Big Loop Circuit

Description

Day 1: Ouarzazate – Dades Gorge

After a traditional Moroccan breakfast, depart from Ouarzazate in early morning for the multicolored rock walls of Dades Gorge, along Lake Ouarzazate via the road of kasbahs. Pass through Skoura, a fertile oasis lined with immense palm groves, to reach the home of Morocco’s Rose Festival, El Kelâa M’Gouna (commonly referred to as the Valley of Roses). Continue through the Rose Valley and Ait Said, Tourbist, and Tamalout to reach the village of Bou-Thahrar. Enjoy a walking tour beside the River M’Goun, then continue to the Kasbah of Ait Youl Glaoui in the Dades Valley with its colorful rocks and ancient kasbahs. Arrive at your guest house in Dades Gorge in late afternoon for dinner and the night.

Day 2: Dades Gorge – Todra Gorge

After a traditional Moroccan breakfast, enjoy an hour hike to reach the canyons of Dades Gorge and the stunning scenery of the area. Stop for lunch and continue to the Todra Gorge via the village of Tinghir. Arrive at your guesthouse in Todra Gorge after a stroll through the impressive gorges for a traditional dinner and the night.

Day 3: Todra Gorge – Merzouga

After a traditional Moroccan breakfast, hike the magnificent palm grove of Tinghir, which stretches 30 miles (48 km). Visit the traditional adobe architecture of the ancient Jewish quarter of Tinghir. Then on to the village of Tinghir and the Tinejdad palm grove and the village of Jorf Erfoud. Arrive in Merzouga in late afternoon for a camel trek to the desert camp and sunset over the dunes of Erg Chebbi. Traditional nomad dinner and night under the stars or in nomad tents.

Day 4: Merzouga – Zagora

After watching sunrise over the dunes and a traditional nomad breakfast, depart for Zagora via the village of Rissani, crossing the Tafilalet and vast mineral Massif Bougafer to reach Alnif. Stop for lunch in Tazzarine or N’Kob, as you desire. On to Tansikht through the Draa Valley oasis to Zagora. Arrive at your guesthouse in Zagora in the late afternoon for a traditional dinner and the night.

Day 5: Zagora – Erg Chigaga 

Depart early morning from Zagora to M’Hamid el Ghizlane. Stop in the village of Tamegroute to visit the Koranic library, the manufacturing location of the unique green pottery of Tamegroute and the underground streets of the village. Visit the oasis of Ktaoua, Ksar Nesrat and Beni Sbih, the former home of the largest Jewish population in Morocco in the early 20^th century. Enjoy a lunch with locals through our homestay program in M’Hamid el Ghizlane, then continue by 4×4 to the big dunes of Erg Chigaga. Arrive at the desert camp in time for sunset on the dunes followed by a traditional nomad dinner and a night under the stars or in nomad tents.

Day 6: Erg Chigaga – Ouarzazate

After sunrise over the dunes and a traditional nomad breakfast, depart for Ouarzazate along the track between Erg Chigaga and the old riverbed of the Draa River to Lake Iriqui, then to the village Foum Zguid. Stop for lunch at Taznakht, well known for its handmade Berber carpets and silver jewelry. Arrive in Ouarzazate in late afternoon.