Treks & Bivouacs

Exotic Moroccan Valley of the Roses
- 8 days

Marrakesh, Dades Gorge, Merzouga/Erg Chebbi, Ouarzazate, Marrakesh

8 days and 7 nights

All meals, accommodation, 4WD, petrol, mule and camel rides included

Eight day trekking adventure by mule, camel and 4WD, off road and cross country, experience first hand the Berber and nomadic life, accompanied by local tribal berber guides.  

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Map data ©2022 Inst. Geogr. Nacional

ITINERARY

  • Morning departure from your hotel/riad in Marrakesh at 8am and cross the High Atlas Mountains over Tizi-n-Tichka, the highest mountain pass in Africa: elevation of 2,260 metres (7,415 ft). We continue to the Dades Gorge, a gorge carved by the Dades River separating the High Atlas and Low Atlas mountains. Stopping at the picturesque Oasis of Skoura and visiting the stunning Kasbah Amridil. From here we travel through Kela’a M’gouna, the Valley of Roses, where we stop to see a women’s cooperative of the rose perfumed cosmetics locally-made from the valley’s abundant roses. These products are well-known throughout Morocco and are highly valued. You stop in the Dades gorge in a hotel by the river for the night.

  • After breakfast, we begin a trek of three days and two nights in the Dades Gorge and the surrounding terrain. Local mules carry our luggage and equipment for the trek. The pace and distance of each portion of the trek is set by the hikers, allowing time to stop as and when needed. You will either spend one night with a Berber family or in camp and the other higher up in the mountain caves with Berber nomads who tend their goats in the mountain fields.

  • In the morning, we walk back to the hotel to freshen up with a shower. On our way to Merzouga, we visit the Todgha Gorge, a series of limestone river canyons, or wadi and then stop for lunch at the city of Rissani. After lunch we continue driving to the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga. We stop for dinner and the night in either a hotel or in the bivouac.

  • In the morning, a two hour camel ride across the great sand dunes of the Sahara, is scheduled, stopping to prepare lunch among the dunes. After a scenic lunch, another two hour camel ride to reach the high dunes of Erg Chebbi. From here, at 250m, the sunset is a spectacular sight. After descending the high dunes we have dinner and spend the night in a bivouac at the foot of the dunes.

  • Early birds can watch the spectacle of the majestic sunrise where the colour of the dunes and the play of shadows are an awesome sight. After breakfast we drive back east towards the Dra’a Valley via the villages of Tazzarine (featured in the film ‘Babel’) and stopping at N’Kob for lunch. We then drive to Tanasikht, along the track of the ancient caravan route, reaching the Dra’a valley, full of large palm trees and ancient Kasbahs in Agdz for a scenic stop. The road then crosses the Tizi-n-Tinfifite pass to Ouarzazate and the night in a riad or hotel.

  • After breakfast, we visit Kasbah Taourirt which was the residence of the Pasha of Marrakesh and the cinema studios of Ouarzazate. The day continues with a visit to Ait ben Haddou. This is the most famous Kasbah in Morocco and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Many films have been shot in Ait Ben Haddou including Gladiator, Prince of Persia and parts of the series Game of Thrones. From there the road continues to Telouet. This kasbah is set right in the midst of the mountains and was once the seat of the last Pasha of Marrakesh, El Glaoui. We then return north over the Tizi-n-Tichka pass to reach our destination of Marrakesh in the early evening. Optionally taking you to the airport or your accommodation.