Desert Therapy
A five-day immersion that takes you to the Sahara for an unforgettable adventure: contemplating nature and the starry sky over the desert dunes, experiencing flavours and dancing to the sound of tars, derbaques and qraqebs.
Discover yourself experiencing the hidden charms of southern Morocco!
- Private tour with Berber guide speaking portuguese, spanish or english.
- Breakfast and dinner included in the desert.
- Accommodation in haimas (nomadic tents) with themed dinner.
- Accommodation in riads and hotels with breakfast and dinner included.
- Visit to the Rose Harvest Festival (in May).
- Visit to argan oil and carpet cooperatives.
- Visit to UNESCO Heritage sites.
Recommended months for this tour: from May to the first half of June, depending on your interest in picking roses and sand bath.
Route description
Day 1 - From Marrakech to Dades Gorges
Meet at the hotel or airport at 8:30am for departure to the Dades Gorges on the Tizi n’Tichka, a road in the High Atlas Mountains with an elevation of 2,260 m.
Along the way, enjoy the view of the villages of Tizi Ait Barka and Taddart Oufella.
Stop at Kasbah Amridil, a fort in the Skoura Oasis.
Proceed to the famous Valley of Roses, Kalaat M’Gouna and visit to the cooperative of products based on the precious Damascus rose, such as essential oil, perfumes, floral water and lotions.
Moussem des Roses is the harvest festival that usually takes place on the second weekend of may for three days. One of the highlights of this festival is the Queen of Rose´s coronation and the parade of floats. Another interesting stop is the local market with the crafts from the tribes that attend the event.
Dinner and accommodation in the Dades Gorges.
Day 2 - From Dades Gorge to Merzouga
After breakfast, drive along the Dades road towards the famous Todra Gorges, located on the eastern side of the High Atlas, the entire region that belongs to the Route of the Thousand Kasbahs. Stop at the Berber village of Ait Aissa Ou Brahim.
Heading to Malaab, stop at the famous fossil city Erfoud.
Arrival at the city of Merzouga in the late afternoon for a unique experience of enjoying the sunset on a dromedary ride over the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi, one of the two great erects (set of dunes) of the Sahara desert.
Dinner and accommodation in authentic haimas. Enjoy the night and contemplate the beautiful and constellated desert night sky.
Day 3 - Mezourga
After a typical breakfast, visit to the nomadic villages, Khamlia and the Mines of Mfis, knowing for the extraction of the galena ore, composition of the famous khol for the eye area (an important device for women and men to protect the eye from strong sunlight. Nowadays khol is produced with other natural substances as galena contains lead).
As extra activities, we suggest a medicinal sand bath, four wheelers rides through the dunes of Erg Chebbi (a large set of Sahara dunes) or enjoy the hospitality of the cozy Hotel Nomad Palace.
Dinner and accommodation at the hotel.
Day 4 - From Merzouga to Ouarzazate
After breakfast, a special stop at the most important souk in the desert, at Rissani´s city. A local market full of spices, shawls, babuchas, ceramics and more.
Following the route of the desert peoples through the Draa River valley and its Thousand Kasbahs, enjoy stops at Alnif and Tazzarine Oasis, home to the famous henna.
The Draa is a unique watercourse. In the 10th century, it was the longest river in Morocco, traversing a 390 km path from the High Atlas to the south, through the region that today borders Algeria, until it flows into the Atlantic. In a thousand years, due to strong climate changes, part of its water infiltrates the sands of the desert and follows its course underground to the ocean. Its valley is fertile, where date palms, cereals, vegetables, henna and various species of fruit trees such as tamarinds, laurels and acacias are cultivated.
Upon arrival in Ouarzazate, we suggest as an extra activity a visit to the Atlas and Cla Studio cinemas. Dinner and accommodation in a riad/hotel in the city.
Day 5 - From Ouarzazate to Marrakech
After breakfast, visit the Telouet and Ait Ben Haddou Kasbahs.
Ait Ben Haddou is a fortified city declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and has been the setting for several movie productions such as “Lawrence of Arabia”, “Gladiator”, “The Last Temptation of Christ” and “Game of Thrones”.
Heading to busy and colorful Marrakech, stop to discover the cooperative of women weavers in the desert and their beautiful tapestry.
On the way, take the opportunity to take panoramic photos of the clay villages.
Ending this beautiful immersion into Moroccan culture with Karfa Tours in Marrakech. It is our wish that it was an unforgettable experience.
In Marrakech, we suggest two free days for cultural and gastronomic immersion.