New Years Eve/Sylverstr 2012/13 - Moroccan Desert Tour

An unforgettable New Years Eve in the Moroccan Sahara desert. Celebrate New Years Eve 2012/13 with dance, live Berber music and drumming in the Sahara desert around the camp fire. Take your camel on a ride over the sand dune; watch the desert sparkled by thousand of stars, and sleep under the Nomad tent.

On this Morocco Tour explore the snow capped High Atlas Mountains and enjoy fantastic views. Visit the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou and travel pass many green oasis and deep gorges.

Enjoy the party a traditional feast of roasted lamb (Mechoui) and royal cous cous. sunset sahara desert

Tour A 4 days/3 nights

29th December Marrakech -Ait Ben Haddou

Morning pick up from your Riad/hotel in Marrakech and travel through the High Atlas Mountains via the Tichka Pass (2260M), the highest road pass in Morocco. Offering panoramic views of the snow capped High Atlas Mountains and their magnificent landscapes. Visit the extraordinary sight of the Atlas Mountains Kasbah Telouet, a rustic town that was once a principal stop on the main caravan route to Mali. Here visit an amazing relic of Moroccan history, the crumbling Kasbah that was once the palatial residence of extremely powerful Glaoui family. Then continue your trip to another perhaps the most impressive Kasbah of Morocco AitBenHaddou. Buil on a hilltop, it has been featured in many movies such as the Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. The views from the upper heights of the Kasbah are awe inspiring and worth the climb through winding streets. Night in hotel by Ait Ben Haddou

30th December Ait Ben Haddou- Ouarzazate - Agdz - Zagora

Depart in the morning to Ouarzazate and travel via the scenic Draa Valley lined by many palm groves and Sub Saharan Berber villages. The drive will pass through the barren arid rock and then slowly change as we descend into the Draa Valley. One of the most impressive and biggest valleys of Morocco. We will take a lovely off road that passes through the Berber villages where we view the life unchanged and the tradition is being passed from families. We will visit one of the families for a delicious glass of the sweet mint tea and have the opportunity to view their lifestyle. Night in hotel in Zagora

31st December Zagora - M'hamid - Erg Chigaga

This morning we set for our desert adventure! The fist stop of the day will be small town of Tamengroute that is well known for its underground Kasbah where people still live today. Then we follow the Draa Valley to M'hamid where the road dissolves into nothing. Here we have the last chance to buy any supplies needed for our night in the desert. Then we journey into the desert landscape traveling off road through rocky plains that will change into the fine desert sand of the Sahara. We arrive to the sand dunes of Erg Chigaga, magnificent sand dunes spreading over 40kms and reaching up to 300m high. Today we will experience a camel ride, upon our arrival to the camp. Saddle your camels and follow your guide across the sand dunes of Erg Chigaga. Ride approximately for 2 hours - a unique experience. bivouac1

Here settled for an unforgettable night - A New Year Party/Sylvester in the desert

Feast in the Desert includes:

Welcome with Moroccan mint tea, dates and almonds
Big camp fire
Local Berber music
Buffet dinner style under large Berber tent
Mechoui (whole roasted lamb with trimmings)
Royal Cous Cous
Deserts of fruit
Night in the tents (mattresses, linen, blankets, pillows are provided)
Authentic decoration of candles and more

1st December Erg Chigaga - Marrakech

After breakfast and stunning sunrise start heading back towards Marrakech. Travel through the sand dunes in your 4x4 wheel drive. Your driver's skill will carry you across the sand dunes, the old rally Paris - Dakar road. Pass the imaginary lake of Iriqui to Forum Zquid. There get back onto the main route. Make a lunch stop in Taznakcht - known for handmade Berber carpets. Expected arrival to Marrakech at 7pm.

Cost of this tour is 345 Euros per person

Services included in price:

4x4 WD & Fuel & English speaking driver
Accommodation by Ait Ben Haddou with breakfast and dinner (rooms with heating and ensuite baths)
Accommodation in Zagora with breakfast and dinner (rooms with heating and ensuite baths)
Overnight in Nomad tent by Erg Chigaga with breakfast and New Year's Eve Feast
Party for the New Years Eve in the middle of Sahara desert
Camels & Guide

Tour B 5 days/4 nights

28th December Marrakech - AitBenHaddou

Morning pick up from your Riad in Marrakech and travel through the High Atlas Mountains via the Tichka pass (2260m), the highest road in Morocco. Offering panoramic views of the snow capped High Atlas Mountains and the magnificent landscapes. Visit the extraordinary sight of the Atlas Mountains Kasbah Telouet, a rustic town that was a principal stop of the caravan route. Here visit an amazing relic of Moroccan history, the crumbling Kasbah tha twas once a palatial residence of extremely powerful Glaouid tribe. Then continue with a visit to another impressive Kasbah AIt Ben Haddou. A UNESCO protected,built on a hilltop and featured in many movies such as Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia. The views from the upper heights are awe inspiring and worth the required climb through the winding, narrow streets. Night by Ait Ben Haddou, breakfast & dinner

29th December Ait Ben Haddou - Dades Gorge - Todra Gorge

This morning we head to the city of Ouarzazate, modern city where Kasbah Taourirt stand in the center. Today we will be exploring the amazing scenery of very deep gorges. Following the route of 1000 Kasbahs we view the Skoura Oasis and Rose Valley, Kellaa Mgouna to Dades Gorge. Carved by the Dades river is a photographic challenge for anyone. Capture the red and mauve road along the zig zagging road that leads us on top of the george. Then our next destination will be another very impressive Gorge and the highest oasis valley in Morocco, the Todra Gorge. The gorge cuts into the ocher-colored cliffs of the High Atlas. Its walls are 300 meters high and at their most narrow part are mere 20 meters apart. Then we start heading towards the Sarhro volcanic mountains quite different to the Atlas Mountains. It is a beautiful jumble of volcanic peaks punctuated by gorges, ruined Kasbahs. Eventually the road will slowly change along the Draa Valley. The longest rivet valley of Morocco lined by many palm groves, Sub Sahara Berber villages. Overnight in Todra Gorge, dinner and breakfast

30th December Todra Gorge - Nekob - Zagora

Today feel inspired as we cross the Sarhro volcanic mountains very different to the High Atlas. It is a beautiful jumble of volcanic peaks punctuated by gorges, ruined Kasbahs. Then the scenery will change as we start approaching the Draa Valley, the longest river valley in Morocco. At first we view few of the date palms but approaching Zagora, we see one of the most beautiful stretches of the valley lined by many palms and small villages. Overnight in Zagora.

31st December Zagora - M'hamid -Erg Chigaga

Short drive to Tamengroute, to view the underground Kasbah and Koran library that features books from the 13th century. Then it will not be too long drive to M'hamid, last city of any civilization before the road disappears into nothing. We enjoy a nice lunch, before resuming our journey through the wild desert scenery. Travel across the desert landscape with a stop at Oasis Sacre, water source of the desert. Then late afternoon arrival to Erg Chigaga. Here et your camels in the company of a guide to take you across those sand dunes during an amazing sun set. Ride approximately for 2 hours - a unique experience. Then time to settle at our camp where we celebrate the New Year with a delicious whole roasted lamb and company of good spirited travelers.

Here settled for an unforgettable night - A New Year Party/Sylvester in the desert

1st December Erg Chigaga - Marrakech

After breakfast and stunning sunrise start heading back towards Marrakech. Travel through the sand dunes in your 4x4 wheel drive. Your driver's skill will carry you across the sand dunes, the old rally Paris - Dakarroad. Pass the imaginary lake of Iriqui to Forum Zquid. There get back onto the main route. Make a lunch stop in Taznakcht - known for handmade Berber carpets. Expected arrival to Marrakech at 7pm.

Cost of this tour is 499 Euros per person

Services included in price:

4x4 WD & Fuel & English speaking Driver
Accommodation by Ait Ben Haddou with breakfast and dinner (en suite bathrooms and heating)
Accommodation in Todra Gorge with breakfast and dinner (en suite bathrooms and heating)
Accommodation in Zagora with breakfast and dinner (en suite bathrooms and heating)
Overnight in Nomad tent with breakfast and New Years Eve Dinner (mattress, linen, blankets and pillows)
New Years Eve party
Camels & Guide