Rose Valley & Sahara Trekking Journey

DAY 02

Start the day with a guided discovery of Marrakech, one of Morocco’s most vibrant imperial c…

Charming Riad in Marrakech or comfortable boutique hotel

Start the day with a guided discovery of Marrakech, one of Morocco’s most vibrant imperial cities. Explore the historic medina, colorful souks, traditional architecture and key cultural landmarks with your local guide. The afternoon is free for your own discoveries. You may return to the souks, enjoy a mint tea on a rooftop terrace, visit a garden or simply relax at the riad before the journey into the mountains begins.

DAY 03

Leave Marrakech and travel toward the southern side of the High Atlas.

Guesthouse or simple lodge in Boutghrar

Leave Marrakech and travel toward the southern side of the High Atlas. The road offers spectacular mountain scenery, traditional Berber villages, high passes and changing landscapes as you move from the city toward the valleys of southern Morocco. Arrive in Boutghrar, a peaceful village area known for its dramatic landscapes and proximity to the Rose Valley. This stage prepares the group for the first trekking section of the journey.

DAY 04

Meet your local trekking team in the morning, including the guide and support crew.

Guesthouse, gîte or trekking camp in R’bat N’Ait Hamd

Meet your local trekking team in the morning, including the guide and support crew. After a short briefing, begin the first trekking day through the beautiful Agouti Gorge. The route follows natural paths between rock formations, small villages and rural landscapes. This first walking stage offers a gentle but immersive introduction to the trekking rhythm, with views of the surrounding mountains and insight into traditional village life.

DAY 05

Continue on foot through the remote landscapes of the High Atlas foothills.

Guesthouse, gîte or trekking camp near Ighrem Akdim

Continue on foot through the remote landscapes of the High Atlas foothills. The trail leads toward the oasis of Ighrem Akdim, where green fields, gardens and traditional earthen houses contrast beautifully with the surrounding dry mountains. Along the way, enjoy the quiet atmosphere of rural Morocco, far from the main tourist routes. This stage highlights the strong connection between water, agriculture and village life in the southern valleys.

DAY 06

Today’s trek follows the landscapes around Jebel Riguit before descending gradually toward t…

Guesthouse or lodge in Aït Youl / Dadès region

Today’s trek follows the landscapes around Jebel Riguit before descending gradually toward the Dadès Valley. The scenery changes throughout the day, moving from mountain paths to wider valley views, cultivated fields and traditional settlements. Arrive in Aït Youl, near the Dadès region, known for its red cliffs, kasbah landscapes and dramatic rock formations. This final Atlas trekking day offers a beautiful transition from mountain terrain to the southern valleys.

DAY 07

After breakfast, leave the Dadès region and travel south toward the desert.

Desert guesthouse, bivouac or simple camp near Tidri

After breakfast, leave the Dadès region and travel south toward the desert. The route passes through the Draa Valley, one of Morocco’s most iconic oasis landscapes, with palm groves, kasbah villages and an atmosphere shaped by ancient caravan routes. On the way, visit a local pottery workshop and discover traditional production techniques. Continue toward Tidri, where the landscapes become increasingly desert-like and the Sahara section of the journey begins.

DAY 08

Begin the first Sahara trekking day with your desert team.

Sahara desert camp near Erg Bounou

Begin the first Sahara trekking day with your desert team. The walk leads through open desert landscapes, sandy tracks, small dunes and wide horizons. This first desert stage introduces the silence, light and rhythm of the Sahara. The pace is steady and guided, allowing time to enjoy the landscape and experience the simplicity of walking through the desert.

DAY 09

Continue deeper into the Sahara on foot.

Sahara desert camp near Sidi Naji

Continue deeper into the Sahara on foot. The route crosses varied desert scenery, including dunes, dry plains and remote desert paths. The day is dedicated to the experience of desert walking: open space, changing light, quiet landscapes and the support of the local desert team. Overnight in the Sahara, under a sky far from city lights.

DAY 10

The final Sahara trekking day leads toward Ras Nkhal, crossing another section of the desert.

Sahara desert camp near Ras Nkhal

The final Sahara trekking day leads toward Ras Nkhal, crossing another section of the desert. The landscape continues to change between dunes, palm areas and wide mineral spaces. This last walking stage completes the desert immersion and offers a strong sense of achievement after several days on foot. Enjoy a final evening in the desert atmosphere before returning toward the Draa Valley.

DAY 11

Leave the desert region and travel back north through the Draa Valley.

Boutique hotel or guesthouse in Ouarzazate

Leave the desert region and travel back north through the Draa Valley. The road follows palm groves, adobe villages and traditional kasbah landscapes that recall the old caravan routes between the Sahara and the Atlas. Continue toward Ouarzazate, often called the gateway to the desert. This day offers a comfortable transition after the trekking days, with scenic stops along the way.

DAY 12

After breakfast, visit Aït Ben Haddou, the famous UNESCO-listed fortified village known for …

Charming Riad in Essaouira or comfortable boutique hotel

After breakfast, visit Aït Ben Haddou, the famous UNESCO-listed fortified village known for its earthen architecture and impressive hillside setting. This is one of the most iconic cultural sites in southern Morocco. After the visit, continue west toward Essaouira. The drive is long but rewarding, gradually shifting from desert-edge landscapes and mountain scenery to the fresh Atlantic atmosphere of the coast. Arrive in Essaouira and settle into your hotel or riad for a well-deserved rest after the trekking and desert sections of the journey.

DAY 13

Start the day early with sunrise at Essaouira’s harbor, where blue fishing boats, sea birds …

Charming Riad in Essaouira or comfortable boutique hotel

Start the day early with sunrise at Essaouira’s harbor, where blue fishing boats, sea birds and the first light of the day create one of the town’s most atmospheric scenes. Later, enjoy a guided discovery of Essaouira’s medina, ramparts, fishing port, artisan shops and narrow streets lined with whitewashed houses and blue details. The city offers a relaxed contrast to the mountains and desert, with Atlantic air, creative energy and a slower rhythm. The afternoon is free for your own discoveries. You may walk along the beach, explore galleries, enjoy seafood by the port or simply relax by the ocean.

DAY 14

Enjoy a relaxed morning and early afternoon in Essaouira.

Charming Riad in Marrakech or comfortable boutique hotel

Enjoy a relaxed morning and early afternoon in Essaouira. Take time for a final walk along the ramparts, a coffee by the sea, last-minute shopping in the medina or a quiet moment on the beach. In the late afternoon, drive back to Marrakech. On arrival, settle into your riad or hotel for the final night of the journey. The evening is free for a farewell dinner or a final walk through the medina.

DAY 15

Depending on your flight schedule, enjoy a final morning in Marrakech.

Departure day

Depending on your flight schedule, enjoy a final morning in Marrakech. You may have time for a last rooftop coffee, a short walk in the medina or some final shopping in the souks. Transfer to Marrakech airport for departure. The journey ends after a rich and varied Moroccan experience, combining Marrakech, the High Atlas, the Rose Valley, the Dadès region, Sahara trekking, the Draa Valley, Aït Ben Haddou and Essaouira.