DESERT HOLIDAY

3 DAYS / 2 NIGHTS

DAY 1-Transfer from Marrakech; arrival at the campsite Belle Etoile in the afternoon; dinner and overnight at Belle Etoile.

DAY 2 - Trip to the village of Rissani for a tour and a visit to its market (souk); visit to the mausoleum of Mulay Ali Ash- Sharif and to the ksars in the surrounding area. Rissani is located (approximately) 15 km south of Erfoud in the heart of the Tafilalet region. Here the green Ziz Valley ends and the endless desert begins… In the past, Rissani was an important point on the route of the caravans with a significant role in the gold trade with Saudi Arabia. The souk (market) is a thriving and lively place, a meeting point between merchants and the farmers in the area. We’ll eventually make a 21 km tour among palm groves south of Rissani, along narrow tracks , we’ll have the opportunity to see the ancient ksars and fortified villages, some of which still inhabited by Berber families. We’ll visit the mausoleum of Mulay Ali Ash- Sharif and we’ll wander about the vestiges of the legendary city of Sijilmassa. A journey back in time! Back to the campsite Belle Etoile to relax in the middle of the dunes. At the end of the day, camel ride to watch the sunset in the desert. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.

DAY 3 - Wake up early in the morning to enjoy the sunrise and sip the traditional mint tea before getting to your hotel where you can enjoy a soothing shower. After a hearty breakfast, you can relax for a while in the swimming pool while admiring once again the beautiful landscape before your transfer back to Marrakech.

4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS

DAY1 - Transfert depuis Marrakech. - Arrivée à l'hôtel dans l'après-midi - Dîner et nuit à l’hôtel

DAY 2 - In the morning, a trip to the mines of Mfis, to Khamilia and the Lake Deyet Srjiel Dayet. The mines of Mfis are located on one the side of Erg Chebbi, on a high plateau and offer stunning views of the erg and the hamada. The open-pit mines are still in activity and Berber workers take their chance daily into pits of more than 30 m deep. We drive along the Virgin River, a former route of the Paris -Dakar rally to join Khamilia, situated 15 km from Taouz, where the track ends. You’ll enjoy listening to Gnawa music, the traditional music of the descendants of the first sub-Saharan freed slaves. We reach Lake Dayet Srji which has water only during rainy winters; its surface can then reach 5 square km. The source is the Ziz River and in wintertime the lake hosts a great variety of migratory birds from Europe, such as flamingos and stilts. After lunch, a visit to Merzouga located several km from the hotel, a village of low houses that blend into the desert landscape. We’ll wander about the main street bustling with bazaars, groceries, shops, cafes ... We’ll discover the life in the oasis and will visit a local family to have tea. The ladies can get their hands painted with henna in the traditional Berber way or buy traditional perfumes. Merzouga is located at the foot of the biggest dune of Erg Chebbi, the Great Dune. You can walk to the summit to admire the stunning views, enjoying the silence of the place. The descent is also an adventure that will leave you with unforgettable memories of your stay in the desert. Back to the hotel in the early afternoon, free lunch and time to relax around the swimming pool. - Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY 3 - In the morning, a ride in a 4x4 to the Natural Park of the Erg Chebbi, the largest in Morocco , 60 km long and 25 km wide. We’ll make for on sandy tracks at the foot of the dunes. South of Merzouga, we reach the dunes and the black rock mountain where Berber nomads live, and then we’ll head for the village of Hassi Merdani and will continue our route close to the Algerian border. We’ll then cross the oasis Tisserdimine before reaching our hotel. Lunch by the swimming pool. Late in the afternoon we’ll take you on a camel ride to reach our campsite of khaïmas, among the dunes. We’ll be accommodated in khaïmas, in an oasis at the bottom of the valley. On arrival, your guide will offer you a delicious mint tea, followed by a simple but generous dinner; you’ll enjoy the local cuisine sitting around a campfire. At night you’ll be able to enjoy the silence of the desert under a starry night – a unique experience.

DAY 4 - Wake up early the next morning to enjoy the sunrise and a cup of mint tea before getting back to the hotel where you can enjoy a soothing shower. After a generous breakfast, you can relax in the swimming pool while admiring once more the stunning sight of the surrounding dunes before your transfer back to Marrakech.

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