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10-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech

Experience the beauty and wonder of Morocco with our Unforgettable 10-day Morocco Desert Tour from Marrakech. This incredible journey takes you through some of Morocco's most captivating destinations, from the bustling streets of Marrakech to the stunning Sahara Desert.

Over 10 days, you'll discover the rich culture and history of Morocco, as you explore ancient cities, wander through traditional souks, and visit important cultural sites. In Marrakech, you'll discover the vibrant heart of the city, with its bustling markets, lively squares, and stunning architecture.

From there, you'll venture into the Atlas Mountains, where you'll discover breathtaking landscapes, picturesque villages, and a slower pace of life. You'll visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Benhaddou, a stunning kasbah that has been featured in numerous films and TV shows, including Game of Thrones.

But the true highlight of the trip is the journey into the Sahara Desert. You'll spend two nights in a traditional desert camp, surrounded by the towering sand dunes of the Erg Chebbi. You'll ride camels through the desert, watch the sunset over the dunes, and marvel at the incredible starry skies.

Throughout the tour, you'll be accompanied by expert local guides who will share their knowledge and passion for Morocco with you. You'll also enjoy delicious Moroccan cuisine, from hearty tagines to sweet pastries and refreshing mint tea.

This 10-day Morocco Desert Tour from Marrakech,  is the perfect way to discover the magic of Morocco and create memories that will last a lifetime. Book now and embark on an unforgettable adventure.

Unforgettable 10-Day Morocco Desert Tour from Marrakech

Experience the beauty and wonder of Morocco with our Unforgettable 10 Day Morocco Desert Tour from Marrakech. This incredible journey takes you through some of Morocco's most captivating destinations, from the bustling streets of Marrakech to the stunning Sahara Desert.

Over the course of 10 days, you'll discover the rich culture and history of Morocco, as you explore ancient cities, wander through traditional souks, and visit important cultural sites. In Marrakech, you'll discover the vibrant heart of the city, with its bustling markets, lively squares, and stunning architecture.

From there, you'll venture into the Atlas Mountains, where you'll discover breathtaking landscapes, picturesque villages, and a slower pace of life. You'll visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Benhaddou, a stunning kasbah that has been featured in numerous films and TV shows, including Game of Thrones.

Itineraries

Day 1

Home - Marrakech

Upon your arrival at the Mohamed V Airport in Marrakech, you will meet your guide and travel immediately to your hotel. First, relax in the morning; then, your guide will take you to explore the sites of the seven saints of Marrakech. This city is called Seven Saints City for the Baraka. These shrines hold in Islamic Sufi history. Your guide will take you to them one by one.

Way back, the Regraga tribe had seven saints. There is, however, one difference in the fact that their saints were from the same tribe, while the saints in Marrakech came from different areas and backgrounds. There is a derb called Sidi Nafaa, where a small mausoleum has seven tombs lying next to each other. They are too old that their story and history have been forgotten. Marrakech is always referred to as the city of Seven Saints. These Most renowned Seven holy men came from Andalusia in 1083, but they took on significant importance during the Saadian's 16th-century Dynasty. To the point where the body of M.S Jazouli was moved from the South to be reburied in Safi, they then moved again to Marrakech, where his Marabou exists today.

Chronologically the Seven Saints of Marrakech are as follows:

1- Cadi Ayad: A scholar who lived during the Almoravid era. Professor and Judge both in Ceuta and other Andalusian cities. He was exiled from Ceuta when the Almoravids clashed with its inhabitants as he was considered a leader of the uprising. He late returned to Marrakech, where he pursued his teaching and stayed as a judge until his death in 544 Hejir (1185 A.D)

2- Aboukassim Abdurrahmane Souhaily: Born in Andalusia, where he spent his youth before moving to Marrakech. He is a scholar, Imam, Fakih, linguist, and poet. All these qualities are added to the skills of a good musician and luth player. Unfortunately, he lost his eyesight at the age of 17. Nevertheless, he was appreciated by the Moroccan Sultan Abou Yaakoub Youssuf Ibn Abdelmoumen and has written many books in various fields. He died in Marrakech in 578 (1195 A.D).

3- Youssuf Ben Ali Senhaji: Born and studied in Marrakech. He lived in Almohad Area when it was widespread. Although he was not considered a scholar, he was famous for his patience and endurance of pain as he had a bad case of skin disease. He was also a great healer of physical aches and was a good speaker. The long endurance of his pain made him special enough to be considered a saint. He died in 583 H (1199 A.D.)

4- Abou El Abbas Sebti: Born in Ceuta and moved to Marrakech to seek knowledge. He spent 40 long years alone on a hill adjacent to the city called Jbel Gueliz (the mountain of Gueliz). He was known for helping people experiencing poverty, and his legacy still lives today as his tomb is the meeting place of most people who are blind. He died in 601 H (1212 A.D).

5- Mohamed Ben Slimane Jazouli: showed the ultimate love for the Prophet Mohammed and wrote poems and books on the subject. He was a master in communication and convincing; thus, he had many followers, some of which would become saints in their own right. He created 11 "Zaouias," gathering places for religious and ideological thinking. These zaouias combined spiritually with a sense of martyrdom against the Portuguese and Spanish occupying some Moroccan enclaves. He established a well-executed political program to fight foreign invaders, but because of his leadership and charisma, he was poisoned in 875 H (1471 A.D). He immediately became a legend and saint after his death.

6- Abdelaziz Ben Abdellah Tebbaa: A student of Jazouli. He followed his family's profession and was a silk merchant. He studied partly in Fes and established his own Zaouia, which later became part of the Jazouli Zaouia. He died in 914 H (1508 A.D.)

7- Abdullah Ibn Ajjal Ghazouani: Another student of Tebbaa who built three Zaouias. He was very much involved with agriculture, especially during drought, and correspondence with scholars in Morocco and abroad. He died in 935 H (1528 A.D.) Dhikr and gatherings are held every afternoon in these shrines for you to enjoy invocations and share time with other mureeds. It is open to men and women. However, if you can't cover this in one day, we will spread it for the three days you will be in Marrakech.

Day 2

Marrakech

Continue exploring the marvels of Marrakech. The afternoon will be devoted to visiting the Zaouia of Sid Lghazouani Moul L'aksour for an afternoon gathering dhikr. It is inside the medina, so it will also give you an idea of the typical colorful ambiance of Old Marrakech.

North of Meknes is Volubilis, a well-preserved Roman city, where archaeologists found the first traces of Jewish settlement in Morocco. The nearby town of Moulay Idriss contains a mausoleum commemorating the founder of the first Muslim state in Morocco, Idriss I, who oppressed the Jews, forcing many of them to convert. Further North is Ouezzane, a town controlled by an essential Muslim fraternity that encouraged Jewish traders and agriculturists to live nearby. East of Ouezzane is the village of Azjen, where the tomb of the most critical Jewish saint, Amram Ben Diwane, is found. The Lag B'Omer pilgrimages to his grave attract hundreds of Jews from and beyond Morocco. Later in the afternoon, we will cross the hills of Zgotta and continue onward to Fez, where you will be provided with dinner and accommodations at your hotel.

Day 3

Marrakech – Ouarzazate – Tinghir

Your driver will come to your hotel to take you to Tinghir and Fez. You will spend most of your day en route to Ouarzazate, stopping in Taddart and Tizi Tishka pass at 11,000 feet. The pass divides the mountains into two distinct facets: the harsh, stark side acting as a shield that protects the hinterland from the robust, dry expansion of the Sahara, and a lush side, soft and evergreen, which collects the moisture from the Gherbi winds of the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, you will explore the legendary Kasbah of Aït-Benhaddou, a renowned architectural marvel. Finally, you will arrive in Ouarzazate, where one large oasis intercepts the water flow between the Dadès, the Drâa valleys, and the majestic High Atlas Mountains. Finally, you will depart for Tinghir. On the way, you will explore the Dades Valley, traveling through El Kelaâ De Mgouna and Boumalne to view the inimitable natural vistas and unusual rock formations. Upon your arrival in Tinghir, you will visit the Zaouia of Lamrani for a Naciri Dhikr, then conclude your day with dinner and other accommodations at your Kasbah.

Day 4

Tinghir – Erfoud - Rissani

After breakfast, you will travel to Erfoud, one of the most delightful southern regions consisting of a dry, red belt of the desert with a sudden drop into the lush valley of Ziz, with copious date palm groves and flowing streams. To get there, you will travel through the Dadès valley, wherein in the spring, thousands of Persian roses bloom in hedgerows, filling the air with their heavenly perfume. You will also see the thousands of Kasbahs scattered along the Dadès River, majestic sandcastles with a visually appealing, timeless beauty. Only 15 kilometers from Tinghir, you will find the Todras, the highest, narrowest gorges in the region. You will conclude your day with dinner and other accommodations in your hotel in Rissani. Next, explore the ancient, holy oasis of Rissani. Moulay Ali Sheriff is most revered in this city ancestor of the ruling Alaouite Dynasty. Visit his shrine and his old library. Also not to be missed is the Zaouia Naciria, most respected in the Sahara desert. There, you will visit the ruins of Sijilmassa, remnants of the first Arab and Islamic city of Morocco, and the prehistoric fossils present throughout the desert.

Day 5

Merzouga Dunes – Rissani – Midelt – Azrou – Fez

With its indescribable beauty, watching the sun as it rises over the spectacular Merzouga dunes is an experience that should not be missed. Afterward, you will eat breakfast with the Tuaregs and continue to Fez. You will depart in the morning for Fez, stopping in Midelt for lunch as you enjoy the dramatic sight before you: the Middle Atlases give way to the High Atlas Mountains, whose peaks are visible through the haze, soaring to over 12,000 feet. Continuing onward, you will spend your day discovering the rural environs of the Atlas Mountains’ Berbers. Covered with evergreen pines, tall cedar trees, and poplars and laced with flowing streams, the Middle Atlases will appear oddly un-Moroccan. Next, we will stop at Zaouiet Sheikh and make a ziyyara of the Sanctuary of the pioneer of Sufism in North Africa, Sidi Ya’Ata Bouazza. Next, you will soon come across Azrou, an important market center for the region’s Berber tribes located at a major junction of mountain routes. You will continue traveling until you reach Fez, where you will conclude your day with dinner and other accommodations at your hotel.

Day 6

Fez

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the lobby to take a monumental tour of this Fascinating City. Fez stimulates the senses with its haunting yet beautiful sounds, visual splendor, and evocative smells. The most ancient of imperial capitals and the complete medieval city of the Islamic world, Fez is reminiscent of a city suspended in time, unfazed by the constantly evolving world outsides its walls; this is by far the city of saints and a treasure of Sufism teaching.

Time spent in Fez will reveal much about the sophistication of the Moroccan artisan, providing an unparalleled learning experience to those who cross its path. Your morning will be spent visiting the Medina. Our specialized guide will take you on a historic discovery of the city of Fez, starting at the King's Palace and its Meshwar with ramparts and majestic gates in the Jewish quarter, a 15th-century citadel with all its Moorish maze architecture and medieval glory. Visits to Sephardic synagogues and mausoleums of holy Rabbis will be the highlights of the part of town. Then we will drive to Merinides Hill to visit their cemetery, where you will enjoy the best panoramic view of the Old walled Medina, brimful with all its countless minarets to call for the prayers in a city that has responded to these calls for 12 centuries. Finally, drive down the hills to the gate of Bab Guissa to leave your vehicle and enter a world that belongs to an ancient time. Fez has conserved its integrity to its existence, and the Medina is still as it was centuries ago. Not even a bicycle can be used as a tool of transportation. Only donkeys, mules, and horses can help move all the city produces and needs as supplies. The first guilds you will immediately encounter are the cobblers, the saddlers, and blacksmiths, interlaced by some caravansaries for tribespeople who come from the surrounding areas to trade and supply their needs. Down the hill to Juteya, you will encounter all sorts of crafts, but noticeably carpenters and leather workers as one of the traditional tanneries is not far. This walk will lead you to El Ashabine Square with its different activities. From there, we will wind our way to the Sgha square, leading us to Attarine, Souk el Henna, and the Mausoleum of Moulay Idris, the founder of Fez.

Next to it, you will visit the Nejjarine Square with its famous fountain, its guild of carpentry, the museum of folk arts at the Fondouk, the tannery, and on seeing the great Mosque University of Al Quarrawiyyine, passing the market of dried fruits, the Medersa Attarine to Sbetryyine bookbinders the Seffarine Square where the tapping of metalworkers is still deafening passerby as it was the case for centuries. After that, you will break for lunch and continue exploring Fez Medina's marvels. These will highlight the Dyers souk, Foundouk Tetouani, the shrine of Sidi Ahmed Tijani, and up by foundouk Lihoudi, where a family will host you for a traditional mint tea in their home. Here you have all the choices to choose your zaouia for dhikr. As there dhikrs every afternoon after Asr at Sidi Ahmed Tijani, Moulay Idris, Sidi Abdelkader Jilani Zaouia, Sidi Ahmed Chaoui, Zaouia Boutchichia, and many others you will visit on your way, Sidi Ali Lajamal Zawiyya, a renowned Sufi from the 17th century. He is from the Shadhuli path. We will all participate in their evening invocation.

Day 7

Fez

Continue exploring the marvels of Fez, visiting Sufi sites and zaouias in the old city and the outskirts. Not to miss Ibnu Arabi's house in the Medina. We will have a traditional Sadaqa Lunch over the hills of Mount Zalagh at Sidi Ahmed Barnoussi Zaouia. He is the founder of the Zerrouki Tarika and the author of many books on alchemy and the science of Kalam. He is famous for his book "The Meanings of Allah's Attributes.

Day 8

Fez – Moulay Idris Zerhoun – Meknès – Chefchaouen

Volubilis is impressively well preserved, and the genius of Roman urbanism is still intact. The two central integral streets in every Roman castrum, the Cardo and Decumanus, are prominent. The Cardo is the north-south boulevard, and the Decumanus is east-west. The intersection of the two is the heart of every Roman city. There you will find the ruins of the old forum. Then, jumping forward in time and just a few minutes away is the venerated citadel of Moulay Idris, founded in the 8th century by Moulay Idris Al Akbar, grandson of the Prophet Mohamed (s.a.w.s). This citadel is considered the cradle of Sufism in Moroccan society and the first Islamic capital for the premier Arab dynasty. Created primarily for the indigenous population, the defense of Moulay Idris has become a central destination for those who cannot afford to make the pilgrimage to Makkah for the Hajj duty. The next stop is the imperial city of Meknes.

Finally, you have reached your destination, the Blue city of Chefchaouen. You will visit the sights outside the great walled city with your guide. Dinner will be in the riad.

Day 9

Chefchaouen - Moulay Abdessalam Ibnu Mashish – Casablanca

Take an early morning excursion to Moulay Abdessalam, teacher of Abu Hassan Shadhuli, Founder of the Shadhuli Tarika, the largest in the world today. Moulay Abdessalam is a unique Sufi Master known for his strong-felt Baraka. He did not leave much literature, but his Salat Mashishia is most significant, compact in words, and so vast in meaning. So many other Sufis devoted their lives to deciphering it or extracting from much wisdom and diverse learning. He is buried in the remote Riff Mountains. Today is a day to treasure forever. In the afternoon, we will travel to Casablanca for dinner and overnight.

Day 10

Casablanca - Home

Transfer to the airport for your Return flight back home.

  •  Private transport (4WD or Minivan)
  •  English-speaking tour driver
  •  Accommodations 
  •  Breakfast & Dinner
  • Entry fees to the historical sites
  •  Lunch & Dinner
  •  Beverages