Sample Itineraries for Tours in Morocco
Off the Beaten Track
4x4 Desert Adventure - Marrakech to Erg Chigaga Dunes (5 Days +)
Get ‘Off the Beaten Track’ to experience a traditional way of life as you journey across the ever-changing landscapes of Morocco. Travel over high Atlas mountain passes and along ancient trade routes to visit oasis valley gorges, abandoned Kasbahs and Berber villages.
Reach the road’s end at the desert frontier village of Mhamid and cross a protected desert wilderness to drink tea in the Sahara with a family of Ait Atta Berber nomads and sleep under the stars in a desert camp.
Camel trek in Erg Chigaga, across the sandy dunes, with a desert guide in the setting sun.
Our Morocco Tours, customised to suit your dates and timescales, run from Marrakech, Fes, Ouarzazate, Casablanca or elsewhere on request. Our private 4x4 tours and excursions, with a local driver, are suitable for independent travellers and family tours.
Quick Links for 4x4 Off-Road Adventure Tours in Morocco
- ’Off the Beaten Track’ – 4x4 Adventure Tour of Morocco
- Tea in the Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech
- Erg Chigaga Camel Treks
- Tour Price Guide
- Testimonials
’Off the Beaten Track’– 4x4 Adventure Tour of Morocco
Marrakech to Ait Benhaddou via Telouet and the Tizi-n-Telouet
Transfer over the highest Atlas mountain road pass of Tizi n’Tichka (2260m) to the Berber village of Telouet and visit the abandoned Kasbah of el Glaoui, former Pasha of Marrakech. From Telouet, in the dry months, take the original trade route (off-road) over the Tizi-n-Telouet to Ait Benhaddou. Visit the World Heritage Site of Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, a cluster of ancient dwellings (ksars) that once guarded the original trade route across the Tizi-n-Telouet to Marrakech. Overnight Ait Benhaddou.
Ait Benhaddou to Dades Gorge via Rose Valley Circuit (off-road)
Transfer to Kelaa Mgouna (Rose Valley) where, in Spring, children sell garlands of the highly perfumed roses that are grown and distilled for their essential oil. Leave the highway and take the Old Rose Valley Circuit (off-road) through oasis gorges and, perhaps, see nomads on the move - their camels heavily laden with the weight of black wool tents, cooking pots and small children. Re-join the tarmac in the Dades Gorge valley and continue past valley floor gardens and the bizarre rock formations of the Tamnalt hills. Overnight Dades Gorge.
Dades Gorge to Tamtattouchte across the Atlas Mountains
Transfer to Msemir and cross the piste (off-road) towards Todra Gorge. Witness a nomadic way of life as you pass through the rugged beauty of the Atlas mountains and stop to drink mint tea with a nomad family in their traditional wool tent. Overnight Tamtattouchte.
Tamtattouchte to Ncob via Todra Gorge and the Tizi-n-Tazazert
Transfer along the oasis valley of Todra Gorge, the highest in Morocco, to Tinghir and cross (off-road) one of the most fabulous mountain passes in the Jbel Sarhro, the Tizi-n-Tazazert, with far-reaching views, stunning rock formations, Berber settlements and fertile valleys. Overnight Ncob.
Ncob to Erg Chigaga via Draa River Valley and Mhamid
Transfer along the Draa River Valley with its lush palmeries and villages to the road's end at Mhamid and, from here, set off across the protected desert wilderness of Erg Chigaga; home to the semi-nomadic Ait Atta Berber nomads. Reaching our desert camp in the dunes is always a wonderful experience as is walking, for the first time, into the sandy dunes as the sun sets across a desert landscape. Overrnight Desert Camp.
Erg Chigaga Exploration and Camel Trek
Spend a day relaxing to the pace of desert life. Walk in the dunes and, if you wish, explore with your 4x4 and driver. There may be the opportunity to accept the hospitality of a family of Ait Atta Berbers and learn how they survive in this hostile desert environment. In the late afternoon meet your desert guide and the camels that will carry you across the sandy dunes in the setting sun. Overnight Desert Camp.Erg Chigaga to Ouarzazate via Iriqui Salt Lake and Foum Zguid
Wake early to see the sunrise and, after breakfast, cross the Iriqui salt flats on your journey to the desert oasis of Foum Zguid. After lunch pick up the paved road and continue to Ouarzazate. Overnight hotel with pool.Ouarzazate to Marrakech
Transfer to Marrakech, arriving in Marrakech in time for a guided tour of the Djemaa El Fna and the vast bustling souk where each trade has its own quarter. The contrast between the pace of life in the desert and Morocco’s Imperial Cities could not be more different; take a day or two to explore the bustling city of Marrakech before heading home.Tea in the Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech
One of our most popular desert tours, for anyone wanting to get off the beaten track, is our Tea in the Sahara five day return trip from Marrakech. Customised to suit your dates and timescales we can add in an extra day or two along the route.
Marrakech to Zagora via Ouarzazate and Draa River Valley
8am meet your driver at your Riad / Hotel and transfer from Marrakech across the Tizi-n-Tichka High Atlas pass to Ouarzazate. Continue, from Ouarzazate, past the lush palmeries and crumbling Kasbahs of the Draa Valley that was, until a century ago, part of the lucrative trans-Saharan trade route. Overnight Zagora.
Zagora to Erg Chigaga via Tamgroute and Mhamid
Transfer from Zagora via Tamegrout to M’hamid. In Tamegrout visit the Islamic library, to see a fascinating collection of ancient documents and books, and the traditional green-glaze potteries. Reach the road’s end at the desert frontier town of M'hamid and continue off-road across a desert wilderness, via the Sacred Heart Oasis, to the sand dunes of Erg Chagaga. Overnight in Erg Chigaga Desert Camp.
Erg Chigaga
Relax to the pace of desert life, walk in the dunes or spend the day exploring in your 4x4 with your driver e.g. visit a nomad family for mint tea and experience how desert dwellers survive in this sometimes hostile environment. Evening camel ride in the dunes for sunset. Overnight in Erg Chigaga Desert Camp.
Erg Chigaga to Ouarzazate via Foum Zguid and Taznakht
Continue off-road, across the salt flats of Lake Iriqui, to the oasis of Foum Zguid. After lunch in Foum Zguid pick up the paved road to Ouarzazate via Taznakht. Overnight Ouarzazate.
Ouarzazate to Marrakech via Kasbah Ait Benhaddou and Telouet
Transfer from Ouarzazate to Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, a World Heritage Site and one of Morocco’s most spectacular ksour (dwellings) that once guarded the lucrative caravan route through the Atlas mountains. Continue to Marrakech via the High Atlas village of Telouet and the abandoned Kasbah of el Glaoui, former Pasha of Marrakech. Lunch in Telouet and then cross the Tizi-n-Tichka Atlas mountain pass, with far-reaching views of small Berber villages that cling to the mountainsides, to Marrakech. Drop off at your Riad / Hotel.
See our Tea in the Sahara Tours 'Tea in the Sahara Desert Tours' for more information
Erg Chigaga Camel Treks
In addition to sunrise and sunset camel treks in Erg Chigaga we offer 2, 3, 4 and 5 to 15-day camel safaris for those who dream of walking out of the world as they know it and safely camel trekking with a desert guide to experience the simplicity and challenges of a nomadic way of life in the desert. See 'Camel Trekking in Morocco Tours' for more information
Tour Price Guide
The cost of a private tour, in your own 4x4 with aircon and a local Moroccan driver, depends:
- The number in your party e.g. couple, group of friends or family
- The number of days
- Preferred hotels and activities
- Family rates available
Price guide per person for private tours:
- 1 day tour with private 4x4 and driver from 400 Moroccan Dirhams
- 2 day tour with private 4x4 and driver from 1500 Moroccan Dirhams
- 3 day tour with private 4x4 and driver from 2800 Moroccan Dirhams
- 4 day tour with private 4x4 and driver from 3400D Moroccan Dirhams
- 5 day tour with private 4x4 and driver from 4100 Moroccan Dirhams
- Contact us or a free ‘no-obligation’ quote
To convert Moroccan Dirhams into the currency of your choice: 'Currency Converter'.
Testimonials
"We had a fabulous time. Morocco is absolutely beautiful and we've never seen so many diverse landscapes in so small a country before. I said at one point that it was like the Colorado Rockies right next to the Grand Canyon with orange and olive groves in the middle! In the US, you'd have to travel 1500 miles to see all of that. As far as our tour with Authentic Morocco goes, it was really wonderful. Yusef was a great host and driver and I was especially impressed given his tender young age! And our daughter Anny remarked that he was by far the safest driver in Morocco! We were very happy with your communication, arranging the tour, attention to our request, and would definitely book another tour with Authentic Morocco, and would be happy to recommend it to anyone else travelling to Morocco."
"The Authentic Morocco excursion was awesome! We couldn't be happier that we incorporated it into our trip to Morocco."
"A huge thank you to Authentic Morocco for making our trip so sensational! We went away expecting a holiday; to see a few sights and laugh a little, but got one of the best experiences of our lives. It was so much better than anything we could have arranged ourselves. Our guide was brilliant, he showed us what life was really like for the Berber people and it was fascinating. We were really spellbound by the desert and had so much fun on our camels. Morocco really gets under your skin – we all agree that we left a piece of ourselves there and can’t wait to go back with Authentic Morocco to sleep under the stars for longer!”
"Rob and I are back and finally getting settled into "normal" life. We enjoyed our trip very much. Morocco is such a diverse country and we certainly got to experience that aspect on our tour. Our guide was very accommodating when we wanted to stop and was a very good driver (no concerns on the twisting mountain roads). Highlight was certainly the night in the Sahara - what an amazing experience. Thanks again."
“Thanks also for organising an amazing trip. I don’t think any of us wanted to leave and I’m already trying to organise a return journey with a longer stay in the desert.”
"Liz, we have just got back and, as you know, we found you on the web at the last minute. After speaking to you on the telephone I was convinced you knew what we wanted. Our first trip out of Europe has been an experience we won’t forget. Our ‘perfect’ guide hardly left our side and when he did we felt lost. He did everything and even took us to the airport check-in desk. The camel trek was a very worthwhile trip but I can see what you mean about going out to the big dunes, maybe next time. We saw so much more of Morocco in a 4x4 and the holiday was wonderful; your service was very professional and everything went like clock work without the slightest problem. So glad we found you, many thanks.”
“We had a friendly Nomad guide in the desert, lovely food and an all round truly memorable time. I will definitely recommend your company to friends and family but it is perfect and intimate and would be spoilt if it became more mainstream. What a good job you have done, and I would love to go back and do it all again!"
