Internationale groepsreis Marrakech & the Sahara

Arrival at our hotel in the evening. Hotel Gomassine or similar

With time to explore Marrakech at the end of our journey, we leave the Red City behind and head into the Atlas Mountains. Our destination for the day is the well-preserved Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most spectacular sights of the Atlas, made famous as the filming location for several Hollywood films including 'Gladiator'. The route takes us over Tizi N Tichka pass, the highest in Morocco, arriving mid-afternoon.  We will then have time for an afternoon walk around the town.Ksar el janoub or similar

After a short transfer, our adventure begins in Ouarzazate, nicknamed the 'door to the desert' because it used to be a crossing point for African traders on their way to Europe. It is now the site of the Atlas Film Studios, the setting for many Hollywood films, as well as Game of Thrones and BBC's Atlantis. It's also home to the impressive Kasbah Taourirt. Originally this kasbah was later owned by T'hami El Glaoui who is better known as the Lord of the Atlas. The Krupps field gun that secured the Glaoui power is now displayed outside the kasbah.We then head south 4,5 hours’ drive along the Draa Valley, a huge palmery containing over four million palm trees, bordered by many ksours (fortified villages). Here we embark for 2hours  camel trek and venture further into the desert, where we spend the night at a simple Bedouin camp for some spectacular star-gazing. Surrounded by silence and millions of stars lets us appreciate the immensity of the Sahara Desert.Full-service CampingNOTE - as we venture into the desert, you are requested to only bring an overnight bag and leave all your remaining luggage with the vehicle. Please pack your overnight bag ready for today.

After waking in the silence of the desert we take a return camel ride and a short drive to Zagora. Here there is time to rest, have a shower and enjoy the pool. Later in the afternoon we can take the optional walk in to the valley and around this famous desert outpost. Hôtel La Fibule Zagora or similar

Travelling west through Draa valley to join Ounila valley at the High Atlas Mountains. Start our walk from Animeter  on a gentle uphill  gradient to our well-equipped gite at Tijhza where we spend the night. In the evening we will visit the village hammam, built with money raised by Exodus clients. This is a truly authentic experience and terrific fun. It is very much a traditional hammam and you are likely to get the opportunity to mix with the villagers, which further adds to the experience. A standard treatment is included, but you will need to purchase a scrubber and soap for 20MAD (£1.50) and pay a customary tip of 20MAD. Refreshed, we return to the gite for our final dinner in the mountains.Tijhza Gite or similar

There is time to relax this morning on the riad terrace, which has wonderful views across the fertile Tijhza Valley. Alternatively, we offer an optional 3-4 hour trek through the villages of this remote area, passing fields cultivated by the Berber women, with the peaks of the High Atlas as a fitting backdrop. After lunch, we leave the gite making the scenic drive over the High Atlas Mountains back to Marrakech, with some stunning scenery along the way. Once again we cross Tizi'n'Tichka, at 2260m which is the highest road pass in Morocco. Back in Marrakech we check-in to our hotel. In the evening we visit Djemma el Fna, the open-air central square around which Marrakech revolves. The name literally means 'place of death', as the sultans once displayed the heads of their enemies here. Now, with the food stalls, snake charmers, juice-sellers and acrobats, it is a place of night time entertainment for locals and tourists alike.Hotel Gomassine or similar

Today we set off on foot on a guided tour to see the spectacular sites of Marrakech. Our city guide will lead us to the Bahia Palace and the Saadian tombs, which date back to the 16th century. We continue through the labyrinthine of souks, bartering for souvenirs, or we can visit the largest mosque in Marrakech, Koutoubia. Alternatively, you may prefer to head off on your own today and take a calèche ride (horse-drawn carriage) to the peaceful Majorelle gardens, owned by Yves St Laurent and decorated throughout in indigo blue; or simply enjoy a hammam (traditional Moroccan steam bath).Hotel Gomassine or similar

Our tour ends after breakfast