10-Day Morocco Cultural Trek from Marrakech with Erg Chebbi and Dades

Arrival at Marrakech airport and accommodation at Hotel Riad Mulay Said 3***.

Overnight in Marrakech.

Visit the city of Marrakech.

Overnight stay in Marrakech at Hotel Riad Mulay Said 3***.

After breakfast, depart towards the Tichka Pass (2260 m), the highest road in Morocco. Enjoy magnificent panoramic landscapes of green oak and pine forests, with beautiful Berber villages clinging to the rock walls to protect themselves from floods.

After the Tichka Pass, we descend into the semi-arid areas of southern Morocco.

Lunch in Ouarzazate, then continue past the date palm grove of Skoura, Kelaa, and the Mgouna Fortress, before reaching the Dades Valley with its beautiful kasbahs.

In the late afternoon, arrival at Ait Youl in Dades. Accommodation with a family. (326 km)

Once we reach our new means of transport, the mules, we begin the trek in the Dades Valley. We pass many terraces planted with corn, barley, and roses along the Wadi Dades, in the heart of the valley.

We then leave this beautiful valley, crossing a dry and arid area to finally reach the green valley of Ouzighimt.

Lunch in the village of Ighrem N'Aqdim, then departure for the village of Aguerzaka.

Water is abundant in the shade of the gorge, and we are forced to walk in the water, so suitable footwear is recommended.

Duration: 5 hours on foot.

We leave this green valley with its beautiful gorge and kasbahs, climbing 200 m uphill to the pass that leads through a juniper forest into another valley.

Once again, we encounter a beautiful village with hundreds of characteristic houses.

Lunch in the Ameskar Tahtani Valley, then continue on a good trail through villages to Alemdoune (1700 m).

Bivouac at the entrance of the Assif n'Ouguiti gorge, outside the village where the Valley of Roses begins.

Duration: 5 hours on foot.

A leisurely descent into the valley, occasionally crossing narrow gorges surrounded by oleanders.

Then, suddenly, the beautiful kasbah village of Amejgag appears before us.

Lunch by the river near the village of Aznag.

You cross the small ford to reach the village of Boutaghrar.

We spend the night with a family from Moulay.

Duration: 5 hours on foot.

We are in the heart of the Valley of Roses.

We reach the valley where we camped on day 3. The kasbahs are numerous, and the rose fields emerge around the cereal crops of barley, corn, and potatoes.

These rose fields are completely fenced to prevent access by sheep and goats, and they are used for the production of rose water.

We then descend to Ait Said Hdida, where we set up camp.

Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes on foot.

After breakfast, we leave the Valley of Roses and travel by air-conditioned minibus towards the great Moroccan dunes along the road of a thousand kasbahs.

Visit the Todra Gorges, have lunch in Tinejdad, and then pass through Rissani before reaching Merzouga for dinner and an overnight stay in a kasbah at the foot of Erg Chebbi. (240 km) Hotel Palais des Dunes.

After breakfast, depart for the Draa Valley and Ouarzazate, passing through Alnif and Tzarine. Lunch in Nkob, then continue to Ouarzazate.

Visit the Ksar of Aït Benhaddou in the afternoon, followed by dinner and an overnight stay in a riad in Aït Benhaddou. (315 km)

After breakfast, depart for Marrakech via the Tichka Pass, with lunch during the transfer.

During the first part of the journey, we travel through the Oumila Valley with its picturesque mountain villages and stop to visit the Ksar of Telouet.

Arrival in Marrakech in the late afternoon, followed by dinner and an overnight stay at Hotel Riad Mulay Said 3***. (370 km)