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Trip description
“Marrakech – Erg Chebbi” is a truly authentic to discover the south of the country. This route awakens us in Marrakech, a vibrant city brimming with color, artisans, and artists, with charming squares and aromas that will leave a lasting impression. From the city, we'll depart in a 4x4 towards the High Atlas Mountains, discovering breathtaking landscapes along the way, pausing to admire their beauty, chat with the villagers , and leisurely exploring their hidden villages and immense gorges. We'll leave the mountains to reach the Erg Chebbi desert, a spectacle for the senses, with its endless dunes and the magical aura that only truly special places possess, allowing us to spend an unforgettable night under the stars. The journey takes us through unique places like the town of Rissani, with its ancient market, among many others…
  • Duration
    5 nights / 6 days
  • Places
    Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Boulmane Dades, Tinerhir, Erfoud, Erg Chebbi, Merdani, Rissani, Errachidia
  • Airport
    Marrakech / Errachidia
  • Price
    See Details
  • Duration
    5 nights / 6 days
  • Places
    Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Boulmane Dades, Tinerhir, Erfoud, Erg Chebbi, Merdani, Rissani, Errachidia
  • Airport
    Marrakech / Errachidia
  • Price
    See Details
Day 1 of the itinerary
  • Departure from the airport of origin towards Marrakech.
  • Arrival in Marrakech (where, depending on the time of year, there may be a time difference).
  • Airport pickup and transfer to the Riad in the Medina or 5* Hotel.
  • Accommodation.
  • Depending on your arrival time, it is recommended to make your first contact with the Medina by visiting the incomparable Djemaa el-Fna Square.
  • Around this time, the square fills with reciters, fortune tellers, jugglers, tooth pullers, dancers, snake charmers , and much more…
  • As night falls, small, illuminated food stalls begin to appear outdoors, where you can sample their typical dishes.
  • Djemaa el-Fna: a living stage declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO
    was Djemaa el-Fna Square inscribed by UNESCO in 2001 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanitydue to its extraordinary concentration of oral tradition, gastronomy, music, dance, and folk arts. It is one of the few places in the world where professions such as storytelling, traditional herbalism, and Gnawa musicians performing outdoors still survive.
  • A complete change between day and night
    The square features two completely different lives:

    • By day: acrobats, snake charmers, fortune tellers, orange juice vendors, and healers.
    • At night: dozens of food stalls, musicians, street performers and large gatherings of local people.
    • This daily change of atmosphere is one of the most studied cultural phenomena in Marrakech.
  • Time difference: Morocco has a unique and variable time zone
    Morocco maintains UTC+1 for most of the year, but exceptionally switches to UTC+0 during Ramadan. This adjustment means that, depending on the time of year, there may be a time difference with the country of departure, even on short flights. Therefore, your arrival time in Marrakech may differ from the time in your country of origin.
Day 2 of the itinerary
  • This morning we will visit the Medina of Marrakech on foot with a local guide.
  • We will begin by admiring the Koutoubia Minaret, the twin of the Giralda of Seville, and continue by visiting the Bay Palace.
  • We will venture into the narrow streets of the Souk, where we will have the opportunity to see different artisans: weaving carpets, making slippers… and we can find an infinite variety of quality crafts.
  • We will visit a Berber pharmacy, where they will show us their "little secrets".
  • We will go out again to Djemaa el-Fna Square, where the atmosphere during the day is completely different from that at night.
  • In the afternoon, free time to practice the art of bargaining or discover the most hidden places of the Medina at our own pace.
  • Accommodation in a Riad in the Medina or a 5* Hotel.
  • The Koutoubia Mosque: the Almohad minaret that inspired the Giralda
    The Koutoubia Mosque, built in the 12th century, is the most representative example of Almohad architecture. Its minaret—69 meters high—served as a direct model for the Giralda in Seville and the Hassan Tower in Rabat, forming a unique architectural trio in the Western Islamic world.
  • The souks of Marrakech: one of the largest commercial labyrinths in North Africa
    The souks of Marrakech have been organized into traditional guilds since medieval times: dyers, carpenters, blacksmiths, basket weavers, leatherworkers, shoemakers, weavers… Many of these trades are passed down from parents to children, maintaining artisanal techniques that have barely changed for centuries. It is one of the largest artisan markets in North Africa.
  • Djemaa el-Fna: a living heritage that changes every hour of the day
    is Djemaa el-Fna Square recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. During the day, snake charmers, healers, acrobats, fortune tellers, and street vendors predominate; while at night the square transforms with dozens of stalls selling traditional food, musicians, storytellers, and spontaneous performances that attract both locals and tourists.
Day 3 of the itinerary
  • Today we will leave in a 4x4 vehicle with a driver to head to the Central High Atlas.
  • In this stage we have approximately 310 km ahead of us, although we will be rewarded by the spectacular scenery.
  • We will cross the Tizi n'Tichka, or Tichka mountain pass, the highest road pass in the country.
  • Here we will leave behind the predominant green and ochre colors to give way to a lunar landscape.
  • Along the way we will visit the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the setting for several film productions.
  • We will pass through Ouarzazate and continue through the Valley of Roses until we reach Boumalne Dades, a town located in the Valley of Birds at an altitude of 1,612 m in the High Atlas Mountains.
  • Accommodation and dinner at the Hotel Xaluca Dades 4*.
  • Tizi n'Tichka: Morocco's highest paved road pass
    The Tizi n'Tichka pass, at 2,260 meters above sea level, is the highest paved mountain pass in the country. It was built during the French Protectorate in the 1930s to connect Marrakech with the south. The route across it reveals a stark contrast: from the verdant High Atlas Mountains to the north to the arid, mineralized landscape of the southern side.
  • Aït Ben Haddou: an ancient ksar and one of the most filmed locations in the world
    The Ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, is one of the finest examples of fortified adobe architecture in southern Morocco. It has served as the backdrop for dozens of films and television series, including Gladiator, Babel, The Mummy, Kingdom of Heaven and Game of Thrones, making it one of the most filmed locations in Africa.
  • Valley of the Roses and Boumalne Dades: a natural corridor at over 1,600 m altitude
    The Valley of Roses, famous for its Damask rose, celebrates a festival dedicated to its harvest every May, an agricultural tradition that dates back centuries. Further along, Boumalne Dades, situated at an altitude of 1,612 meters, marks the entrance to the impressive Dadès Valley, an area historically known as the Valley of the Birds due to the large number of birds that inhabit or migrate through this natural corridor.
Day 4 of the itinerary
  • This morning we will leave early towards Tinerhir, a small and prosperous town that offers a beautiful panorama of contrasts with its pink houses and palm groves, an ideal starting point to delve into the famous Todra Gorges, where we can walk a little following the course of the river.
  • We will leave the mountains and continue to Erfoud, where we will take the track to experience a day of Total Desert.
  • We will travel along one of the tracks used in the Dakar Rally, visiting villages and desert nomads.
  • We will stop at the Marine Fossil Quarries, which are 360 ​​million years old, and have a picnic in an authentic oasis.
  • We will continue until we reach the Great Erg Chebbi, a desert of very fine sand dunes, where we will exchange the 4x4 vehicle for dromedaries to enter the heart of the dunes and contemplate an unforgettable sunset.
  • We will arrive by dromedary at the Bivouac de Luxe, where we will stay in tents like those used by desert nomads.
  • Accommodation and dinner.
  • is Sleeping under the stars.
  • Tinerhir and the Todra Gorges: a canyon with walls up to 160 meters high
    The Todra Gorge is one of the most impressive canyons in southern Morocco. In some sections, its limestone walls reach 160 meters in height, and the small Todra River continues to shape the landscape, allowing walks along its banks even in summer. The contrast between palm groves, vertical rock, and water makes Tinerhir one of the most beautiful oases in the region.
  • Dakar Rally tracks and Devonian marine fossils
    Between Erfoud, Taouz, and Erg Chebbi lie tracks historically used in several stages of the Dakar Rally when the competition crossed Morocco (until 2007). Nearby are the Marine Fossil Quarriescan be found Devonian Period, over 360 million years old, when this entire region was submerged under a tropical sea teeming with ammonites, trilobites, and goniatites.
  • Erg Chebbi: dunes up to 150 meters high and an unforgettable sunset
    Erg Chebbi is one of Morocco's two great ergs and is known for its dunes that reach 100–150 meters in height. Its extremely fine sand creates an exceptional optical effect at sunset: the dunes change color from gold to red and pink as the sun sets, making it one of the most famous sunsets in the Moroccan Sahara.
Day 5 of the itinerary
  • “Appointment with the Dawn”.
  • It is recommended to get up early to walk to the top of the dunes and see the sunrise.
  • Bedouin breakfast and return to the car which will take us around the Erg to the abandoned village of Merdani.
  • We will continue to the Sudanese village of Khamlia, where its inhabitants will treat us to their traditional dances and mint tea.
  • Later we will go to Rissani* to visit its market, unique in these latitudes, a place where the tribes and nomads of the desert are supplied.
  • It's curious to see their donkey "parking".
  • Finally, we will climb to a natural viewpoint to say goodbye to the desert with a beautiful panoramic view.
  • Arrival at Kasbah Xaluca to take the rest of the day off.
  • After the desert experience, it's nice to be able to relax.
  • We can take a dip in the heated pool, enjoy a jacuzzi, play tennis or mini-golf, or optionally have a hammam (Turkish bath) or a nice massage.
  • For the more adventurous, there is the possibility of taking quad bike excursions through the dunes surrounding the hotel (optional excursion).
  • Accommodation and dinner at Kasbah Xaluca.
  • This afternoon, chauffeured cars will be available if you wish to continue exploring the area, go to Erfoud for a leisurely stroll , or visit a craft shop.
  • The Rissani market is held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, so sometimes it doesn't coincide with your visit. In that case, we try to schedule it for another day, or sometimes there simply isn't enough time.
  • A unique sunrise from the highest dunes of Erg Chebbi
    Erg Chebbi is one of the few ergs in Morocco where the dunes reach 100–150 meters in height. Thanks to this altitude and the exceptional fineness of its sand, sunrise creates a very particular chromatic phenomenon: the dunes change from reddish to golden and pinkish tones in a matter of minutes, considered one of the most beautiful sunrises in the Moroccan Sahara.
  • Khamlia: Gnawa music with deep African roots
    The village of Khamlia was founded by communities of Sudanese origin who settled generations ago in Tafilalet. It is famous for its Gnawa music, recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, based on hypnotic rhythms with krakebs (metal castanets), drums, and ritual dances that are part of an ancestral Afro-Berber tradition.
  • Rissani: a caravan market with an authentic “donkey parking lot”
    The Rissani market, active mainly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, is one of the oldest souks in southern Morocco. For centuries, it has served as a supply center for nomadic tribes and villages in the region. One of its truly unique features is its "donkey parking lot," where locals leave their animals while they shop and trade.
Day 6 of the itinerary
  • Transfer to Errachidia airport to catch the flight back to the point of origin.
  • Along the way, we will stop at the Ziz Valley viewpoint, with more than ten million palm trees inside.
  • Departure of the flight from Errachidia towards Casablanca, to connect with the flight to the point of origin.
  • Ziz Valley: one of the great palm groves of North Africa
    The Ziz Valley is part of the historic Tafilalet, considered one of the largest continuous palm groves in North Africa. The region is especially known for its production of Medjool dates, one of the most highly prized varieties internationally.
  • A fertile landscape in the middle of an arid environment
    The Ziz Valley viewpoint offers a privileged view of the most characteristic natural contrast of southeastern Morocco: a fertile valley filled with palm trees surrounded by arid mountains and plateaus. This oasis exists thanks to the Ziz River, which originates in the High Atlas Mountains and has sustained irrigation and agriculture for centuries.
  • Errachidia: the main air link to discover southeastern Morocco
    Airport (ERH) in Errachidia, initially conceived as a military base, is now the key airport connecting the southeast of the country with Casablanca, from where most domestic and international flights depart. This link greatly facilitates mobility in a mostly desert region.
At Xaluca Tours, all our programs are custom-designed to suit each traveler. Below, you can find the document with indicative prices for this program during peak and off-peak seasons.

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Remember that these prices are only a reference: each trip is quoted individually based on the number of people, dates, accommodation category, and included services.
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