Setting out for our overnight in the Sahara Desert, we will go by 4×4 on a desert safari stopping to have tea or lunch with a family that is still living the nomadic life. We will see the place where Moroccan traders used to meet others to make the long and dangerous route to Timbuktu an ancient major trading center for gold and salt. Lunch is provided along the way.

After arriving at our desert camp at Erg Chigaga, the largest dunes in Morocco, we will be welcomed with Moroccan tea and treats.  Just before sunset we will take our own camel caravan into the dunes for a memorable ride and photos.

We will make our way across a different part of the Sahara through Lake Iriki National Park.  The lake nowadays is mostly dry. It was a favorite place of the southern gazelles.  It was established to protect the biodiversity, flora and fauna across 123,000 hectares of south-eastern Morocco. We will visit the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is an perfect example of the traditional adobe building. It was the set for films such as Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy, Gladiator and Game of Thrones. (4 hrs). Includes dinner. Overnight: Isselday. 

After breakfast we will drive to the quaint port town of Essaouira. Essaouira has its own fortified old medina that is protected by the 18th-century seafront ramparts called the Skala de la Kasbah. Old brass cannons line the walls surrounding the old city that looks out into the ocean.  (5.5 hrs) Overnight in Essaouira. 

Spend the day enjoying the small port town of Essaouira on your own. Optional activities include camel or horse riding on the beach, yoga or hammam (Moroccan spa treatment). Overnight in Essaouira.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive (3 hrs) to Marrakech. After lunch, our local guide will lead us on a tour of Marrakech including the souks (market place), Jemaa el Fna Square, Bahia Palace and Koutoubia mosque. Overnight in Marrakech.