A tour from Marrakech to Chegaga desert
4 Days : Marrakech , Great South and Chegaga desert
Tour
Day 1: Marrakech – Ait ben haddou – Dades Valley
We pick you up from your hotel in Marrakech in the morning and transfer to the green oasis of Dades Gorge via the High Atlas Tizi’n’Tichka mountain pass and the World Heritage Site of Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, one of Morocco's most spectacular ksour (dwellings) that once guarded the lucrative caravan route through the Atlas mountains.
We continue through Ouarzazate and Kelaa Mgouna (Rose Valley) and leave the main route at Boumalne Dades. Driving along the oasis valley gorge of the River Dades we pass ruined hilltop Kasbahs, valley-floor gardens and the strange rock formations of the Tamnalt Hills. Dinner, Hotel.
Day 2: Dades Valley - Todra Gorge - Zagora
On the second day we move from Dades Gorge to Zagora via the Todra Gorge (the highest oasis valley gorge in Morocco). The journey will take us across the volcanic mountains of Sarhro and the Draa Valley to Zagora. We will be travelling along dramatic rock formations and gorges with superb views.
These mountains are very different from the Atlas Mountains. Eventually the scenery changes as we see the first palm trees of the Draa Valley, the longest river valley in Morocco. In Zagora we enjoy dinner and stay the night at a hotel.
Day 3 : Zagora - Chegaga
The morning is dedicated to a visit to the town and its palm groves. In the early afternoon we depart for M'hamid stopping at Tamgroute to visit the Koranic library, to see the pottery making in the underground streets and to follow the Pursuit trail through the grove of Ouled Brahim and Reg of Elfaija before rejoining the Tagounite trail, which houses the Kasbah.
We enjoy lunch in amber palm before rejoining the route to M'hamid, where we ride camels for 2 hours. We then continue in the 4wheel drive track to the big sandy dunes of Chegaga, where we enjoy the sunset, dinner and night in a tent.
Day 4 : Chegaga - Zagora – Tamnougalt - Marrakech
We recommend an early rise to watch the spectacular sunrise over the swelling dunes of the desert, waking up and lighting the landscape. We then depart to Mhamid and Agdz. On the way, we visit the Kasbah Tamnougalt with distinct wall decorations, and unusual tapering towers. We start heading towards the city of Ouarzazate and Marrakech. We cross the High Atlas Mountains back to Marrakech, where we drop you off at your hotel/Riad.
