Compare Ouarzazate 2 Days by Project Expedition vs Morocco Desert Safari tour by Encounters Travel
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 2 days | 7 days |
| Price From | $ 138 | $ 710 |
| Price Per Day | $ 69 | $ 101 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Retreats | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Internal airfare and ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
Ouarzazate is a city out of the bowels of the earth in the desert in the south of the Kingdom, with a variety of awe-inspiring scenery as elusive, the burning sand, snowy peaks, palm groves and green oases, the ksour's proud, the fortified villages and sumptuous Kasbah, the whole idyllic charm of a city of another millennium. Two magnificent Kasbahs catch the traveler, dazzled by so much beauty: the Taourirt and Ait Ben Haddou, located 30 km from the city. UNESCO has declared the two World Heritage Kasbah. In Ouarzazate, endowed with beautiful and luxurious hotels, you can mark a break before venturing into the wilderness where all sorts of sensations decorate the trip. |
This budget tour offers a great opportunity to combine the sights and sounds of Marrakech with the awe inspiring desert dunes of Merzouga |
Day 1 - Marrakesh
Depart your Marrakech hotel by air-conditioned vehicle in the morning and head toward Ouarzazate.Sightseeing at Tizi N'tichka. Admire the majestic Moroccan scenery and small, tiered villages as you soar into the High Atlas by way of the winding Tizi-n-Tichka pass. Continue on the meandering road to the Telouet kasbah, an ancestral residence of the Pasha Glaoui of Marrakesh. Enjoy a leisurely lunch at the historic kasbah (own expense).Archaeological Exploration at Aït Benhaddou. Then cross the Telouet trail, which used to be a trade route connecting sub-Saharan Africa to Marrakesh. Once you reach the stunning red landscape and green olive trees of the Ounila Valley, discover the Aït Benhaddou kasbah, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Take in a beautiful sunset from the top tower of the kasbah before sitting down to dinner. Overnight: hotel in Ait Benhaddou Kasbah.
Day 2 - Ouarzazate - Sightseeing
Sightseeing. Enjoy breakfast and then get back in your air-conditioned vehicle for the drive to Ouarzazate, the site where movies such as Lawrence of Arabia, Star Wars and Gladiator have been filmed. Take in the panoramic views and visit the ancient Taourirt kasbah, another UNESCO World Heritage site and home to two film studios and the Museum of Cinema.Local Flavor at Berber village. Explore the studios and continue on to the kasbah, a beautiful palm grove made up of four traditional Berber villages. Visit a Berber house and enjoy Moroccan mint tea. Sit down for lunch (own expense) and return to Marrakesh in the late afternoon.
On your arrival in Marrakech airport (RAK) our representative will greet you and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to settle in, relax after your flight, and have a first look around. Extra nights before the tour starts are available on request.
If you arrive early enough, you can head into Marrakech's famous Djemaa el Fna Square for a first taste of Moroccan food at one of the main street stalls, while watching the many street performers and salesmen offering their wares.
OVERNIGHT: Marrakech hotel
MEALS: Dinner
EXTRAS: Extra day in Marrakech - pre-tour, Single room supplement (MOSHDS)
Day 2 Marrakech, city tour
Today's tour of Marrakech, Mararkech's second oldest Imperial City, starts in the morning with visits to the Menara Garden, the Saadian Tombs, the Koutoubia Mosque, home to the minaret which has become a symbol of the city, the Dar Si Said Museum, and the Bahia Palace which hosts intricate and beautiful Arabic craftsmanship. After a break for lunch in the hotel, we spend the afternoon exploring the old centre of the city. Home to many different types of traders these bustling and aromatic souqs and handicraft quarters provide a real taste of Morocco. The tour finishes at the Djemaa el-Fna Square, which is well worth revisiting later in the evening when it is packed with street food stalls, musicians and entertainers - one of Morocco's highlights.
Full-board option: dinner with show.
OVERNIGHT: Marrakech hotel
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch
EXTRAS: Full board supplement
Day 3 Across the Atlas Mountains to Ait Benhaddou and the Draa Valley
After breakfast this morning we bid farewell to Marrakech and take a scenic drive across the mountains of the high Atlas, passing through the Tich'n'Tichka pass at an altitude of 2260m. After descending out of the mountains we'll stop at what is probably the most well-known kasbah in Morocco - Ait Benhaddou. The kasbah is a UNESCO protected monument and has appeared in countless movies. In the afternoon we continue our journey to the desert, travelling through the Draa Valley before arriving at the remote town of Zagora where we spend the night.
Full board option: Lunch
OVERNIGHT: Zagora Hotel
MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
EXTRAS: Full board supplement
Day 4 Desert villages, Erg Chebbi Sand Dunes
We leave Zagora today and head first to Tamegroute village, which is well known for its pottery centre. We'll then continue skirting the desert stopping along the way at several pre-Saharan villages including Tansikht, Nkob, Tazzarine and Alnif where we break for lunch. In the afternoon we'll stop at Rissani village, birthplace of the Alaouites Dynasty before arriving at Erfoud, on the edge of the famous Erg Chebbi sand dunes. You then have two options for tonight. The standard tour spends the night in a hotel in Erfoud, with an option to take a 4x4 safari to the sand dunes for sunrise or sunset. Alternatively you can take a 4x4 safari to the sand dunes for sunset, and then have dinner and spend the night at a comfortable Berber Camp at the edge of the dunes.
OVERNIGHT: Erfoud Hotel (or Berber Desert Camp)
MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
EXTRAS: Overnight in Berber desert, Full board supplement
Day 5 Todra Gorge, Road of a Thousand Kasbahs
You can rise early this morning and if staying in the desert camp take a walk or camel ride to witness an amazing sunrise over the Erg Chebbi sand dunes before returning to the camp. If staying in the hotel at Erfoud, an option is available to take 4x4 vehicles into the desert to enjoy sunrise on the dunes.
After breakfast we then head away from the desert and to the impressive Todra Gorge near Tinghir, whos rocks tower around 250 metres above you. Our journey then continues along the 'Road of a Thousand Kasbahs' crossing Kalaat M’Gouna and the Skoura Valley before arriving at Ouarzazate or 'place of no noise'. An incredibly dramatic landscape, this area has played host to countless well known films and is home to the famous Atlas movie studios. We'll take a short tour of the city this afternoon before taking dinner at the hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Ouarzazate Hotel
MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
EXTRAS: Full board supplement
Day 6 Cross the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech. Free afternoon
After breakfast today we'll make another crossing of the Atlas Mountains and the Tizi N'tichka col on our way back to Marrakech. You'll arrive in time to spend the afternoon exploring Marrakech's souqs and bazaars further for some final sightseeing and souvenir shopping, and to enjoy a final night back in the Djemaa el-Fna Square after dinner in the hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Marrakech Hotel
MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner
EXTRAS: Full board supplement
Day 7 Marrakech departure, transfer to the airport
Our exciting week in Morocco comes to an end today. You'll have free time until you are transferred to the airport for your departure flight. Subject to your flight departure time, additional options such as spectacular hot air balloon flight, or a fun quad biking trip, or a day trip to the Ourika Valley are available this morning.
OVERNIGHT: N/A
MEALS: Breakfast
EXTRAS: Marrakech hot air balloon flight, Ourika Valley day trip, Extra day in Marrakech - post-tour
