09 Medinas, Gorges & Desert

Overview

Our recommendations

Season: September to May.

Length: 10 nights.

Flights: Marrakech (if taking the easterly circuit outlined below) or Agadir (if taking a southerly loop circuit visiting the dunes at M'Hamid).

Pricing: See Details tab - from £680 pp based on 2 persons sharing (B&B in Marrakech, half board elsewhere), excl. flights. Price varies by room, season and exchange rate.

Transport options: * Car (self-drive or with driver); taxi option also available. All travel times are approximate.

Extension options: Through the Middle Atlas Mountains and Ziz Gorges, via Midelt, to Fez (or M’hamid dunes and Draa valley instead of or in addition to dunes of Merzouga and Dades Valley).

Activity options: Camel treks, 7 day horse trek.

Weather: Please have a look at our 'Weather' page with further details and an average temperature guideline in various locations throughout the year.

Details

Medinas, Gorges and Desert Holiday Suggestion

We recommend 10 nights for this trip as there is significant distance to be covered, for example:

Prices from per £680 person (10 nights) excluding flights*

Pricing: *Based on 2 persons sharing (B&B in Marrakech, half board elsewhere), car hire self-drive, excl. flights, staying at Kasbah Ellouze (Ait Benhaddou), Auberge Le Festival (Todra Gorge), Kasbah Mohayut (Merzouga), Sawadi Lodge (Skoura) and Riad Darhani (Marrakech) - budget accommodation; Naturally Morocco can offer a range of alternatives if required. Price varies by room, season and exchange rate.

Location

Places to Visit

There are various options of interesting places that we can include for you as you travel over the wonderful High Atlas, through the oases and into the Saharan desert.

Ait Benhaddou

A striking fortified settlement (ksar), renowned as a backdrop to many films (including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator), and deservedly designated as a World Heritage Site, it houses some of the best conserved kasbahs in Morocco.

Todra Gorge

This narrow, spectacular gorge up to 300 metres deep is the most spectacular in Morocco and has deservedly become popular with walkers and more especially rock climbers, due to the hundreds of routes available.

Merzouga

This village on the edge of the Erg Chebbi Dunes is the perfect place to take in the essence of the Sahara: the most accessible large dunes in Morocco (the highest are near M'Hamid - an alternative destination), attaining a maximum height of 150 metres, lie just 50 kms south-east of Erfoud, roughly midway between Fez and Marrakech.

Skoura

An oasis settlement 45 minutes' drive to the north east of Ouarzazate, it boasts magnificent kasbahs such as the magical Kasbah Amerhidil and significant palmeries with hidden lovely off-the-beaten-track guest houses.

Marrakech

Marrakech is the gateway to Morocco for most visitors, and understandably so. One of the four imperial cities, it is a lively city with a true Moroccan soul and culture, a feast for the senses that caters well for visitors. From the atmospheric souks of the medina, to the villages of the High Atlas Mountains a short drive away, Marrakech offers a vast range of options for the visitor either on a short trip or as part of a longer adventure.