6 Day Desert Trekking
6 Day Desert Trekking
6 Day Jebel Saghro Trekking
- Duration: 6 Day
- Tour Type : Private
- Pickup : Personalized
- – Supervision: all tours are supervised by a qualified mountain guide.
- – Transport: by minibus or 4X4 vehicle depending on the circuits.
- – bivouac and kitchen equipment
- – Accommodation: depending on the tours, in a 3-star hotel, in a lodge, bivouac (2-person
tent with mattress), at the inhabitant’s. - – Meals: they are prepared by a cook during the stay.
- – Carrying of luggage: your luggage is carried by pack animals (mule or dromedary). Bring
a small backpack for your daily things. - -mineral water lay the stay
- – Accommodation in (Marrakech)
- – Repatriation insurance
- – Meals in Marrakech
- – The drinks
- – Tips
- – NB: Repatriation insurance can be granted to you by the company that insures your
property (automobile, accommodation, civil liability, etc.) or through your credit card.
Check it out! If this is not the case, take out repatriation insurance.
1. What is the balance between hiking and driving on this tour?
This tour is a hybrid adventure. It combines vehicle transportation with active exploration.
Hiking: You will spend 2 days (Day 2 & Day 3) trekking on foot from Nkob to Tifdassine. The hikes average 4 to 5 hours per day.
Driving/Touring: Days 1, 4, 5, and 6 involve scenic driving through the Atlas Mountains, Draa Valley, and Dades Valley, with stops for sightseeing (like Ait Ben Haddou and Todgha Gorges).
2. How difficult is the hiking portion?
The hiking is considered moderate. You will be walking for roughly 5 hours a day through the Saghro region (altitudes around 1700m–1750m). The terrain includes gorges (Afourar) and rocky peaks (Bab n’ Ali). While you don’t need technical mountaineering skills, a reasonable level of fitness is required.
3. What is the accommodation like?
You will experience four different types of accommodation during this 6-day trip:
Guesthouse: Night 1 in the village of Nkob.
Camping (Bivouac): Nights 2 & 3 are spent in tents near rivers or in valleys (Igli and Tifdassine).
Desert Camp: Night 4 is spent in an authentic desert camp amidst the Merzouga dunes.
Hotel: Night 5 is spent in a hotel in the Dades Valley.
4. What is the “Desert Experience” included in the tour?
On Day 4, you will travel to Merzouga. The experience includes a one-hour camel ride at sunset to reach your camp in the middle of the dunes. You will have dinner under the stars, sleep in the camp, and wake up early to watch the sunrise. Afterwards, you will ride camels back to a hotel in Merzouga for breakfast and a shower.
5. What happens to my luggage during the hike?
Important Note: According to the tour details, mules and muleteers to carry your luggage are NOT included in the base price. You should confirm with the operator if you need to pay an extra fee for luggage transport during the hiking days (Day 2 & 3), or if you are expected to carry your own gear.
6. Is food provided?
Yes. All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are included throughout the trek.
During the hike: You will have a Berber cook who prepares meals, including lunches served in scenic spots (e.g., under almond trees).
During the road trip: Lunches are typically taken at local restaurants (e.g., in Ouarzazate or the Draa Valley).
7. When is the best time to see the almond trees in bloom?
If you wish to see the almond fields of the Igli and Tifdassine valleys in full bloom, the itinerary suggests traveling during April, when the views are described as “magical.”
8. What is NOT included in the price?
To avoid surprises, please plan for the following expenses:
Beverages: Water, soft drinks, and alcohol are not included.
Luggage Transport: Mules/muleteers are listed as excluded.
Insurance: Travel insurance is mandatory and not provided.
Tips: Gratuities for the guide, cook, and drivers.
9. What cultural sites will we visit?
Besides the natural landscapes, you will visit:
Traditional Berber Villages: Nkob, Boualouz, and the transhumant lands of the Ait Atta tribe.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: The famous Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou.
Kasbahs: The Kasbah of Taourirt in Ouarzazate.
Valleys: The Valley of Roses (El Kelaa M’Gouna) and the Dades Valley.
Overview
This 6-day desert tour from Marrakech offers a diverse journey through mountains, valleys, and the Sahara. The trip begins by crossing the scenic Tizi n’Tichka Pass and traveling through the Draa Valley to the village of Nkob. The next two days are spent hiking from Nkob to Igli and Tifdassine, where you’ll discover traditional Berber villages, beautiful landscapes, and unique rock formations like Bab n’ Ali and Tadaout n’ Tblah. On Day 4, the tour transitions to the desert, driving to Merzouga for a sunset camel ride and a night in an authentic desert camp. Day 5 involves watching the sunrise over the dunes, then traveling to the Todgha Gorges and the Dades Valley. The final day includes exploring the Dades Valley, visiting the Kasbah of Taourirt and the famous UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou, before concluding with the return journey to Marrakech.
Itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech –Tizi n Tichka- Nkob
Your journey begins with a pickup from your riad or hotel in Marrakech. You will travel over the scenic Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2260m), offering stunning views of traditional villages and valleys, with plenty of opportunities to take photos. The drive continues towards Ouarzazate, where you’ll stop for lunch either there or in the famous Draa Valley, known for its palm groves. A short 40-minute drive after lunch will take you to the village of Nkob, where you will spend the night in a guesthouse.
Day 2: Nkob – bab n Ali – Igli an altitude of 1750m
The day begins with a short one-hour drive from Nkob to the mountain of Bab n’ Ali, where you’ll be greeted by your muleteer team. This is the starting point of your 4-5 hour hike toward Igli. The trek takes you through the stunning Afourar gorges before arriving in the village of Boualouz. This part of the journey is your first opportunity to immerse yourself in the Amazigh (Berber) culture and observe their way of life in this picturesque valley. The day concludes with setting up camp for the night by a scenic river, providing a tranquil setting to unwind.
Day 3: Igli – Ighazzoun – Tifdassine
We depart from our campsite near the river and its beautiful almond fields, which are in spectacular bloom during April. The path offers a “magical view” of the rocky peaks of Tadaout n Tblah as it leads you toward Tizi N’Taggourt, a pass at an altitude of 1700 meters, which provides a stunning vista of the Ighazzoun valley. After enjoying the view, you’ll descend into the valley to meet your cook for lunch. The 5-hour hike concludes by continuing on to the Tifdassine valley, where your camp will be set up for the night.
Day 4: Tifdassine – Nkoub – Alnif – Merzouga
In the morning, a car will pick you up and drive you along the Tifdassine valley back to Nkob. After a brief stop in Nkob, you will hit the road again, this time heading towards the Merzouga dunes, crossing a rocky, dry desert landscape. Just before sunset, you will begin a one-hour camel ride to reach your authentic camp, where you’ll spend the night in the middle of the dunes and have dinner.
Day 5: Merzouga – Todgha gorges- Dades valley
Rising early to catch the sunrise over the dunes, you’ll then take a camel ride back to a hotel in Merzouga for breakfast and a shower. The journey continues through the Ziz Valley and various villages before reaching the Todgha Gorges. Here, you can take a stroll through the impressive canyon, with its imposing walls reaching over 200 meters high. After exploring the gorges and the valley, you will continue on to the Dades Valley, where you will spend the night in a hotel.
Day 6: Dades valley- Ouarzazate- Ait ben Haddou- Marrakech
After breakfast on the final day, the tour continues its exploration before heading back to Marrakech. You will travel through the Dades Valley, following the “road of a thousand kasbahs” and passing through El Kelaa Magona, also known as the Valley of the Roses. The journey includes a stop for a photo opportunity at the Kasbah of Taourirt in Ouarzazate, followed by a visit to the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou. The trip concludes with the drive back to Marrakech over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, with an expected arrival in the early evening.