The Merzouga Desert is located in Morocco.
In recent years, the Merzouga desert has become more vital to Moroccan businesses and visitors alike. Because of its stunning golden sand dunes, it has become a must-see and the most popular tourist destination in Morocco. Despite its location in Morocco’s southeast and proximity to Algeria, it is not in the middle of nowhere. People go for days to remain in Berber tents at night. Some individuals travel vast distances to go to the desert. Some individuals organize journeys to see several locations along the route to the desert. Most people consider the Merzouga desert and the activities available there to be the highlights of any vacation to Morocco.
Merzouga was named after the Merzoug family that lived in the region. Tourists are the area’s primary and most significant source of revenue. In some locations, farming is the primary source of income.
The desert near Merzouga is known as Erg Chebbi and stretches 30 kilometers from Tighmert to Khamlia. Having said that, if you go on toward Rmlia and Jdaid, you will come across further fields. The Znigui desert is the most renowned, attracting around 10% of all travelers to Merzouga.
People like the Merzouga desert because they may ride camels and sleep in tents amid the dunes. Aside from the breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.
Kasbah at Ait Benhaddou
During our 8-day desert journey from Marrakech to Merzouga, we will visit Ait Benhaddou, a medieval fortress. It is located around 30 kilometers from the city of Ouarzazate, on a point in the High Atlas Mountains. This walled town was designated a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1987.
Ait Benhaddou is a real-life piece of art that demonstrates how lovely Moroccan architecture can be. Even more intriguing is that it was created by Berbers yet incorporates Arabic elements. There are massive walls and towers there, which were primarily erected as defensive fortresses. The towers are decorated in a unique fashion with Moroccan clay art.
It is reported that Thami el Glaoui, who hailed from one of Morocco’s wealthiest families, erected it in the 1100s. Even though the residents have relocated, the home has stood for decades. There are presently just approximately 40 people living there, with the majority residing on the opposite side of the river, rather than in the main town. They earn the majority of their money from visitors that visit the area—more than 130,000 individuals every year—which is why they are financially secure.
This is more than simply a tourist destination; it also serves as a location for producers and filmmakers. Think of the films Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia, among others. Without a doubt, the generosity of the people that reside in this town and all Moroccans is what attracts visitors from both inside and outside of Morocco.
Ouarzazate
It is necessary to witness the entry to the Sahara desert. During your five-day desert adventure from Marrakech to Fes, you will travel via the magnificent city of Ouarzazate. It is one of Morocco’s most significant cities since it has an international airport, making it convenient for most people who wish to travel on vacation to the desert. Because it possesses the world’s largest solar station, Ouarzazate may be the most significant location for solar energy. This final one is only accessible to the public when movies and television series are shot in the city, which is why it is so well-known for them.
It’s about halfway to Merzouga in the Sahara desert. As a result, it is one of the most popular attractions among travelers. The name is derived from Berber and means “city or place without noise.” Even though it makes little noise, everyone knows what it is.
Most people like visiting the Atlas Studios. When you visit this city, you will see that there are two Atlas Studios. One is the Oscar Studio, which is where the majority of people go. It is around 5 kilometers from the city center and located in the northwest area of the city. This location offers breathtaking views of old-fashioned structures. The Oscar offices are somewhat closer than the CLA Atlas Studio, which is across the street. In fact, while being the city’s oldest studio, it is less often visited.
First and foremost, Ouarzazate is a major tourist destination. It is also a popular filming location for television and movies. One such program is Prison Break’s sixth season.
A excursion to the desert
On the third day of our 8-day desert tour from Marrakech to Fes, you will see many interesting locations. The trek into the desert demonstrates how the Berber people of Morocco live in the desert and allows you to live like they do.
We normally start our vacation by visiting the Berber Nomads. These individuals are still living in tents and doing rudimentary tasks. of recent years, nomads have comprised the majority of the population of Merzouga and the surrounding settlements. That is, everyone in Merzouga was once a traveler who lived in tents before settling down and building a home. We will meet farmers who grow their own sheep and sell them in Rissani and Erfoud’s historic souks for a livelihood. The major reason to visit these people is because they have preserved the basic and authentic way of life of desert people and Berber Nomads, who are noted for their kindness and generosity.
Second, the drive into the desert introduces you to the Gnawa tribe. As previously stated, these individuals came from many nations, including Niger, Gabon, and Mali. However, the residents of Khamlia, which is around 4 kilometers from Merzouga, have changed their name to Berber and speak Tamazight. They learnt to coexist with Berbers and became an integral part of Merzouga. As their renown rose, they constructed a mansion named Dar Gnaoua. This is where people gathered to perform music and host gatherings. Many visitors and Moroccans from the region visit to experience this distinct lifestyle.
This tour also includes a visit to the Moroccan National Auto Museum.
Mountains and valleys. During our 8-day desert trip from Marrakech to Merzouga, we will drive via the majority of the routes that wind through picturesque valleys. They all have one thing in common: amazing vistas. We shall discuss them in order of importance, since some are more significant than others.
The first is Draa, commonly known as the Dra Valley. It is located in the southeast, in the High Atlas Mountains. It is Morocco’s largest river and valley, stretching more than 1,100 kilometers. There are clearly large areas of palm and olive trees there. Agdz and Ouarzazate are the two towns that profit from the valley’s commodities. However, there are some Berber settlements along this river that rely only on the river for revenue.
The second spot is Ziz Valley, which produces the most dates in the nation. It is located in the midst of the Erfoud-Errachidia region. Every year, the city of Erfoud commemorates the valley and its dates with a holiday.
The remaining large regions are mostly located between Marrakech and the Merzouga desert. The Ounila valley was the first. It runs in front of the Ait Benhaddou fortification. The name of this location is Oued El Maleh, which means “salty river.” Its name refers to the fact that salt was formerly marketed there. Second, there’s Rose Valley, which is known for its beauty goods. Finally, Boumalne contains a variety of tiny hills, including Dades.
Both Rissani and Erfoud
Morocco’s southeast has a number of historically significant towns. On the 5-day desert excursion from Marrakech to Fes, it was evident that Rissani and Erfoud were two of Morocco’s most renowned desert settlements.
Rissani
Rissani, the Tafilalt area’s center, should be your first stop. The Berber term “tafilalt” means “jug.” It was a key station for wagons traveling from Niger to the north of Morocco. It is also known as Sijilmassa. As a result, it rose to prominence and amassed wealth for centuries. In reality, this city is where the present royal family and the Alaouiet dynasty originated.
Tafilalt is one of Morocco’s largest oases, with one of the largest palm-tree farms. This city also has the largest old souk in the Southeast, if not the whole nation. Traditional methods of transporting and trading items are employed there so that they might be sold. Donkeys and horses continue to be the primary modes of transportation for people and goods. Rissani contributes to the growth of the desert region by cultivating dates, which provide Morocco with a large number of dates.
The souks are only available to the public on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and they have more items for sale, so here is where people come every week. The majority of the sales originate from Rissani or Erfoud, indicating that this location is active.
Erfoud
On the other side, the picturesque city of Erfoud is barely 50 kilometers from the Merzouga desert. It is the primary fossil-finding location in the Southeast, and tiny workshops produce a variety of fossils throughout the year. Erfoud also hosts an annual fair to recognize and showcase various types of dates. This festival attracts people from all over the globe, thus it is not limited to Moroccan dates.
Ifrane & the Cedar Forest
Our 8 days desert trek from Marrakech to Fes will include visits in the Cedar Forest and Ifrane.
Ifrane is the first location to visit. Many people refer to it as the “Little Moroccan Switzerland.” The weather and temperatures there are among the greatest in the world. It’s in the Middle Atlas Mountains. Ifrane, a Berber name, meaning “cave.” People refer to it as the “Switzerland of Morocco” since it is the cleanest city in Africa and the sixth cleanest in the world.
Of course, the fact that it’s a popular ski destination just adds to its fame. Every winter, it attracts a large number of visitors from both inside and outside of the nation. Ifrane is also home to Al Akhawayn University, one of Morocco’s top. This second one is a major tourist destination for visitors from all over the globe, including Morocco. The Atlas Lion Monument is also present. It is the most popular attraction in the city. According to the tale, a German prisoner erected the second one in payment for his release.
On the journey to Fes, you’ll also travel through the Cedar Forest. It lies near the city of Azrou and is also known as Gouraud Forest. Many extinct species used to reside here. Nowadays, people just go to visit the Barbary Monkey.
