There is something impossibly romantic about the great dunes of the Sahara. Nights under canvas, sunsets and camel rides all make you feel you have truly escaped. This desert adventure takes you right off the beaten track in Morocco. So you pass frontier towns, palm-fringed oases and into the dunes. You still see the highlights, such as Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains. Yet the deep desert adds the spice that makes it unforgettable.
This route is for those who want more than the cities. So it threads together dunes, valleys and ancient trading posts. Along the way, you travel by 4×4 deep into the south. Meanwhile, the nights under canvas are pure romance. As a result, you see a side of Morocco few ever reach.
You begin in Casablanca, Morocco’s most cosmopolitan city, with excellent flight links. From here, a direct flight reaches Zagora in the deep south. On arrival, you are driven straight into the desert. So the final 90 minutes run off-road, over dunes into the great unknown. That evening, take camels out at sunset, then return to camp for dinner. You stay at Azalai Camp in the Erg Chigaga, with en-suite tents and crisp linen.
The next morning, watch the golden sands shift colour as the sun rises. Then drive back to Zagora and the Azalai Lodge, perhaps with a swim on arrival. The town is a throwback to times gone by, once home to a sizeable Jewish community. For the active, a three-hour climb of Jebel Zagora rewards you with sweeping views. Afterwards, you head north along the beautiful Draa Valley. So you stop at Tinzouline for its famous dates, then an artisan maker of date jam at Timidarte. Lunch, meanwhile, is at a classic caravanserai oasis in Agdz.
Next comes Skoura, where Saharan goods were once transferred to mules for the mountains. So the town has a vast palmeraie and picture-perfect mud-brick kasbahs. It is worth a couple of nights, if only to break the journey. Here you can walk, relax, or take a day trip into the Dades Gorge. You stay at Les Jardins de Skoura, an idyllic spot by the pool.
Then you head into the Atlas, pausing at the stunning Aït Benhaddou. This red mud-brick ksar clings to the hillside, as seen in countless films. The drive over the mountains takes about four hours. You then spend two nights at Kasbah Bab Ourika, with day walks to local villages.
Finally, it is just an hour down to Marrakech, where those Saharan merchants once came to trade. So the city makes a fitting close to a desert journey. On your first day, simply relax. The next, head out with a private guide to explore the medina and souks. You stay at the lovely Dar Zemora.
Naturally, the camps and hotels are a real part of the adventure. First, Azalai Camp puts you among the dunes. Then Azalai Lodge and Les Jardins de Skoura bring oasis comfort. Later, Kasbah Bab Ourika delivers the mountains. Finally, Dar Zemora rounds things off in Marrakech.
Generally, spring and autumn are ideal for the desert and valleys. By contrast, high summer is extremely hot in the south. Winter, meanwhile, brings crisp days and cold desert nights. So we tailor the timing to your plans. Either way, we advise on the ideal window for your dates.
Nothing quite matches a night in the dunes. So you watch the sun set from a camel, then dine under the stars. Meanwhile, the silence of the desert is profound. At dawn, the sands glow gold once more. As a result, it is the emotional heart of the trip.
The drive north traces old trading routes. So you pass palmeraies, ksour and mud-brick kasbahs. At Skoura and Agdz, the past feels close at hand. Meanwhile, Aït Benhaddou crowns the journey. As a result, history accompanies you the whole way.
As ever, this is only a starting point. So we shape the pace, the camps and the hotels to suit. In the end, the trip is entirely your own.
Above all, this suits travellers craving adventure and space. For example, it is ideal for a second trip to Morocco. Equally, it rewards anyone drawn to wild landscapes. Couples and small groups enjoy it most.
In the end, this trip lingers in the memory. So the dunes and kasbahs stay with you long after. Meanwhile, the comforts make the distances a pleasure. As a result, it is Morocco at its most adventurous.
Very much so. The tents have en-suite bathrooms, hot showers and proper beds. So you enjoy the romance of the desert without roughing it.
There are some long but scenic drives, broken by stops and overnights. So the journey itself becomes part of the adventure.
Generally, spring and autumn are most comfortable. We will advise on timing for your dates.
Entirely. The pace, the camps and the hotels are all shaped around you. Simply share your dates and interests, and we will craft the rest.
| £2500P.P |
|---|
| Days | Location | Hotel |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Casablanca | Four Seasons Casablanca |
| Day 2 | Erg Chigaga Dunes | Azalai Camp |
| Day 3-4 | Zagora | Azalai Lodge |
| Day 5-6 | Skoura | Les Jardins De Skoura |
| Day 7-8 | Ourika Valley | Kasbah Bab Ourika |
| Day 9-10 | Marrakech | Dar Zemora |
| Day 11 | Marrakech Airport | Fly Home |
Fly into Casablanca, with a VIP meet-and-assist through immigration. Collect your bags, then transfer privately to the Four Seasons Casablanca.
Take a private transfer to the airport for your flight to Zagora. On arrival, drive south to M’Hamid, then leave the tarmac for an off-road journey to Azalai Camp, about four hours. After a mint tea, set out on a sunset camel ride, then return to camp.
Get up early for the incredible sunrise, then enjoy breakfast before driving back from the dunes to Zagora, about four hours, for a two-night stay at the Azalai Lodge.
Today is left at leisure, as the town is easy to explore independently. We can, however, provide a private guide if you wish.
Drive north along the stunning Draa Valley, four to five hours. Stop first at Tinzouline to visit a date farm, then Timidarte for an artisan maker of date jam and syrup. Lunch is at Agdz, a lovely caravanserai oasis, before continuing to Les Jardins de Skoura.
Your time here is flexible. Generally, we suggest a day reading beside the pool. However, you might take a half-day drive to see the Dades Gorge.
Drive over the Atlas Mountains, about four hours, stopping first at the incredible Aït Benhaddou, a fortified village seen in countless films. Then continue to the Ourika Valley and Kasbah Bab Ourika.
For walkers, we can arrange a trek during your stay at Bab Ourika. That said, you might simply want to put your feet up.
Drive down to Marrakech, about an hour, then spend the day at leisure.
Head out with a private guide to explore the medina and souks. We can arrange a full-day tour or a few hours in the afternoon, leaving you flexibility to explore independently.
Head to the airport for your flight home.
We can tweak and change any element of this itinerary and you can depart on any day you want, add nights here and there, and we can fully customise your day-to-day experiences depending on your interests. Here are just a few ideas of many that we can look at and discuss when we come to plan your tailor-made itinerary.
Firstly, we can certainly extend any element of our Desert Adventure to Morocco. For example, some guests like to continue onto the beaches of the Atlantic Coast to conclude their time in Morocco. Secondly, you can include the great city of Fez and also the dunes around Merzouga in the itinerary. In other words, any variation of this itinerary is possible!
Explore the bustling souks of Marrakech, the breathtaking scenic beauty and Berber villages of the Atlas Mountains and the sleepy fishing town of Essaouira. In short, this brief taste of Morocco is an ideal first visit to this vibrant country.
Fez and Marrakech are undeniably Morocco’s most iconic and evocative cities, packed with all the magical charm that makes Morocco so mesmerising. This itinerary allows you an immersive experience of both, and additionally, some gentle R&R in the mountains to conclude your trip.
Combine the bustling souks of colourful Marrakech before experiencing the timeless Berber culture and stunning views in the High Atlas Mountains.
Marrakech makes for a beautiful long weekend from any European city. With five days, you will have plenty of time to both explore and relax. The weather is perfect in the winter, and you can also immerse yourself in a fascinating culture.
A trekking holiday in the Atlas Mountains allows you to walk through timeless Moroccan Berber villages and along dramatic scenic valleys overlooked by the towering peaks. You’ll be staying in the best possible lodges and boutique hotels.
We arrange totally bespoke trips and design an itinerary that is designed around you. You may have seen a suggested itinerary that we can base your plans around, or we can start with a blank sheet and paper and design something from scratch. You can leave a phone number and suggest a time to call you back, and we can also arrange to do this during the evenings or at weekends if you are busy during the daytime. We can also meet up with you in you fancy a coffee and are based in and around London.