Adventures in Morocco Part 2: AitBenHaddou to the Sahara Desert

From snow-capped mountains to lush valleys, iconic Sahara desert and endless coastlines, Morocco is filled with natural beauty. 

After several days exploring the Red City of Marrakech, we hit the road to our next destination: the Sahara Desert. This was a 4 day/3 night private tour organised by Iconic Morocco Tours. The excursion took us on a circular route from Marrakech to AitBenHaddou / Ouarzazate to Merzouga for the Sahara Desert back to the Dades Gorges to the Rose Valley and finally to Marrakech. Our driver Tarek was super-friendly and  safely drove us through the varied and beautiful landscape of Morocco. It was a wonderful experience with a perfect mix of culture, nature, and adventure. 

Ait Ben Haddou: A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Leaving Marrakech, we drive over the snow-capped High Atlas Mountain via the Tichka Pass, the highest point in Morocco at 2260m. Scenic vistas await us as we take in the beautiful landscape over a Moroccan mint tea. For a winter’s day, it was bright and sunny but cold with blistering winds. 

We arrived in AitBenHaddou, one of Morocco’s most enchanting mudbrick villages and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Nestled in the Ounila Valley, AitBenHaddou sits along the caravan route from the Sahara Desert to Marrakech. The Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou is the famous location for Hollywood film sets including Gladiator, Games of Thrones, and Lawrence of Arabia. In fact, the cast and crew recently filmed Gladiator 2 on location which is due out in November 2024. 

After lunch, our local tour guide took us around the ancient Ksar. He provides an overview of its history and how the mudbrick houses are built and preserved. It was an enjoyable afternoon meandering through the ancient ksars and learning about its fascinating history. Nearby are several major filming studios which is why Ouarzazate is called the “Hollywood of Morocco.” If you are a film buff, then AitBenHaddou is a must visit for a dose of Moroccan and cinematic history.

On the Road to Erg Chebbi, Sahara Desert

The next day we hit the road early to the Sahara desert town of Merzouga. The main destination: Erg Chebbi for a night of glamping in a Moroccan bivouac (tent). As one of two Moroccan vast sand dunes or ‘ergs’, Erg Chebbi spans over 30km and rises up to 160 metres. The other erg, Erg Chigaga, is more remote and not as popular as Erg Chebbi. 

At Merzouga, located on the edge of the Sahara Desert, a 4×4 then took us to the camel meeting point. Kenz and Lady Yeya rode together on the largest male camel and I took a separate camel. Off we went on our 90 minute trek through the vast and awe-inspiring golden sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. As it was golden hour, we enjoyed the magnificent views and bashed around in the sand dunes. Thanks to our nice camel handler, he took some amazing family photos for us. 

Our stylish accommodation at Jannat Luxury Camp was large and spotless with our own private bathroom and hot water. We had a leisurely dinner before spending the rest of the evening star gazing. The starry sky over the Sahara Desert was simply amazing. Then it was on to some singing and dancing to traditional Berber music over a bonfire. It was a chilly evening (5C) but we slept fine thanks to thick wool blankets. 

Sunrise over Erg Chebbi was equally amazing and peaceful. Over the horizon neighbouring Algeria is in the distance. After breakfast, we rode the camel back to Merzouga enjoying one last glimpse of the vast Sahara Desert. It was straight out of a scene from Lawrence of Arabia.

To the Dades Gorges and Back to Marrakech

On the road again to our destination for the evening: Boumalne Dades. Along the way, we witnessed the landscape changing from sand dunes to dramatic rock formation as we entered the Dades Gorges. We stretched our legs with a little walk along the river through the Dades Gorges. In our pre-kid days, Kenz and I would happily go on a day-long hike through the Dades Valley. But with a 6 year old in tow, there is no chance. 

The next morning, it was time to drive back to Marrakech. We stopped for lunch and a quick photo at Kasbah Taorirt in Ouarzazate before the long journey over Tichka Pass. Back in Marrakesh, we stayed two nights at the ultra modern and super convenient Radisson Blu in the New Town for some rest and relaxation before heading back to London. 

From Morocco with Love

Morocco was truly a unique experience – it was a perfect blend of culture, nature, and adventure. From the bustling medina to the Sahara Desert, we are delighted Lady Yeya loved every minute of Morocco as much as we did. We owe huge thanks to Iconic Morocco Tours for helping us organise this wonderful excursion. In fact, taking inspiration from our recent trip, my younger sister is planning a trip to Morocco soon.