Visiting and getting to know the Merzouga desert was one of the main attractions that Morocco had for me. I really wanted to visit it, but I was a little bit backwards having to sleep in the desert for a few nights or without having some comforts but finally I decided and did not want to read much more about the excursion and to take it as a new adventure. Sleeping in the Merzouga desert is one of the best experiences and if you are going to make an itinerary through Morocco, you cannot leave this experience out of your route!
If you are thinking of making an itinerary through Morocco and you still do not know very well which places to choose or what to visit, you can read my post: Tour Morocco in 15 days.
SLEEPING IN THE DESERT OF MERZOUGA
We start our route in Marrakech to finish 2 days later in Fez.
The first day
We begin the trip with destination Ouarzazate. During the journey we were able to enjoy the spectacular landscapes of the Atlas as we crossed the port of Tizi n'Tichka. Halfway, we will stop at the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, where we were able to take a thousand photos. Then we continue our trip to reach the town of Ouarzazate, where we will be amazed by the impressive Kasbah of Taourirt.
The Kasbah of Taourirt
It was declared a World Heritage Site, it was the residence of one of the most powerful governors in the region. From an architectural point of view, it is a complex superimposition of walls and crenellated towers that form a true fortification.
There is much to admire in this Kasbah; Admission is free but to visit the interior of the palace you must pay an entry. The walk begins at the main entrance. Inside is the old Taourirt ksar and curiously the decoration pays homage to both the symbols of Islam and Judaism: there is a Menorah represented, the traditional Jewish candelabra, as one of the most flourishing communities in the region lived here.
The interior walls are impressively thick, to maintain the interior temperature and protect the fortress from wind and sand. The main room enjoys natural lighting thanks to a skylight. One of the most beautiful rooms is that of the favorite wife, which has a large balcony over the courtyard; the main room is decorated with quotes from the Koran.
Leaving the Kasbah through a corridor, we will find ourselves in front of the impressive film studios and their papier-mâché sets, from Muslim towers to Catholic churches.
At the end of the visit we start the route again along the Road of the Thousand Kasbahs in the direction of Skoura until we reach the Roses Valley, and finally we arrive at the Dades Valley, a unique place where we spend the first night.
Accommodation
When you book the excursion there are two or three accommodation options, which you cannot choose. They only inform you that you will sleep in one of these accommodations. We were lucky that the first night we had to stay at Dar Essyaha. Although there are no luxuries in the accommodation, the treatment of the staff was perfect, everything was very clean and comfortable.
Second day
Dades Valley, the Jorf Palm Grove and the Merzouga desert
As soon as we wake up we have a typical Moroccan breakfast and we will head towards the Dades Valley. Once there, we will cross the spectacular Todra Gorges and I was blown away by the views. They are beautiful places.
When we ran out of time fooling around and a lot of photos through the Todra gorge we set off again, passing through the Palm Grove of Jorf, famous for having the best dates in Morocco. In this area we made a stop to eat and they prepared a traditional Moroccan meal for us and we visited the fossil remains of Erfoud. Finally we arrive at Merzouga. Once there, we leave the vehicle to get on a camel and go into the desert to the camp where we spend the night.
Accommodation
We chose the superior accommodation category when choosing this excursion. So the second night we stayed at Azawad Luxury Desert Camp and it is in the middle of the desert so you can enjoy a spectacular night watching a sky completely illuminated by stars and a good dinner in the open air enjoying the most of This wonderful place.
You will sleep in a tent with all the comforts possible in the environment. It is an unforgettable experience!!
Third day
After spending a beautiful night in the desert under the stars, dawn gave us this wonder. Wouldn't you rather start like this every morning?
Tafilalet, Rissani, Arzou and Ifrane
After seeing the sunrise we will get back on our camels to go to where you have breakfast. And we set off to get to Fez. Along the way we passed
through Tafilalet and Rissani, the former capital of the Alawite sultans, Azrou and Ifrane, where we stop in the so-called monkey forest. Keep an eye on your belongings and keep the sunglasses in the backpack! They are little thieves.
We arrived in Fez quite late, around 7:00 p.m. We were exhausted and we went directly to the hotel that we had reserved, the RIAD MYRA.
It has been a unique experience and absolutely recommendable!!
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEP BY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to Morocco a lot and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
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A hug and see you soon!