After breakfast we will leave Fez toward Merzouga passing through Ifran, known as the Switzerland of Morocco for its architecture and climate. You will be enchanted by the cedar forests of Azrou and its friendly monkeys. We will stop for lunch at Midelt and afterwards continue through the Middle Atlas Mountains and past the nomads that live there. The views are both spectacular and varied; thick forests, volcanic rock, soaring cliffs and valleys of palm trees. In the town of Erfoud, we will visit an amazing fossil factory and learn how they excavate, polish, and shape trilobites, orthoceras, ammonites, and other fossils into beautiful objects. We will continue on to Merzouga and the Dunes Luxury Camp at the foot of Sahara Desert dunes. Each tent is beautifully appointed and the entire camp is the ultimate in “glamping.” Tonight you will enjoy Berber food, listen to the drums under a starry night sky, and sleep in your gorgeous tent in peace and tranquility.

In the morning after breakfast, your excursion will start from the tents taking you through the sand-sea dunes near the Algerian border where you will have a chance to take photos and see the black volcanic rocks. We will also have the opportunity to meet a nomad family and learn about their nomadic lifestyle. We will pass close to tiny Berber villages, like Tamrdanite, before we reach Khamlia. In the tiny desert village of Khamlia, we will be treated to a performance of Gnawa music, a spiritual and hypnotic form of music that has been played for centuries by the black people who live here. Gnawa music is internationally recognized and is said to have healing properties.Along our short drive today, you will be enchanted with the view of the lake at Ait Sareji, especially In springtime, when it attracts pink flamingos and many other birds. We will return to the Camp for a rest and to get ready for your next adventure; camel trekking! You will ride these Ships of the Desert into the heart of the Sahara, witnessing a spectacular sunset through the dunes. Back at the Dunes Luxury Camp you will enjoy another night of Berber food and countless stars.

Set your alarm to wake up early this morning to enjoy the beautiful sunrise over the dunes! It is a moment not to be missed. Afterwards, enjoy a delicious breakfast before we continue our adventure by car to the city of Rissani, the former capital of the Alawite Sultans. Rissani was once an important market for caravans traveling the sub-Saharan region, and it is still an impressive market to visit today. We will take a walk through the local market and traditional souk. We will also see the ruins of Sijilmassa, the Moulay Ali Cherif Gate, and visit the mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif, where the father of the founder of the Alawite Dynasty is buried. This is a wonderful destination for those who wish to learn some of the history of the country, as well as visiting the Gate itself. We will stop in Tinjdad, where we will have lunch. We will continue on the road along the river until we reach the Gorges, where we will stop and walk through this magnificent natural structure with its incredibly high rock walls (up to 300 meters). This stunning place has been featured in many films. Later, we will pass through the Boumalne Du Dades, and there will be time to explore its rock formations often compared to human figures and monkey’s fingers. You will stay overnight in an authentic Moroccan riad, including bed and breakfast.

After your breakfast, we will depart for Marrakech. Our first stop will be Atlas Studios, the largest movie studio in the world and host to such famous films and television shows as Lawrence of Arabia, The Jewel of the Nile, The Mummy, Gladiator, The Man Who Would Be King, Vikings, Game of Thrones, and Aladdin, as well as several James Bond and Jason Bourne movies. We will then go on to visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the exotic Kasbah of Aït Benhaddou. We will drive through the Tizi N’ Tichka Pass while enjoying superb views of the High Atlas Mountains and Berber villages. We will stop along the way to have lunch in a Berber village called”Teddart” before your arrival in Marrakech.