Suggested Itineraries for Tours in Morocco
Berber Morocco Tours
Berber Trail Desert Tours (from 6 days)
4x4 Morocco Tours to experience the culture and traditions of the Berbers and embrace the timeless quality of Moroccan life. Haggle in Berber souks, drink tea with Berber nomads and relax to the pace of the Sahara on a sunset camel trek in Erg Chebbi or experience the simplicity of desert life on a 3-day camel trek in Erg Chigaga with an expert guide.
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Crossing the ever-changing landscapes of Morocco is amazing at any time of year and the trans-Saharan caravans took months, sometimes years, to navigate the desert and reach the fondouks of Marrakech. Now, in just one day, you can cross mountain passes and drive along oasis valleys in time to camel trek in the Sahara at sunset - not that we advise such haste when there is so much to discover along the route.
Travel at a leisurely pace on our Berber Trail desert tour, in a Toyota Land Cruiser with private driver, to experience the timeless quality of Moroccan life. Deep in the South, as the landscape grows more barren and the sand becomes all-invading, seek out the oases of life – orchards, fields, palm groves and rose gardens that stretch out along strips of fertile land where the Berbers work miracles with a donkey and plough.
Our Berber Trail 4x4 Desert Tours run Marrakech to Marrakech, Marrakech to Fes or Fes to Marrakech. In addition, we can pick you up from Agadir, Ouarzazate, Tangier or Casablanca and incorporate this trip in any other Morocco tours with private driver.
Quick Links for Morocco Tours of Kasbahs, Villages and Dunes
- Who are the Berbers?
- Berber Trail Desert Tours in Morocco from Marrakech (from 6 days)
- Berber Trail Desert Tours in Morocco – Marrakech to Fez (from 6 days)
- Berber Trail Desert Tours in Morocco – Fez to Marrakech (from 6 days)
- Short Morocco Desert Tours (2 days, 3 days, 4 days and 5 days)
- Morocco Camel Treks – Trekking in Erg Chebbi
- Morocco Camel Treks - Trekking in Erg Chigaga
- Testimonials
Who are the Berbers?
The Berbers are the indigenous people of North Africa and live in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The Berbers, who once ruled over kingdoms in the region, were conquered by the Arabs at the beginning of the seventh century.
Although mostly Muslim, Moroccan Berbers retain their ancient customs and festivals, especially in rural areas, and many speak a dialect known as Tamzight although it is not an officially recognised language.
Outside of the cities, in and around their small villages, the Berbers have an agricultural lifestyle - keeping sheep and goats and growing crops e.g. mint, cereals, vegetables etc.
The Berbers refer to themselves as Amazigh, which means ’free men’.
Berber Trail Desert Tours in Morocco from Marrakech
Marrakech to Zagora via Ouarzazate and the Draa River Valley
Cross the Tizi n’Tichka (2260m), the highest Atlas road pass, to Ouarzazate and continue along the Draa Valley, with ancient kasbahs and Berber villages, to Zagora.
Zagora to Merzouga via Ncob, Tazzarine and Alnif
Transfer to Merzouga along the southern edge of the Jbel Sarhro via the Berber villages of Ncob, Tazzarine and Alnif - or off-road across rocky plateaus, dry river beds and remote Berber settlements via Taffroute and Taouz.
Merzouga Desert Tour and Erg Chebbi Camel Trek
Time to relax or explore with your driver e.g. fossil beds, seasonal lakes, Gnawa musicians, Merzouga village. Sunset camel trek to a desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes with dinner served under the stars.
Merzouga to Ouarzazate via Todra Gorge and Skoura Palmerie
Rise early to watch the desert sunrise and camel trek back to Merzouga. Transfer to Ouarzazate via Todra Gorge, the highest gorge in Morocco, the valley of one thousand kasbahs, Rose Valley and Skoura Palmerie.
Ouarzazate to Marrakech via Ait Benhaddou and Telouet
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou, one of Morocco’s most spectacular fortified villages. Continue to the traditional Berber village of Telouet to visit the Kasbah of el Glaoui, former Berber War Lord and Pasha of Marrakech. Lunch in Telouet and continue to Marrakech.
The Imperial City of Marrakech
The contrast between the traditional lifestyle of the Berber people and Marrakech could not be greater - take a day or two to explore the city and stay in a Riad, a beautifully renovated house around a central courtyard in the Old Medina.
Berber Trail Desert Tours in Morocco from Marrakech to Fez
Marrakech to the High Atlas Berber village of Telouet
Transfer from Marrakech across the Tizi-n-Tichka to Telouet in time for lunch and a guided tour of the Kasbah of el Glaoui, former Berber War Lord and Pasha of Marrakech.
Telouet to Dades Gorge via Ait Benhaddou and Skoura
Transfer to Ait Benhaddou and visit the World Heritage Site, one of Morocco’s most spectacular fortified villages. Continue through Ouarzazate to Dades Gorge via Skoura Palmerie and Rose Valley. Detour from Boumalne Dades to drive along valley with ruined Kasbahs, valley gardens and the strange rocks of the Tamnalt Hills.
Dades to Ncob across the Jbel Sarhro
Return to Boumalne Dades and travel off-road across the Tizi-n-Tazzazert to Ncob. The drive across the mountains is slow but with spectacular views.
Ncob to Merzouga via Rissani. Erg Chebbi Camel trek to a Desert Camp
Transfer to Merzouga along the Southern edge of the Jbel Sarahro. Visit the Souk in Rissani if it is the day of the market and continue to the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga. Sunset camel trek to a desert camp in the dunes.
Merzouga exploration
Rise early to see the sunrive and return across the dunes to Merzouga. Relax to the pace of desert life and explore with your driver e.g. fossil beds, seasonal lakes, Gnawa musicians and Merzouga village.
Merzouga to Fes via Azrou and the Cedar Forests
Transfer directly to Fes via the Ziz Valley Gorge, Cedar Forests where Barbary Apes live and Azou.
Berber Trail Desert Tours in Morocco from Fez to Marrakech
We can run our Marrakech to Fez tour, in reverse, from Fez to Marrakech.
Short Morocco Desert Tours (2 days, 3 days, 4 days and 5 days)
Short tours of Morocco, to include the Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga desert dunes, run from Marrakech, Agadir, Ouarzazate, Casablanca, Fes, Marrakech to Fes or Fes to Marrakech and include the highlights of the route.
Tea in the Sahara Desert Tour: 'Tea in the Sahara Morocco Tours'
Morocco Camel Trekking – Merzouga and Erg Chebbi Treks
Morocco Camel Treks are the highlight of our Desert Tours and the options are:
- Sunset Camel Treks – evening camel ride and return to a hotel at the dune line
- One night Camel Treks – sunset camel trek to sleep in a nomad tent with dinner served under the stars, return trek in the morning
- Extended Camel Treks - wander like a nomad, with a desert guide, on 2 day, 3 day, 4 day or 5 day camel trek in Erg Chebbi
For Merzouga and Erg Chebbi Camel Treks: 'Merzouga and Erg Chebbi Camel Treks'
Morocco Camel Trekking – Mhamid and Erg Chigaga Treks
If you preferred choice is to visit the more remote desert wilderness of the Erg Chigaga dunes, where the Ait Atta Berber nomads live with their herds of wild camels, this tour can be amended to take a different route from Zagora to include the desert village of M’hamid, the Erg Chigaga dunes and camel trekking, the Iriqui salt lake flats and the oasis village of Foum Zguid.
For Mhamid and Erg Chigaga Camel Treks: 'Mhamid and Erg Chigaga Camel Treks'
Testimonials
To read our clients’ feedback please refer to: 'Tours of Morocco - Testimonials'
