At 7:00 AM, we stood before the hotel with our designated driver to commence our journey. We embarked on our excursion, leaving the city behind and venturing into primitive local villages and markets. Urban development gradually faded, replaced by the majestic High Atlas Mountains and the buildings constructed on their slopes.

The Tizi-n-Tichka road, the second-highest summit after Toubkal (2260 m altitude), offered a scenic spectacle displaying the stunning High Atlas Mountains. The Ait Benhaddou Ksar, an ancient Moroccan palace, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and a renowned filming location for several well-known movies, such as Gladiator, The Mummy, Prince of Persia, and Game of Thrones.

After visiting the Kasbahs, we continued our journey towards Ouarzazate, the door of the desert or the Hollywood of Africa. A 20-minute drive leads us to Ouarzazate, where we had lunch and visited some popular destinations, including the Kasbah Taourirt and the cinema museum.

Ouarzazate, a charming city, is a world-class film studio that has earned its reputation. However, the highlight of our trip was yet to come as we made our way towards the desert. The Valley of Roses was our next stop. In this area, the inhabitants earn their livelihood by cultivating roses and extracting oils, perfumes, and various cosmetics using traditional natural methods that comply with safety standards and yield better results than their manufactured counterparts.

We paused our journey to observe the rocks resembling the toes of monkeys or the fingers of huge gorillas and continued towards our hotel, approximately 26 kilometres away. We concluded our day with dinner and spent our first night at Hotel Dades.

Greetings and salutations! The morning is particularly beautiful today, having spent the previous night in the straits of Dades. Despite the mountainous terrain that can be bitterly cold during the winter, we found the hospitality of the hotels to be one of the most delightful experiences of this trip.

Our itinerary for today involves visiting the city of Tinghir, the Todra fjords, and the districts. We will commence our visit with an appointment with the local guide of this region. A guided visit to Tinghir Oasis is scheduled for approximately 90 minutes. We will then proceed to the Todra Gorges. Our lunch will be enjoyed at the same village, after which we will proceed to Merzouga, passing through tin-jdad, Erfoud, and Rissani.

Merzouga offers an opportunity to experience the beauty it has to offer. We will embark on a 45-minute-long camel ride to witness the sunset and enter the Sahara. Subsequently, we will spend another 45 minutes witnessing the sunrise and exiting the Sahara the next morning.

We will spend our second night in the Sahara beneath the stars and Berber tents. Entertainment will be provided through fire camp and folkloric dances.

As the sun slowly emerges from the horizon, it’s time to awaken and indulge in a delicious breakfast. With our bellies full, we eagerly await the breathtaking sunrise, ready to capture countless photos of the stunning scenery. As the golden rays paint the sky with vivid colours, we stand in awe, mesmerised by the sheer beauty of it all.

After sunrise, we’ll make our way back to Marrakech, taking a different route this time, and although the path may vary, our sense of adventure remains unchanged. As we traverse the rugged terrain, we’ll witness the diverse landscapes of Morocco, from the barren deserts to the lush valleys and everything in between.

As the day ends, we’ll be tired but content, cherishing the memories of our journey and the joy of experiencing something new. With the sun setting in the distance, we’ll rest and reflect on the wondrous sights we’ve seen, ready to return to Marrakech rejuvenated and fulfilled.