Marrakech to Erg Chigaga Returning to Marrakech

 

A whirlwind tour over high mountain passes, through lush green oasis and into the mysterious deep Sahara desert, in 3 days you can truly experience the incredible beauty and diversity of landscape that Morocco has to offer. From geography and history, to culture and cuisine, our guides will share with gentle humour and great insight their local knowledge and understanding of the awe inspiring southern regions of this incredible country.

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Itinerary

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Day 1: Marrakech to Agdez

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• Pick up at riad/hotel 8.00am

• Cross the Tizi n’Tichka pass which at 2,260m is the highest mountain pass in North Africa

• Visit an argan cooperative, view demonstrations of argan production and sample argan products

• Continue across the High Atlas Mountains to the Kasbah of Telouet which stands on the old caravan route to the Sahara

• Drive through the verdant Ounila Valley bordered by dramatic sandstone cliffs

• Stop at the famous Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, Unesco World Heritage site and location for films such as Gladiator, Alexander the Great and Game of Thrones 

• Lunch in Ait Ben Haddou village

• Pass by the city of Ouarzazate ‘The Door of the Desert’

• Cross the beautiful mountains of Ait Saoun and the pass of Tizi n’Tnifift at 1,710m

• Spend the night at the ancient Kasbah of Tamnougalte in the date palm oasis at the heart of the Draa Valley close to the town of Agdez

• During the evening you will enjoy a taste of authentic local life with good food, music and dancing 

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Day 2: Agdez to Erg Chigaga

 

• Start at 8.00am after breakfast with a short walk in the oasis

• Visit the Ksar of Tamegroute and the old Quoranic library, also the pottery famous for it's distinctive rich green glaze. Here you can try your hand at throwing a piece of your own!

• Drive to M'Hamid where you can have lunch in the village or shop for food to enjoy a picnic in the desert on the way to Erg Chigaga

• Stop at the holy oasis of Oum Laalag on the old trade route to Timbuktu

• Meet your camels for the ride to the desert camp in true nomad style

• Watch the setting of the sun from the top of the sand dunes

• Spend the night in a Chigaga desert camp with dinner by candlelight under the canopy of stars above

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Day 3: Erg Chigaga to Marrakech

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• We begin our last day after breakfast in the desert camp, leaving at 8am

• Following the route of the Paris-Dakar rally we drive through the dunes for approx 2 hours

•  We cross the vast dry plain of lake Iriki which used to be a paradise for birds and animals

• After the lake we make a stop to search for ancient desert fossils

• Our return drive takes us through the village of Taznakht, one of the most important centres for the weaving of rugs in the south of Morocco

• We arrive back in Marrakech at around 6pm where we will return you to your riad/hotel

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Tour Summary

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Day 1: depart Marrakech 8am

Day 3: return Marrakech 6pm

Distance: approx 960km

Transport: 4WD air conditioned 

Prices: 450£ Person ( 2-3 people ) upgrade to Luxury for 600£ Person

             350£ Person ( 4-6 people ) upgrade to Luxury For 450£ Person

Accommodation: Kasbah hotel and luxury desert camp or standard desert camp