Lawrence of Arabia

Morning departure from Ouarzazate to the Dades gorges and Todra gorges, passing the oasis of Skoura, where we stop to visit the kasbah of Amridil. From here, our route takes us through Kela’a M’gouna, the valley of roses for a coffee break. Afterwards, we drive off-road along the road of a thousand kasbahs to the Dades gorges for lunch. In the afternoon, there is time for a walk alongside the Dades river before continuing to the Todra gorges for the night in a riad.

After breakfast, there is time to walk a little in the Tinghir palm grove. The itinerary continues to Merzouga via the Ziz valley, the oasis of Tafilalet and arrive in Erfoud in time for lunch. In the afternoon, our trip continues to Merzouga for a camel ride to reach Erg Chebbi (250m). From the top of the dunes the sunset is spectacular. Dinner and night in a luxury desert camp.

After the sunrise and breakfast, we trek by dromedary for two days to discover the Sahara desert and its vast dunes with varying features of the desert; ‘erg’, ‘reg’, ‘hammada’, oases. After sunset, the third night will be spent either in a nomad tent or with a berber family. We walk back to the luxury camp on the fourth day by the afternoon for dinner and night.

Walking time during the trek is approximately 4 hours a day (2 hours in the morning, and the same again in the afternoon), although it is also possible to ride the camels. Other camels are there to carry the equipment. Meals and tents are prepared by our guides and camel drivers.

If you wake up early enough, you can watch the spectacle of the sunrise. After breakfast, the itinerary continues from Merzouga to the Dra’a valley via the villages of Rissani, Alnif, Tazzarine and N’Kob where we stop for lunch. In the afternoon, we drive along the ancient caravan route and the Draa valley, with its huge palm trees and ancient kasbahs. At the end of the afternoon, the town of Agdez offers dinner and a night’s rest.

After breakfast, there will be a visit to the kasbah of Tamnougalte before driving to Ouarzazate, via the Anti-Atlas and the mountain pass of Tizi-n-Tinfifte (1660m). Once in Ouarzazate, an unpaved track to the oasis of Fint where we stop for lunch. In the afternoon, we visit to the Atlas Film Studios and the kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou (the most famous kasbah in Morocco and the subject of many post-cards. This Kasbah sets the scene for many Hollywood blockbuster films, such as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, ‘Alexander’ and ‘The Gladiator’. It is one of the eight UNESCO World Heritage sites in Morocco and was elected as such in 1987). The return to your hotel in Ouarzazate will complete the trip at the end of the afternoon.