9-Day Sahara Caravan Trail from Marrakech

Your private driver/guide and guide will pick you up from Casablanca / Marrakech airport. If you get down at Casablanca, you can explore this beautiful city that’s situated at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, and visit the world’s fifth-largest mosque, the Hassan II Mosque. From there, you can explore the Place des Nations Unies, where you can have a sumptuous meal and indulge in some shopping. Depending upon your fatigue, you can either leave for Marrakech today or tomorrow.

Today morning, you will be treated to a good breakfast at your hotel. From there, you will be taken an explorative journey to explore the second eldest imperial cities of Morocco, Marrakesh, a lively, colourful city, Marrakesh is defined by its old medina and souqs, which lattice the centre and resound with the hum of craftsmanship and the tantalising aroma of exotic spices. At the heart of the medina is the Djemaa El Fna, an open space which comes alive at night with entertainers and soothsayers amid the food stalls. Over its turbulent history the city has fallen in and out of favour with the ruling sultans, but its function as a trading place has continued regardless. Rising above this activity are proud reminders of the city’s past in the towering minarets, ornate tombs and cavernous palaces. These are encircled by ochre ramparts, shaded beneath palms and framed by the distant backdrop of the Atlas Mountains. Marrakesh’s many gardens offer a haven of tranquillity in this busy city. The best known of these is the Majorelle Garden, where vibrant plants surround a striking cobalt-blue Art Deco pavilion.

Today, you will visit the famous Majorelle Gardens. These gardens were built by French architect and designer Jacques Marjorelle, and feature beautiful landscapes and exotic plants. Later in the day, you can indulge in a cookery course at La Maison Arabe and learn some native dishes.

The driver will take you from Marrakech to Skoura. On the way, you will pass the Berber village of Telouet, and then the famous Saharan ksar town of Ait Ben Haddou, which's used for many scenes in Gladiator; the town’s stunning cinematic location against the snow-capped mountain backdrop making it perfect for the silver screen. Michael Douglas was also here for Jewel of the Nile, flying a plane into a specially built archway that remains part of Ait Ben Haddou today. The town has also been used to film parts of popular TV show Game of Thrones. Close by there is a large film studio at Ouarzazate, which has drawn the international film industry to the area for films like Babel and The Mummy. Morocco’s desert has been used to represent other Middle Eastern areas. Continue to Skoura Oasis, which lies astride the route from Ouarzazate to the Sahara and is a town typical of those in the Dades Valley. The modern town offers little to detain the visitor, but the palm plantations are crisscrossed by paths that run by old pisé walls, starting to crumble, up to kasbahs in an equally ruinous condition. The whole effect is quite beautiful and if you are going to break your journey anywhere in the Dades Valley, Skoura is a good place to do so.

In the morning, your driver will take you to the grand sand dunes of Erg Chebbi, situated in the Saharan Desert. In the evening, you will witness the stunning sight of the sun setting over the sand dunes. Keep your DSLRs handy! At night, you will indulge in a typically Moroccan experience where you camp in a luxury desert tent and watch the shimmering stars in the night sky. Gazing into the starscape is considered by many as an occasion that one rarely forgets. It is serene and relaxing.

Today, we will drive through the Draa Valley, which boasts a significant role in the history of the south of Morocco, lying as it does at the confluence of the three major southern oasis valleys – the Draa, the Dades and the Ouarzazate. Extensive fortifications built by successive sultans trying to dominate and control this traditionally subversive region have come and gone, the pisé walls washed away in sporadic rains. In Ouarzazate, you will visit the Hollywood of Africa! It’s the place where countless movies have been shot, right from the Lawrence of Arabia to The Mummy. Along the way to Ouarzazate, you will be able to see the beautiful sights of Dades Valley and the Todra Gorge, which is a series of limestone river canyons. You can spend the day checking out film studios and click some photos on the sets!

Today is the day to leave for High Atlas Mountains. The high Atlas Mountains are Africa’s premier destination for serious mountaineers and beginner trekkers alike. They are very close to both Casablanca and Marrakech and invite lakhs of tourists every year for experiencing the beautiful sights of mountain peaks and passes. Depending upon the season, you can witness snow, the radiant sun, or even flowing river valleys!

Today, you will leave for a small half-day hike through the Ouirgane Valley. The Ouirgane Valley trip brings forth stunning views of red sands and green lands. On the way, you will also pass a Berber village where you can mingle with the natives. Have a sumptuous lunch at one of the picnic spots, and return to your hotel to unwind at the poolside while enjoying the backdrop of Atlas Mountains.

You will be dropped back to Casablanca or Marrakech depending upon your preference, from where you can take a flight back home after an incredible Moroccan adventure!