4 Day Atlas Mountain Sahara Tour

Day 1: Marrakech – Atlas Mountains – Imlil

Departure by car from Marrakech around 8h in the morning for 1h20 drive south up the Moulay Brahim Gorges, Asni weekly market every Saturday, then to Agersioual (1,600m), set in the upper-level foothills of the Western High Atlas mountains, Here you will leave the Vehicle and meet your local guide prior to setting out for some 12km excursion. towards the East to the Berber village of AIkkiss (1,700m), Over Tizi n Aguersioual pass (2200m). Lunch will be inside a Berber Home (or by the river) then carry on walking up the Imnane valley then over Tizi n Tamter pass (2779m), From here one can view the two valleys, down into the Imlil Valley and back down to the Imnane valley. Another 1h30 trek down from here will take you to the village of Imlil where you will enjoy an evening meal in the charming Guesthouse. 1h20 drive and 6hours walking.

Day 2: Imlil – Ait Benhaddou Kasbah – Ouarzazate Film Studios – Dades Valley

You will be picked up from your accommodation in Imlil at 9.00 am and head out over the Atlas Mountains, driving over the stunning Tizi-n-Tichka mountain pass. You’ll pass through lots of Berber villages, and once you’re in the desert, you’ll see riverside oases and barren hillsides dotted with kasbahs (fortified dwellings that house families and their livestock). Along the way, you will have the option either to take a break and visit the Ouarzazate Film Studios. A side trip is possible to Ait Benhaddou. This is an ancient fortified city containing countless kasbahs and has been the atmospheric subject of numerous Hollywood movies (The Mummy, Gladiator, Alexander, Lawrence of Arabia…) You will have the chance to walk around the buildings and explore with your guide. Once you reach Dades Gorge, you have the option of going for a hike ( this will depend on the season as this may not be possible in winter due to short days), or relaxing at your hotel. Overnight in Dades. (Total driving time 7hours).

Day 3: Dades Valley – Todra gorge – Merzouga

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer from the Dades Valley to Todra Gorge – a massive fault dividing the High Atlas mountains, rising up 300 meters in a narrow valley with palmery and Berber villages. Here, you can go for a hike to explore the palm grove, a green oasis full of large date palms. After lunch, you’ll head further into the desert to the gateway town of Merzouga to pick up supplies for your desert trip. You will then drive on to a kasbah to pick up your camel. At sunset, you’ll trek for an hour by camel to a Berber camp where you will enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner, and sleep under the stars ( summer) or in tents at a desert camp. (Total driving time 6hours ).

Day 4: Merzouga – Atlas Mountains – Marrakech

Wake up early, just prior to sunrise, we have a 1h camel ride at sunrise to explore the area further and we head back to Merzouga on our Camels. When we reach Merzouga, have breakfast & a shower, and then we begin our journey through the stony desert and over the Atlas mountains, with plenty of stops for photos, exploring, and lunch as we return to Marrakech. The usual arrival time in Marrakech is between 17:00hrs and 18:00hrs. (10h drive) (optional if you choose luxury desert camp you will have breakfast and shower in the camp).