Grand South circuit · Fez → Sidi Ali → Ouarzazate · 6 nights / 7 daysFez · Middle Atlas · Sidi Ali · Erg Chebbi · Ouarzazate

From Fez to the Atlas, through Sidi Ali and the desert.

From Fez's UNESCO medina to the gate of Moroccan cinema — crossing the Sidi Ali alpine oasis, the Sahara and the Atlas gorges.

Duration

6 nights / 7 days

Airports

In Fez · Out Ouarzazate

Highlights

UNESCO Medina · Sidi Ali Lake · Khenifra National Park · Erg Chebbi · Todra · Atlas Studios

Request information Full programme

Scroll

Trip description

History, mountain, desert and cinema.

Explore the fascinating history of Fez — the best-preserved medina in the Arab world — with its narrow alleys, lively souks and centuries-old mosques.

Then escape to the serenity of Hotel Xaluca Spa Aguelmane Sidi Ali — once a hunting and fishing lodge, today a high-altitude boutique hotel at 2,200 m above Morocco's deepest natural lake.

The journey combines history, culture, nature, desert and mountain — ending in Ouarzazate, capital of Moroccan cinema and southern gateway to the Atlas.

Plan trip Book an appointment Contact

Quick facts

The essentials.

Duration6 nights / 7 days

PlacesFez · Ifrane · Aguelmame Sidi Ali · Khenifra National Park · Ziz Valley · Erfoud · Erg Chebbi · Todra · Boumalne Dades · Ouarzazate

AirportsFez / Ouarzazate

TypeDesert + Atlas

Experiences4x4 · camels · bivouac · Berber villages · gorges · oases

Listen to this journey

Let us tell you the route.

A narration to picture every stage before you set off.

Listen to this journey

Let us tell you the route.

A narration to picture every stage before you set off.

The whole route

Your journey on a single map.

Every stop connected — the full route, day by day, in a single image.

stops7

approximate km642

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

City
lake
Desert
Market
Gorge
Airport

Travel notes

Pack your bag

Handwritten notes from those who already did this route — what to pack to enjoy it surprise-free.

Versatile

Clothes for city, mountain & desert

Versatile layers: you'll mix medinas, the High Atlas and dunes in a single trip.
Comfortable, modest clothing for mosques and medersas (shoulders and knees covered).
A fleece or jumper for the cool Atlas and desert nights.
Comfortable, broken-in closed shoes: you'll walk a lot through medinas and kasbahs.

— Your Xaluca team

For the long days

The traveller's accessories

Sunglasses, SPF 50 and a cap: from city sun to Sahara sun.
A large scarf (cheche) for sun, wind and sand in the south.
Lip balm and moisturiser: the south is very dry.
A reusable bottle and headphones or a book for the drives.

— Your Xaluca team

Nights & logistics

The desert night & the transfers

A small bag for the night at the bivouac; your big suitcase rides in the vehicle.
A head torch and a power bank for the camp.
Something warm to sleep under the stars.
Cash in dirhams for tips, tea and purchases in the souks.

— Your Xaluca team

Tap a stage to read the details

Day 01
Outbound flight · Arrival in Fez
Day route:Arrival → Fez
Highlights
- 01The most fascinating medina in the Arab worldFez has been UNESCO World Heritage since 1981 — 9,000 alleys, 60,000 doors and an urban fabric unchanged since the 9th century.
- 02The world's oldest universityAl-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859 CE by Fatima al-Fihri, is recognised by UNESCO and Guinness as the oldest continuously operating university in the world.
The day, in detail
Departure from your home airport bound for Fez. Arrival — note the time difference depending on the season. Airport pick-up and transfer to a riad in the medina or 4★ hotel. Dinner and overnight. Note: depending on the arrival time, the guided medina tour may be brought forward to today to leave the next day free to adjust to the time change.

Full itinerary

Day by day, no shortcuts.

Day 01

1 / 10

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Notes of the day

Don't miss it

The most fascinating medina in the Arab world

Fez has been UNESCO World Heritage since 1981 — 9,000 alleys, 60,000 doors and an urban fabric unchanged since the 9th century.

Did you know

The world's oldest university

Al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859 CE by Fatima al-Fihri, is recognised by UNESCO and Guinness as the oldest continuously operating university in the world.

Local culture

In the medina

Comfortable, modest clothing for mosques and medersas (shoulders and knees covered). Medinas are best explored on foot and unhurried.

Day 01

Outbound flight · Arrival in Fez

Departure from your home airport bound for Fez. Arrival — note the time difference depending on the season. Airport pick-up and transfer to a riad in the medina or 4★ hotel. Dinner and overnight. Note: depending on the arrival time, the guided medina tour may be brought forward to today to leave the next day free to adjust to the time change.

Cultural highlights

The most fascinating medina in the Arab world

Fez has been UNESCO World Heritage since 1981 — 9,000 alleys, 60,000 doors and an urban fabric unchanged since the 9th century.

The world's oldest university

Al-Qarawiyyin, founded in 859 CE by Fatima al-Fihri, is recognised by UNESCO and Guinness as the oldest continuously operating university in the world.

Contact us

What travellers say about this day

The Fez medina is a fascinating maze. Seeing the Chouara tanneries from a terrace was breathtaking.

Pablo & Marta

Oviedo, Spain

Verified traveller

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Town

Day map

Day's landmarks

1 landmark

Trip progress

Day 01 / 07

14%

Place gallery

Fez

3 cards

Fez

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

The spiritual capital of Morocco

Discover one of the most important imperial cities in the country, famous for its immense medina and extraordinary historical heritage.

Fez

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Travel to the heart of Moroccan history

Wander through medieval alleyways, visit historic madrasas, and contemplate the traditional tanneries that have made the city famous.

Fez

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

An unparalleled cultural experience

Immerse yourself in centuries of history, craftsmanship, and tradition in one of the most fascinating cities of the Islamic world.

Day 02

1 / 10

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Notes of the day

Don't miss it

Ifrane · little Switzerland

Built by the French in the 1930s at 1,665 m, it surprises with its pitched roofs, tree-lined streets and winter snow.

Did you know

Atlas cedars and Barbary macaques

The Middle Atlas forests are one of the last sanctuaries of the Barbary macaque, the only primate species living wild north of the Sahara.

For the photo

Aguelmame Sidi Ali lake

Morocco's deepest natural lake (≈ 60 m), formed in an extinct volcanic crater. Winter refuge for flamingos and migratory birds.

Day 02

Fez · Middle Atlas · cedars · Aguelmame Sidi Ali

In the morning, guided walking tour of the Fez Medina — one of the most authentic and best-preserved in the Arab world. We thread its labyrinthine medieval alleys, discovering artisan workshops, mosques and palaces amid the bustle of its people. Early afternoon, departure in a 4x4 with driver heading south across the Middle Atlas to Ifrane, known as «little Switzerland». We continue through the Giant Cedar Forests — with a bit of luck we may feed the colony of wild macaques that lives in the highlands. We then reach Aguelmane Sidi Ali lake, set at 2,200 m altitude on one of the Atlas's extinct volcanoes. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Xaluca Spa Aguelmane Sidi Ali, a former hunting and fishing lodge built in 1935 and recently restored.

Cultural highlights

Ifrane · little Switzerland

Built by the French in the 1930s at 1,665 m, it surprises with its pitched roofs, tree-lined streets and winter snow.

Atlas cedars and Barbary macaques

The Middle Atlas forests are one of the last sanctuaries of the Barbary macaque, the only primate species living wild north of the Sahara.

Aguelmame Sidi Ali lake

Morocco's deepest natural lake (≈ 60 m), formed in an extinct volcanic crater. Winter refuge for flamingos and migratory birds.

Xaluca Tours · Specialists

Have any questions about this trip?

Book a call with one of our specialists and we'll help you plan your trip in a personalised way, with no obligation.

Book an appointment

Contact us

What travellers say about this day

The Fez medina is a fascinating maze. Seeing the Chouara tanneries from a terrace was breathtaking.

David G.

Cáceres, Spain

Verified traveller

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Town
Mountain

Day map

Day's landmarks

3 landmarks

Trip progress

Day 02 / 07

29%

Place gallery

Fez

3 cards

Fez

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

The spiritual capital of Morocco

Discover one of the most important imperial cities in the country, famous for its immense medina and extraordinary historical heritage.

Fez

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Travel to the heart of Moroccan history

Wander through medieval alleyways, visit historic madrasas, and contemplate the traditional tanneries that have made the city famous.

Fez

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

An unparalleled cultural experience

Immerse yourself in centuries of history, craftsmanship, and tradition in one of the most fascinating cities of the Islamic world.

SIDI ALI/Hotel Xaluca SPA Aguelmame Sidi Ali - Exteriores - LeoGerzon-134.jpg

Day 03

1 / 9

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Notes of the day

Don't miss it

Khenifra National Park

84,000 ha protected since 2008 — Atlas cedar, holm oak and rockrose share the forest with Barbary macaques, wild boar and Atlas foxes.

Did you know

Ziz Valley · ten million palms

The Ziz river forms the Tafilalet oasis, historic cradle of the Alawi dynasty.

For the photo

Erfoud · gate of the desert

Capital of the Tafilalet, centre of the date trade and the famous 360-million-year-old Devonian fossils.

Day 03

Khenifra National Park · Ziz Valley · Erfoud

A morning immersed in nature inside the Khenifra National Park, in the heart of the Middle Atlas. We discover the unique ecosystem of giant cedars, natural watchtowers over the lake, and footpaths across the alpine savanna. Lunch at Hotel Xaluca Spa Aguelmane Sidi Ali. In the afternoon, 4x4 ride south down the Ziz Valley — home to more than ten million palm trees — to Erfoud, «the Gate of the Desert». Dinner and overnight at Kasbah Hotel Xaluca.

Cultural highlights

Khenifra National Park

84,000 ha protected since 2008 — Atlas cedar, holm oak and rockrose share the forest with Barbary macaques, wild boar and Atlas foxes.

Ziz Valley · ten million palms

The Ziz river forms the Tafilalet oasis, historic cradle of the Alawi dynasty.

Erfoud · gate of the desert

Capital of the Tafilalet, centre of the date trade and the famous 360-million-year-old Devonian fossils.

Xaluca Tours · Specialists

Have any questions about this trip?

Book a call with one of our specialists and we'll help you plan your trip in a personalised way, with no obligation.

Book an appointment

Contact us

What travellers say about this day

The endless green palm grove of the Ziz valley, amid arid mountains, was a beautiful farewell to the south.

Beatriz R.

Málaga, Spain

Verified traveller

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Town
Valley
XALUCA HOTEL

Day map

Day's landmarks

4 landmarks

Trip progress

Day 03 / 07

43%

Place gallery

Khenifra

3 cards

Khenifra

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

The gateway to the Middle Atlas

Discover a city surrounded by mountains, forests, rivers, and landscapes of great ecological value.

Khenifra

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Explore nature and local culture

Wander through markets, mountainous surroundings, and natural spaces associated with Khenifra National Park.

Khenifra

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

A green and peaceful Morocco

Experience a different ambiance among forests, fresh air, and Amazigh tradition.

Campamento La Belle Etoile - Generales - LeoGerzon-5.jpg

Day 04

1 / 10

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Notes of the day

Don't miss it

Kamkamia Luxury Desert Camp

Luxury tents with private bathroom and hot water, in the heart of the Erg Chebbi. Candle-lit Berber dinner and telescope stargazing.

Did you know

360-million-year-old marine fossils

Southern Morocco was a tropical sea during the Devonian. Erfoud quarries hold trilobites, ammonites and orthoceratids exported to museums worldwide.

Pack smart

The day's essentials

Light layers, comfortable broken-in shoes, sunglasses and sunscreen. A reusable bottle always helps.

Day 04

Erfoud · desert tracks · oasis · Erg Chebbi · Bivouac

Today we live a day of total desert. We will drive an old Dakar Rally track, crossing villages and meeting desert nomads. Stop at the marine fossil quarries (over 360 million years old) and picnic in an authentic oasis. We continue to the great Erg Chebbi, the famous desert of ultra-fine dunes. We swap 4x4 for camels and enter the heart of the dunes for an unforgettable sunset. Arrival at the Bivouac de Luxe (Kamkamia Luxury Desert Camp), traditional Berber tents like those used by nomads. Dinner and overnight — sleeping under the stars is a spectacular experience.

Cultural highlights

Kamkamia Luxury Desert Camp

Luxury tents with private bathroom and hot water, in the heart of the Erg Chebbi. Candle-lit Berber dinner and telescope stargazing.

360-million-year-old marine fossils

Southern Morocco was a tropical sea during the Devonian. Erfoud quarries hold trilobites, ammonites and orthoceratids exported to museums worldwide.

Contact us

What travellers say about this day

The Erg Chebbi dunes and the night at the camp were the best of the trip. The starry sky is simply indescribable.

Carlos D.

Santander, Spain

Verified traveller

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Berber village
Geology
Palm grove
Dunes
XALUCA HOTEL

Day map

Day's landmarks

6 landmarks

Trip progress

Day 04 / 07

57%

Place gallery

Dakar Rally tracks

3 cards

Dakar Rally tracks

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

The legendary routes of the desert

Discover the spectacular landscapes where some of the most mythical stages of the Dakar Rally in Morocco took place for years.

Dakar Rally tracks

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Adventure trails

Explore desert tracks, rocky plains, and routes that traverse some of the wildest landscapes of the Sahara.

Dakar Rally tracks

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Feel the spirit of Dakar

Experience the excitement of visiting historic sites associated with one of the most famous competitions in the world.

Day 05

1 / 10

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Notes of the day

Don't miss it

Khamlia · UNESCO Gnawa music

Founded by communities of Sudanese origin, the village is known for its Gnawa music — UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2019.

Did you know

Rissani · Tafilalet caravan market

Souk active since the 14th century, where Aït Atta tribes and desert nomads still stock up today. Its «donkey parking» is one of the most photographed quirks.

For the photo

Merdani · abandoned village

An old manganese mining hamlet, today a mineral cemetery in the middle of the Erg recalling the French Protectorate extractions.

Day 05

Sunrise · Khamlia · Rissani · relax at the Kasbah

«A date with the sunrise»: an early climb to the top of the dunes for the sunrise — a magical experience. Bedouin breakfast at the camp. We then drive around the Erg to the abandoned village of Merdani. We continue to Khamlia, a village of Sudanese origin, where its inhabitants welcome us with traditional dances and mint tea. Later, we head to Rissani's traditional market — one of the most authentic in the region, with its curious «donkey parking» where the nomads tie up their animals. We end the morning by climbing to a natural viewpoint for a farewell to the desert. Free afternoon at Kasbah Xaluca: heated pool, jacuzzi, tennis, mini-golf. Optional hammam, massage or quad ride in the dunes. Dinner and overnight at Kasbah Xaluca. Note: the Rissani market runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Hotel wellness

Heated pool
Hammam & jacuzzi
Massages (optional)
Quads (optional)
Tennis & mini-golf

Cultural highlights

Khamlia · UNESCO Gnawa music

Founded by communities of Sudanese origin, the village is known for its Gnawa music — UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2019.

Rissani · Tafilalet caravan market

Souk active since the 14th century, where Aït Atta tribes and desert nomads still stock up today. Its «donkey parking» is one of the most photographed quirks.

Merdani · abandoned village

An old manganese mining hamlet, today a mineral cemetery in the middle of the Erg recalling the French Protectorate extractions.

Xaluca Tours · Specialists

Have any questions about this trip?

Book a call with one of our specialists and we'll help you plan your trip in a personalised way, with no obligation.

Book an appointment

Contact us

What travellers say about this day

The Rissani souk is pure Morocco: colours, aromas and freshly picked dates. A very authentic experience.

Nuria V.

Tarragona, Spain

Verified traveller

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Berber village
Living culture
Market
XALUCA HOTEL

Day map

Day's landmarks

4 landmarks

Trip progress

Day 05 / 07

71%

Place gallery

Merdani

3 cards

Merdani

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Virgin dunes of the Sahara

Discover a lesser-known area of the desert where the dunes remain virtually untouched and away from the busiest routes.

Merdani

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Explore the wilder Sahara

Traverse landscapes of endless sand, walk across the dunes, and enjoy the absolute tranquility of the surroundings.

Merdani

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

The purest silence of the desert

Experience an exclusive moment surrounded only by sand, sky, and endless horizons.

Erfoud · Gargantas del Todra · Valle del Dadès · Boumalne Dades

Day 06

1 / 11

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Notes of the day

Don't miss it

Todra Gorges · 160 m vertical walls

One of North Africa's most spectacular canyons, carved over millions of years by the Todra river. A world-class sport climbing mecca.

Did you know

Dades Valley · Valley of the Birds

The Dades shelters more than 130 species of migratory birds — including the rare Moroccan bulbul and the long-legged buzzard.

Local culture

Mint tea

If you're offered a mint tea, accept it: it's the most genuine welcome in Morocco.

Day 06

Erfoud · Todra Gorges · Dades Valley · Boumalne Dades

Drive on asphalt to Tinerhir, a small thriving town offering a beautiful panorama of contrasts — pink houses set among green palm groves. From here we enter the spectacular Todra Gorges for a walk along the river between impressive rock walls. Continue to Boumalne Dades, 1,612 m above sea level in the High Atlas, known as the Valley of the Birds. Afternoon drive up the Dades Valley to its gorges and tea-stop at a panoramic viewpoint. On the way back, stop at the curious «Monkey Fingers» rock formations. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Xaluca Dades.

Cultural highlights

Todra Gorges · 160 m vertical walls

One of North Africa's most spectacular canyons, carved over millions of years by the Todra river. A world-class sport climbing mecca.

Dades Valley · Valley of the Birds

The Dades shelters more than 130 species of migratory birds — including the rare Moroccan bulbul and the long-legged buzzard.

Contact us

What travellers say about this day

The Todra gorges make you feel tiny: towering walls and a stream at the bottom. A wonder of nature.

Carmen & Ramón

Albacete, Spain

Verified traveller

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Town
Gorges
Mountain
XALUCA HOTEL

Day map

Day's landmarks

5 landmarks

Trip progress

Day 06 / 07

86%

Place gallery

Tinerhir

3 cards

The oasis between mountains and palm groves

Tinerhir

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

The oasis between mountains and palm groves

Discover a city surrounded by one of the largest palm groves in southern Morocco and situated at the gates of the Todra Gorges.

Tinerhir

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Explore the heart of the oasis

Stroll among palm trees, visit traditional villages, and discover the daily life of one of the most fertile regions in the south.

The perfect contrast between water and mountain

Tinerhir

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

The perfect contrast between water and mountain

Enjoy landscapes where green oases meet the arid Atlas mountains, creating unique settings.

Day 07

1 / 10

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Notes of the day

Don't miss it

Ouarzazate · the «Moroccan Hollywood»

Capital of Moroccan cinema since the 1980s. Gladiator, Babel, Game of Thrones, Mission Impossible and many more were filmed here.

Did you know

Taourirt Kasbah

Built in the 19th century by the Glaoui family — pasha of Marrakech and ally of the French Protectorate. 300 rooms, terraced courtyards and painted cedar ceilings.

Weather & pace

Layer up

Atlas mornings and nights are cool and middays mild: layers and a fleece. At this altitude, keep an easy pace and water within reach.

Day 07

Ouarzazate · return

After breakfast, transfer to Ouarzazate airport for the return flight. If flight time allows, a brief stop at the Atlas Studios film sets or a walk through the Taourirt Kasbah — former Glaoui residence and one of the best-preserved pre-Islamic architectural ensembles in the country.

Cultural highlights

Ouarzazate · the «Moroccan Hollywood»

Capital of Moroccan cinema since the 1980s. Gladiator, Babel, Game of Thrones, Mission Impossible and many more were filmed here.

Taourirt Kasbah

Built in the 19th century by the Glaoui family — pasha of Marrakech and ally of the French Protectorate. 300 rooms, terraced courtyards and painted cedar ceilings.

Contact us

What travellers say about this day

Ouarzazate and its film studios surprised us. The day's organisation and the hotel were impeccable.

Cristina & Hugo

Bilbao, Spain

Verified traveller

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Town
Historic site
Kasbah

Day map

Day's landmarks

3 landmarks

Trip progress

Day 07 / 07

100%

Place gallery

Ouarzazate

3 cards

Ouarzazate

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Aït Ben Haddou Kasbah

Discover a city surrounded by kasbahs, oases, and desert landscapes that has become one of the most emblematic destinations in Morocco.

Ouarzazate

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

Explore history, cinema, and culture

Visit the Kasbah Taourirt, explore the film studios, and discover the most interesting corners of the city.

Ouarzazate

Need a hand?

Talk to an agent and find your ideal trip.

Book a call

The Hollywood of Morocco

Experience the thrill of visiting some of the locations used in famous international productions while exploring the country's cinematic capital.

Postcards from the journey

Handwritten memories

What travellers like you wrote to us after this route.

A postcard from the crossingA country in one trip

Hello from the road,

This trip is like crossing several countries in one: we crossed the snowy Atlas, slept among the dunes of Erg Chebbi and climbed up to the cedar forests of Ifrane, where we met monkeys. Morocco changes landscape every few hours.

From one end of the country to the other,

Marcos

Xaluca ToursMARRUECOS

From the Atlas to the desert

A postcard from FezThe most alive medina

Dear family,

Today we got lost in the medina of Fez, the oldest and most labyrinthine in the world: thousands of alleys, copper craftsmen and the famous tanneries with their coloured vats. A boy led us up to a terrace to see them from above. Worth every step.

Amazed at every corner,

Carmen

Xaluca ToursFEZ

Medina of Fez

A postcard from MerzougaA pause in the desert

For anyone seeking adventure,

Halfway through the crossing we stopped to sleep in the desert. After so many miles, sitting in silence on a dune to watch the sun go down was the most beautiful moment of the trip. Crossing Morocco from south to north changes you a little inside.

With a backpack full of memories,

Hugo