Embark on a 5-day exploration of the cultures of Southern Morocco and the Sahara Desert.   En route to the Sahara, we will travel along ancient caravan roads, visit historic kasbahs and palaces, and will learn about local artisans.  The dramatic landscape transitions from mountains to gorges to oases and eventually to the desert.  We will spend two nights under the stars at a luxury desert camp, riding camels, hiking up dunes, and resting in the vast open space.  We will learn about traditional Bedouin (nomadic) cultures, have coffee as we watch the sunrise over the dunes, and have plenty of down time.  On the way back, we will visit an Amazigh carpet stronghold (the perfect place to buy a carpet) and visit a saffron plantation.  We will round out our trip by heading back through the mountains, where we will stop for lunch in a rose garden, and spend one last night in Marrakesh.  The following morning, guests will be transported back to the airport to catch departing flights.  

Since the Sahara Desert is very remote, we have carefully curated this trip in order to break up the driving.  This will allow us to see more of this fascinating region of Morocco while spending less time in the car each day.  Expect to spend about 5 hours each day driving and expect a range of accommodations on the road (from desert camp to budget hotel to full-service hotel).

Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination is required to book this trip.  

Your deposit is non-refundable. The remaining fees are fully refundable (minus any unrecoverable transaction fees) 91 days in advance. Cancellations 61 to 90 days in advance are eligible for a 50% refund of fees above the deposit. Payments made in the 60 days prior to the retreat are non-refundable. If you are able to find a replacement, we will refund your payment less your deposit and any non-recoverable fees. 

This policy exists because we need to ensure that we can meet financial obligations to our venues and in-country partners. This is why trip insurance is so helpful (and required)!

If the trip is canceled due to COVID-19 or other unforeseen circumstances, all payments, minus the deposit will be fully refunded. Deposits are transferrable to a rescheduled trip. 

To secure your spot, place a deposit; final payments will be due by August 15, 2022.

*The itinerary and daily schedules may change slightly.  Please inquire about payment plans as we are happy to make them available.    

Saturday October 22:

After an early breakfast at Bab Zouina, the excursion begins in a 4wd car crossing the Atlas Mountains along the Oued Zat. The road winds its way at the foot of traditional Amazigh villages built with mud bricks and surrounded by green terraces and majestic mountains. The colors of the landscape change after each turn until the arrival at the Tizi N Tichka pass (7,400 feet above sea level).

The descent to the South goes through Telouet, an old merchant hub on the salt road to Timbuktu. After lunch in the village and a visit to the Glaoui Palace (to admire the zellij and cedar woodwork of the princely salon), we will take the road to Aït Ben Haddou, a ksar listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will have dinner and stay a little further down the ancient caravan road, in Ouarzazate, at riad Dar Daif. This magnificent kasbah recreates the atmosphere of the caravanserais of yesterday, which offered freshness and rejuvenation to travelers. Their beautiful swimming pool is at your disposal. 

Route: 125 miles, 4 hours and 30 minutes drive time

Sunday October 23:

After a nice breakfast on one of Dar Daif's terraces, we will drive down the Draa valley to Zagora and Tamegroute where we will visit the pottery makers famous for their unique green color and the old 17th-century library that houses important religious and scientific manuscripts. We will then continue south to reach, through the desert, the camp at the feet of the Chegaga dunes (the most impressive in Morocco). 

Watch the sunset over the dunes and admire the vastness of space around you. After dinner, enjoy traditional Bedouin music around the campfire and be mesmerized by the Sahara's clear, dark, starry night sky. 

Route: 180 miles, 5 hours drive including desert track

Monday October 24:

Wake up at dawn to admire the sun rising behind the sand dunes. Enjoy a nomadic breakfast, a ride on a camel, and a walk on the highest dunes of Morocco. It is a beautiful adventure and an opportunity to experience unforgettable moments in the wilderness of the desert. Spend a second night at the camp.

Optional afternoon journal writing workshop and Yoga Nidra under the stars!

Tuesday October 25:

After our nomadic experience, we will drive through the dry lake of Iriki to Fum Zguid and to the village of Taznakht, a stronghold of Amazigh carpets on the southern slope of the Atlas Mountains. We will then head towards Taliouine, to visit a saffron plantation and learn about ancient saffron collection techniques. Each gram of this red gold requires 200 flowers.  Dinner and lodging at Auberge le Safran.

Route: 190 miles, 5 hours drive including desert track

Wednesday October 26:

After our Moroccan breakfast, we will take the road North through Tizi N Test pass. Along the way, look around for typical southern Moroccan architecture and gorgeous valleys starting from an arid region and eventually reaching the High Atlas Mountains. We pass through Tinmel, a mountain village that was once the cradle of the Amazigh Almohad Empire. Its well-known mosque is a model of the Almohad art of the 12th century. We will stop for lunch in Ouirgane at the beautiful Domaine de la Roseraie. Afterward, we will continue our journey back to Marrakesh, where we stay for one last night.

Route: 240 miles, 5 hours drive

Thursday October 27:

After breakfast in the heart of the medina of Marrakesh, participants will be transferred to the airport in a timely manner to check-in for their return flight.