its presence. Overnight stay is in hotel “Ksar Bicha”.
Hike approx. 4.5 hours We start the second three-day trekking tour through the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Today we hike about 12km over the highest dunes of Morocco. The environment and atmosphere of this place remind us of the arid hostile landscapes of a foreign planet that we have only seen in science fiction movies. Neither fauna nor flora can find refuge in these places. However, it carries a unique beauty that brings an escape from civilization and the modern world, where acceleration has become an integral part of everyday life. Our destination is our camp in Bouyegd. Overnight stay is in a tent.
Hike approx. 6 hours We hike on in the endless dunes of Erg Chebbi to the village Hassi Mardani. Here, the strongest among us can climb up the highest dune (over 150m). Overnight stay is at the foot of the sand dunes in tents.
Hike approx. 4 hours On the last day in Erg Chebbi, we walk from the small village of Khamlia to the village of Tanamoust. There we say goodbye to our accompanying team. Overnight stay is in tents.
Distance 360km, approx. 5 hours We drive towards Ouarzazate in southern Morocco, the capital city of this province. We often stop on our way to admire the view and capture memorable photographs. Of course, we cannot simply pass by the urban city of Rissani, famous for its spice and cattle markets. We stop there and stroll through its souks. Then we visit the towns of Alnif and Tazzarin and stop for a longer time in the valley of Draa, which is about 200 kilometres in length. The oasis villages around it hide in the green palm plantations and extend up to the border with Algeria. In the evening, before sunset, there is a possibility to do a camel ride. Overnight stay is in hotel "Les Jardins de Ouarzazate".
Distance 200km, approx. 3 hours We leave Ouarzazate and after about 30km we reach the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, where we walk through the labyrinth of alleys of the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. From the top of the Kasbah we will have a beautiful view of the Ounila Valley and the Atlas Mountains, including the magnificent M'goun and Toubkal, the two highest mountains in the country. On our way to Marrakech we also cross the pass of Tiz n Tichka at 2260m. After arriving in Marrakech you are able to enjoy some free time. Our hotel is located near Djemaa el Fna Square where jugglers, snake charmers, storytellers, soothsayer, artists and musicians gather. There are numerous stalls where culinary specialities of the region are offered. Overnight stay is in a hotel in Marrakech.
Another free day. You can continue to discover the city, find souvenirs and gifts, or relax in the traditional oriental hammam. (A Moroccan hammam consists of a bathhouse with multiple rooms (dry and steamed) for cleaning the body and soul according to traditional ritual.) Overnight stay is in a hotel in Marrakech.
At the end of our adventure together, we will bring you to the airport and wish you a pleasant journey home.
