Escape to the Sahara Tour - March 15 - March 25, 2019

Marrakesh, Morocco

JM
Jamillah Muhammad
  • Email address verified
Mar 15 - 25, 2019
Group size: 6 - 10
Escape to the Sahara Tour - March 15 - March 25, 2019
Marrakesh, Morocco

Jamillah Muhammad
  • Email address verified

Mar 15 - 25, 2019
Group size: 6 - 10

About this trip

Come join us as we spend an incredible 10 days exploring the souks, squares and shops of Marrakech, before hopping into our desert 4x4s to enjoy the beautiful scenery as we make our way through the High Atlas Mountains. We'll be exploring the ancient desert cities of Ouarzazate, Skoura and Zagora that serve as the gateway to the vastness of the Sahara. We'll explore ancient palaces, centuries old libraries, crumbling kasbahs, meet nomadic tribes and then make our way across the sahara to the desert camps of Chegaga and Merzouga, before heading back to Marrakech. 

What’s included

  • 2 Airport transfers
  • Meals
    3 meals per day (except travel day to/from Marrakech from home country.)
  • Accommodation
    Locally owned beautiful accommodation while on the tour.
  • Transportation
    Private transportation while on the tour
  • Guides
    Private guided tours
  • Entry Fees
    Entry into historic sites, museums and gardens

What’s not included

  • Airfare
  • All tips
  • Alcohol
  • Souvenirs
  • Free Days
    Activities or food on free days, Transfers/transportation for activities on free days
  • Travel insurance

Available Packages

Double Occupancy Room
$2,195
Deposit: $500
Single Occupancy Room
$2,595
Deposit: $500


Itinerary

Moroccan Sahara Tour
Inspired Wandering - Architecture Tour of Marrakech and the Sahara

Day 1 -  Arrivals at Marrakesh airport (RAK) and transfer to the beautiful Riad where we'll stay during our time in Marrakech. We will enjoy dinner together in the Riad (Traditional Moroccan house), relax and get settled in.

Day 2 - After breakfast, we'll take a private tour of the old medina, souks and historic monuments. We'll stop for lunch before taking some time for shopping in the Medina. We’ll travel to Jardin Majorelle, created by French painter Jacques Majorelle and renovated by Yves Saint Laurent, in the afternoon. After the gardens we will have dinner back at the Riad.

Day 3 - After breakfast, we will bid farewell to Marrakesh for a few days. Traveling comfortably in 4x4s to Ouarzazate, where we'll stop for lunch at Ait Ben Haddou. Traveling along the scenic High Atlas Mountains, passing through Tich’n’Tichka at an altitude of 2260 meters, we experience the beauty of the valleys that surround lie below. We will stop in Telouet for the visit of Kasbah Pacha Glaoui. Located on the old caravan trade route, this gorgeous Kasbah was the seat of power for the Glaoui family in the 18th and 19th centuries. We will continue to our final spot of the day in Skoura where we'll have dinner. We’ll spend the night at a beautiful Kasbah (old fortress), that will give us a glimpse into life in rural southern Morocco.

Day 4 - After breakfast in the Kasbah, we’ll explore Skoura by hiking the track of the Palmeraie before hopping back in the vehicles and heading to our next stop, Zagora. We’ll enjoy lunch enroute to Zagora and once in Zagora visit the old Ksar (Palace) of adobe, Amzerou dating back five centuries. After a day of exploring, we’ll head to our final stop of the day in Zagora and spend the night.  

Day 5 - After breakfast, we’ll leave Zagora for the vast palm grove of the Draa Valley. Continuing on, we'll cross the palm groves of the Draa Valley. We will stop along the way for a quick desert picnic (weather permitting) before the real fun begins and we begin our 4x4 adventure to the sand dunes, crossing the Sahara to our home in Chegaga for the night. The desert camp is where we’ll enjoy a camel ride, free time to enjoy the sand dunes, sunset, dinner and traditional music.

Day 6 - After breakfast we’ll say goodbye to the Chegaga and make our way to Merzouga.

4x4 adventure to the sand dunes continues, crossing the Sahara to our home in Merzouga for the night. The desert camp is where we’ll enjoy a camel ride, free time to enjoy the giant sand dunes, sunset, dinner and traditional music.

Day 7 - Before breakfast we’ll wake to watch the sunrise over the sand dunes, a truly magical sight to see. After breakfast we’ll travel to see prehistoric rock drawings, common in the Sahara and stop for traditional music with a tribe from sahara. The tribe’s members are descendants of western African people who travel into the Sahara via the Timbuktu caravan route into Morocco. After enjoying time with them we will stop for lunch in Touroug and spend the night in Ouarzazate in a traditional Riad.

Day 8 - After breakfast we will explore Ouarzazate, known as a gateway to the Sahara Desert and has been featured in several movies. We’ll visit the fortified red-earth city of Aït Ben Haddou, which was used in the filming of the third season of Game of Thrones. We’ll enjoy lunch before saying goodbye to the desert and going directly back to Marrakech for dinner. Spending the night in the Riad where we began our adventures.

Day 9 - We will escape the city for a day tour to of the three valleys that lie at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. We'll depart for Ourika where we'll see a number of Berber villages. We'll continue on to the village of Siti-Fars where we will enjoy a traditional breakfast. After breakfast we'll drive through the Atlas Mountains to Plateau Kik, which is a beautiful area surrounded by green fields in the winter months. We'll stop for lunch at Agrgor and stop to see the dam at Lalla Takerkoust. Afterwards we'll head back to Marrakech.

Day 10 - Free day, time for shopping in Marrakech, We’ll enjoy a free day to roam, have lunch in the big square, Jemma El Fna. On our final night together, we’ll enjoy a beautiful dinner together.

Day 11 - Sadly, we'll say our farewells and transfer to the Airport.

Price: $2195 double occupancy, $2595 single occupancy


What's included:

  • 2 Airport transfers
  • 3 meals per day (except travel day to/from Marrakech from home country.)
  • All accommodation while on the tour
  • Private transportation while on the tour
  • Private guided tours
  • Time for shopping
  • Entry into historic sites, museums and gardens
  • Fun, incredible experiences and lots of bonding time!

What's not included:

  • Airfare
  • All tips
  • Alcohol
  • Souvenirs
  • Activities or food on free days
  • Travel insurance
  • Transfers/transportation for activities on free days

A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to reserve your space. The remaining balance can be divided into 2 equal payments, with final payment due 2 months before the trip date. 

Cancellation Policy:

Your deposit and subsequent payments are a commitment and each payment becomes non-refundable at the time it is received. If you cancel prior to 2 months before the start of the trip and your reserved spot can be transferred to another person, we will refund any previous payments less the $500 deposit. No refunds or transfers will be available after your final payment.

*By registering for this trip with your deposit, you agree to the above Cancellation Policy and to purchase your own trip insurance.

Your Organizer


JM
Jamillah Muhammad
One of my greatest passions is travel, after being introduced to a different way of traveling by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, it's become my favorite thing to do. I love photography, great food, great design and art.