Marrakech to Chegaga Desert with a Camel Trek 5 Days

With a start in Marrakech we’ll drive to Ouarzazate through the dramatic Tizi ‘n’ Tichka pass (2260m) over the High Atlas Mountains, appreciating the beauty of the landscape on the twisted roads and through the Berber villages. We will arrive at the famous Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, the largest Kasbah in Morocco, now a UNESCO world heritage site and house of many Glaoui family members. We’ll take lunch near the Kasbah before continuing on to the Dades Gorge via Ouarzazate, the Hollywood of Africa where we will visit Kasbah Taourirt and pass through the palm groves of Skoura before we continue along the Route of the thousand Kasbahs with the many fascinating sand castles. We will make a stop at Kelaat M’gouna, the rose’s city, known for its fragrant Damascus roses and its annual festival during the roses harvest in May. We’ll then continue to our hotel in the heart of the Dades Gorge

After breakfast in the hotel, we start your exploration by heading towards the Todra Gorge. Our journey takes us along the magnificent Dades Valley route, with spectacular views of palms trees winding through dramatic rock formations. Then continue your trip, we cross the Anti Atlas Mountains to reach Alnif where we have lunch. After a break we then continue via the Draa valley lined by palm groves and many Berber Sub-Saharan villages. We arrive in Zagora for your night´s accommodation in a Riad.

After a nice breakfast, we head out to Tamagroute to visit the famous Quranic Library and subterranean Kasbah. We also visit the local famous pottery workshops where they manufacture artisan works with an attractive and distinctive green glaze. Then, continue towards M'hamid the "doorway to the Sahara desert" for lunch in the square. This is where the tarred road ends so in the afternoon, you take a one hour camel ride; we take a track which carries us out through the rocky, desert scenery towards the sand dunes of Chegaga that spread over 40 km. A welcome drink awaits your arrival at the camp. Then you enjoy the sunset. Overnight in desert camp or under a star-filled sky with evening meal, local Nomad music and laughter around the campfire and breakfast included.

After enjoying the sunrise up on the sand dunes, breakfast is served to you, then it´s departure time in 4x4 vehicles via the old Paris-Dakar road to Foum Zguid, crossing the dry salt lake of Iriqui. Lunch will be in the Berber village of Taznakht. Arrival in the small town of Ait Benhaddou. Night and dinner in the hotel.

After breakfast in the hotel, a worthwhile visit is devoted to this haven. A 16th century UNESCO world heritage site, Ait Benhaddou is one of the best preserved and most spectacular kasbahs in Morocco. A famous location for sets in many blockbuster Hollywood films, Ait Benhaddou was used for the well-known film of 2000, The Gladiator, The Mummy, Kingdom Of Heaven, Prince of Persia and many more over the last century. There are 8 or 9 Berber families still living in the fortress village and you are welcome to visit to see their way of life. After the visit, we cross the scenic vistas of the High Atlas Mountains and cross the pass of Tizi´n´Tichka with an altitude of 2260 m high. We reach Marrakech around 3 p.m.in the afternoon.