5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech: Sahara, Dades, Todra and Ouzoud Waterfalls

Day 1 starts at Marrakech where our English-speaking Berber driver collects you from your hotel or airport in a private, air-conditioned 4x4 or comfortable minibus. From here, the road climbs through Marrakech, the Red City, where palm-fringed gardens meet the dusty noise of the Jemaa el-Fnaa square and the labyrinth of the medina souks. You then continue toward the High Atlas, North Africa's roof, climbing through walnut and oak forests and Berber villages clinging to terraced slopes. Lunch is served en route in Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed earthen kasbah whose fortified walls have starred in Gladiator, Game of Thrones and Lawrence of Arabia. The afternoon takes you to Ouarzazate, gateway to the Sahara and home to the Atlas Film Studios where dozens of Hollywood productions are shot every year. Overnight in a carefully selected riad or kasbah hotel with traditional dinner included.

Day 2 continues the journey deeper into Morocco. You travel through Ouarzazate, gateway to the Sahara and home to the Atlas Film Studios where dozens of Hollywood productions are shot every year. The afternoon takes you to the palm grove of Skoura, an emerald oasis of 25 surviving kasbahs scattered among the date palms. As the light softens you reach the fragrant Valley of the Roses, where the Damask roses bloom in May and the Kelaat M'Gouna distillery still uses copper alembics. The route winds on through the rose-pink Dades Valley with its cliffs sculpted by erosion into the Monkey Fingers and a string of fortified kasbahs. You sleep tonight in a charming guesthouse hand-picked for character, location and breakfast quality.

Day 3 continues the journey deeper into Morocco. You travel through the rose-pink Dades Valley with its cliffs sculpted by erosion into the Monkey Fingers and a string of fortified kasbahs. The afternoon takes you to the Todra Gorge, where 300-metre red limestone walls narrow to just ten metres apart and the river runs ice-cold even in summer. As the light softens you reach Tinghir, the green palm oasis at the foot of the Todra gorges with its old Jewish quarter and tile-roofed kasbah. The route winds on through Erfoud, the gateway to the Sahara and capital of black marble fossils where ancient ammonites and orthoceras are still mined from the surrounding hills. Tonight you sleep in a private luxury Berber tent on the Erg Chebbi dunes — real beds, ensuite bathroom, candle-lit dinner and one of the darkest night skies in Morocco for stargazing.

Day 4 continues the journey deeper into Morocco. You travel through the towering Erg Chebbi dunes — Morocco's most cinematic Sahara landscape, rising up to 150 metres in apricot waves at sunset. The afternoon takes you to the luxury Sahara camp with private bathrooms, real beds, hot showers and a campfire under Bortle-2 stars. As the light softens you reach an authentic Berber dinner of slow-cooked tagine, fresh khobz bread and sweet mint tea, served around a low table inside the dining tent. The route winds on through Sahara stargazing — Erg Chebbi has Bortle-2 dark sky and on a moonless night the Milky Way and even nearby galaxies are visible to the naked eye. Tonight you sleep in a private luxury Berber tent on the Erg Chebbi dunes — real beds, ensuite bathroom, candle-lit dinner and one of the darkest night skies in Morocco for stargazing.

Day 5 is your return day. You travel through the sunrise dune walk — barefoot and silent on the cold morning sand, watching the desert blush apricot then gold. The afternoon takes you to the Rissani souk on its Sunday-Tuesday-Thursday cycle, where Berbers from all over the Tafilalt come to trade dates, spices and livestock. As the light softens you reach Ouzoud Waterfalls. The route winds on through Marrakech, the Red City, where palm-fringed gardens meet the dusty noise of the Jemaa el-Fnaa square and the labyrinth of the medina souks. You arrive at your Marrakech hotel or airport in the late afternoon, with photo memory cards full and a head full of Berber drumming.