Nomadic Desert, Marrakech and Essaouira

After a hearty breakfast, we depart south. We'll stop in the town of Ifrane, known as the Little Switzerland of Morocco, which is notable for its Central European urban style, its cold winter climate (1,713 m), and its lion statue, which bears witness to the Middle Atlas lions that once lived there. We'll also pass through the town of Azrou, known for its cedar forests and the friendly monkeys that inhabit them. We'll spend the night in Midelt.

We will continue towards Merzouga, passing through various villages, towards Erfoud, passing through the famous Ziz Valley, where you can admire the contrast between the more arid landscape and the lushness of the Ziz River banks and its palm groves, and observe the daily life of the inhabitants who live along its banks. The Ziz River flows some 300 kilometers until it enters the Sahara Desert on the border with Algeria. At midday, we will arrive in Erfoud, known for its fossils and the wonderful desert roses, where we will have lunch. We will then continue to Merzouga, arriving in the afternoon. Merzouga is located right at the foot of the great dunes of the Sahara Desert, and those who wish can take a walk on the sand and watch the sunset. Overnight at the selected hotel.

We'll wake up overlooking the imposing Sahara Desert and visit the Merzouga oasis, as well as the village of Khamlia, home to the Gnawas (descendants of slaves from Black Africa), where we can enjoy their unique music. We'll then cross a sandy river and enjoy a panoramic view from a mountaintop overlooking the desert in all its splendor. We'll continue to the village of Mefis, where there was once a French settlement working in the khol mines, now abandoned. We'll visit a nomadic family in the middle of the dunes and enjoy their company over tea. We'll return to the hotel for lunch, and at sunset, we'll depart on camels for about an hour to spend the night in a Berber tent camp within the dunes.

After a night in the tents, we'll return to the hotel where we can shower and have breakfast. We'll begin the return journey to Marrakech, passing through the village of Rissani, where we can visit the local market, which was once a very important link for caravans traveling from north to south. We'll also see the Todra Gorges, where erosion has created a narrow gorge with vertical walls over 300 meters high, well-known among climbers. We can take a beautiful walk following the course of the river. We'll continue through the Valley of Roses, at the foot of the High Atlas, where the cultivation of the rose flower that gives it its name is divided into two zones. The largest stretches for 30 kilometers, starting in the village of Keelat M'Gouna and ending in Bou Tharar. The scenery is worthwhile, nestled in a canyon. Finally, we'll arrive in Ouarzazate, the film capital of Morocco, where we'll spend the night.

We'll wake up in Ouarzazate, Morocco's Hollywood, where we'll visit the film studios where numerous movies have been filmed, as well as the film museum and the Kasbah Taourirt, once the residence of the Pasha of Marrakech. We'll then continue to the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where several films such as The Mummy and Kingdom of Heaven have also been filmed. It was once a stopping place for caravans, allowing travelers to swap camels for horses and cross the mountains. We'll depart through the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech. Overnight in Marrakech.

After breakfast at the riad in Marrakech, we head to Essaouira, or the Pearl of the Atlantic. This city, declared a World Heritage Site, maintains the charm and authenticity of a land lost in time. Essaouira has become an essential stop on any trip to Morocco. Adventurous explorers will be fascinated by the hospitable friendliness of the city's people, which is no surprise given that they have lived for centuries at the crossroads of cultures, civilizations, and religions. Free afternoon to stroll through the medina. Overnight stay in Essaouira.