10 / 14 Day Imperial City, Coast, Desert & Mountain Tour

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Throughout this Imperial City, Coast, Desert & Mountain Tour you will be immersed in Berber and Arab cultures mingling with African ways of life which are closely tied to ancient traditions. You will visit souks (markets), Imperial cities and World Heritage sites. As well as Kasbahs, palaces, Berber villages and Roman ruins. Your accommodation will see you staying in medina riads and ancient kasbahs and much more.

You will be exploring some of the most interesting sites in this land of amazing and complex history and visit exotic Marrakech before heading across the High Atlas mountains to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou, also known as the gateway to Sahara. There may be opportunity to drive off road through the volcanic Saghro Massif to the heart of the Sahara desert and camel trek to spend the night in the Erg Chebbi dunes watching the sunset over the tallest sand dune in the Sahara Desert.

If you don’t want to complete all areas of this Imperial City, Coast, Desert & Mountain Tour you may want to consider our smaller tours that cover just part of this itinerary. You can choose from our popular 3 Day Sahara Tour, or a 7 Day Imperial City Tour or if you feel more adventurous you may want to consider one of our trekking tours in the High Atlas Mountains.

Whichever tour you choose you will be accompanied by a guide and driver who will make sure that all your needs are met and provide you with information on all of the different places you will visit. Bringing your camera is essential as you will want to capture these memories to look back on when you go home.

Trek Grading

Day 1: Marrakech

After you've settled into your accommodation, visit the Djemaa El Fna (main city square). The festival atmosphere brims with sounds of the orient, drummers, Berber and Gnaoua musicians, and snake charmers, storytellers and dancers perform illuminated by lamplight, wreathed in smoke. Food stalls offer feasts of fresh salads, harrira (lentil and bean soups) fried fish and chips (Moroccan style), beef and chicken kebabs, and even sheep's head

Day 2: Marrakech - Imlil - Azzaden Valley

After breakfast our driver will drive you up to the Atlas mountains (Imlil) where you will meet your muleteer team and start the trek from Imlil to Azzaden Valley

Day 3: Azzaden Valley - Tassa Ouirgane

Walk alongside the Azzaden Valley River, through the forests. You will pass through a number of Berber villages on your trek including Azerfsan and Tahilwin where you will see the Berber people going about their daily lives.

Day 4: Tassa Ouirgane - Taroudant

After breakfast you will walk for 2 hours then you will meet your transport and drive to Taroudant, a beautiful little walled city and market town, whose ramparts are similar to those of Marrakech, hence its nickname “Little Marrakech”. We you stop here, to explore the town and spend the night

Day 5: Taroundant - Essaouira

You will spend the morning exploring the medina of Taroudant and after lunch in Taroudant you will drive to Essaouira. Essaouria is one of Morocco’s most ancient and most charming fortified port towns, which for centuries, has not only been one of the most important trading ports linking Morocco to the world, but also a magnet for artists, poets and musicians from all over the world

Day 6: Essaouira

You will be free to roam the beautiful city of Essaouira and its enchanting fishing harbour. Essaouira is one of Morocco’s most ancient and most charming fortified port towns, which for centuries, has not only been one of the most important trading ports linking Morocco to the world, but also a magnet to artists, poets and musicians from all over the world. The town’s eclectic architecture reflects the influence of its multicultural history from the Phoenicians and the Romans, to the Portuguese and the French. Its whitewashed walls and blue shutters are reminiscent of Portuguese towns; its beautiful doorways are entirely Moroccan; while the medina and fortress, are a good example of 18th century French military architecture. It’s worth paying a visit to the Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah Museum, which displays ancient artefacts, as well as some fine marquetry examples crafted from local Thuya wood, and jewellery and carpets

Day 7: Essaouira - Sidi Kawki - Marrakech

After breakfast drive to Sidi kawki where we will have lunch and then drive to Marrakech for the night

Day 8: Marrakech - Dades Valley

First you will cross the spectacular Tizi n' Tichka Pass of the High Atlas Mountains. Your first stop will be to visit two Kasbahs, Ait Ben Haddou (a World Heritage site, which has been used as the location for over 20 different movies) and Kasbah Telouet. Driving between these two Kasbahs you will have another quick stop to take a look at the Salt Caves. After these stops you will drive onwards passing through many Berber villages, being able to observe the Skoura oasis, Kalaat Mâgouna, groves of spectacular olive trees and barren hillsides that are clustered with Kasbahs and traditional Berber houses. After lunch you will drive further to the Valley of the Roses, with beautiful views of the Dades Valley also known as the Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs

Day 9: Dades Valley - Todra Gorge- Merzouga - Erg Chigaga

You will travel to Todra Gorge, a massive fault that divides the enormous High Atlas Mountain range. The Gorge will take you to 300m above sea level and through a narrow valley, with palmeries and Berber villages. Your next stop will be the village of Arfoud, this is a famous area for fossils and you will have a chance to observe the process of cleaning and polishing the fossils and be able to see the finished products. After lunch you will head to the tiny village of Merzouga where, after a short break, you will ride camels into the incredible Erg Chebbi dunes – the highest dunes in Morocco. After the dunes it is a one and a half hour sunset camel ride to a traditional Berber meal and the opportunity to sleep under the stars (or in a tent if you prefer) at a Berber desert camp

Day 10: Erg Chigaga - Merzouga

Camel ride back to Merzouga or you can stay other night in Erg Chigaga

Day 11: Merzouga - Ouarzazate - Ait Ben Haddou

After viewing the most beautiful sunrise and having breakfast at the camp site you will ride the camels back to the Auberge. From there it will be a long day driving to Ait Ben Haddou. Ait Ben Haddou is a small town with one of the best-preserved and most sought-after Kasbah's to visit in all of Morocco. The Kasbah, a group of earthen buildings surrounded by high walls, is a traditional pre-Saharan habitat. The houses crowd together within the defensive walls, which are reinforced by corner towers. After a guided tour of the ancient settlement be sure to walk up to the high point on the hill above the Kasbah for particularly fine views

Day 12: Ait Ben Haddou - Marrakech

After breakfast you will start the drive back to Marrakech, again passing through the Tizi n' Tichka Pass

Day 13: Marrakech

We’ll take you to see the monuments and palaces of Marrakech on a full-day private tour. You’ll enjoy the city’s historical gardens and the artists and entertainers at Djemaa el-Fna square and experience the exotic atmosphere of the medinas and souks. Places of interest include Djemaa El-Fna, The Souks, Koutoubia Mosque, Saadian Tombs, Dar Si Said Musuem, El Bahia Palace, El Badi Palace and The Menara Gardens

Day 14: Marrakech

Last minute shopping opportunities before your flight home

What’s Included

Return private transport from Marrakech
English speaking guide (other languages can be catered for)
9 / 13 nights accommodation in hotels / Berber tents
Breakfast
All meals in the High Atlas Mountains
Dinner in the Sahara Desert
Muleteer Team in the Mountains
Camel hire

What’s Not Included

Flights
Lunches and Dinners (except for in the mountains)
Beverages & Bottled Water
Entrance Fees
Tips

The Price will vary depending on

Special offers
Age of participants
Number of participants
Length of tour requested
Type of hotel requested

Departures

Available all year round

All prices are based on a minimum of 2 people on the tour.