Moroccan Desert Adventure: River Canyons & Camels
Experience Overview
Now's the time to explore Marrakech on your terms with this tour that's affordable for young travellers. Is there life on Mars? You might think you've found it on this lively one-week journey through Morocco, Marrakech, and its other-worldly surroundings. Join other young travellers in cruising through the stunning Sahara, walking in Dades Gorge, and basking in the beauty of the Atlas Mountains. Explore the kasbahs and desert as you lose the herd on a trip you’ll never forget.
Highlights
- Stand in the shadows of Dades Gorge
- Take in the dramatic view at Ait Ben Haddou
- Ride a camel to watch the sunset from the desert
- Take a cooking class and go sandboarding in the Sahara
- Explore the ancient medina of Marrakech with a local expert
Trip Details
Product Code: 1912
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Basic
Transport: Private air-conditioned van, public bus, camel.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
18 - 39 Year Olds Only
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: DCKK
Starts: Marrakech, Morocco
Finishes: Marrakech, Morocco
Duration: 7 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Light
Includes
Activities
- Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
- Dades Gorge walk
- Camel ride in the desert
- Traditional dinner and drums under the stars
- Sand boarding in the desert dunes
- Aït Ben Haddou kasbah tour
- Guided medina visit in Marrakech
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Simple Hotels (5 nts, twin-share), desert camp (1 nt, multi-share).
- 6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
Transport
- Private air-conditioned van, public bus, camel.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $636 ($91 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech
Arrive at any time.
After tonight's welcome meeting get ready to channel all of the buzz and excitement of arriving in a new place by opting to head out on the town with your CEO and crew. Take the fun to new heights, grab drinks, kick back at a rooftop bar, and get to know your new travel companions as you prepare for the thrilling journey ahead.
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.Activity - Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.Accommodation - Hotel Gomassine Marrakech
Day 2: Marrakech/Skoura
Depart Marrakech in the morning and transfer to Skoura, one of Morocco's beautiful oases. While Ouarzazate, further west is now the region's commercial centre, Skoura's historic mud-brick castles remain a testament to the past. Explore the area on a guided visit, soak up the atmosphere of this green haven, and listen to the wind catching in the palm trees lining the streets. During your visit you will see different Kasbahs in the area, and learn about their historical and cultural significance. Later, spend free time at the hotel and enjoy a swim in the pool before an included dinner this evening.
Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle. There will be free time for lunch upon arrival to Skoura.Activity - Skoura is a fertile oasis lined with large palm groves and this is where the group will set off on a guided city tour of the Valley of One Thousand Kasbahs. Enjoy the views of the snowcapped Atlas Mountains in the distance alongside a desert landscape. Along the way your guide will offer commentary on Skoura's significance, and provide an overview of the landscape and its defining features. There will be stops along the way at key interest points so that photos can be taken. The walk will start and end at the hotel.Accommodation - Skoura Lodge
Day 3: Skoura/Merzouga
Leave Skoura behind and journey into the vast, golden reaches of the desert. Along the way stop to spend some time walking in Dades Gorge before continuing on to Tinghir for a lunch stop on your own. Later, saddle up and travel by camel to the perfect perch atop the dunes to view the sunset as it paints the sky hues of red, blue, and yellow. Under a canopy of stars, enjoy dinner and an evening of entertainment by the campfire. Let your imagination run wild as you listen to traditional music on the drums alongside stories about the region. We dare you to top this campfire experience!
Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Sit back and enjoy the scenery from your private vehicle, there will be a stop en route to explore the Dades Gorge and a stop for lunch before arriving at the desert camp.Activity - Explore the winding Dades Gorge. Take in the dramatic landscape, the rising mountains in the distance, and spend time here stretching your legs on a walk through the gorge. Max elevation 1400m (4593ft) above sea level.Activity - Hold on and enjoy a ride on this even-toed ungulate, also known as the desert horse. Bring your camera for some fantastic photos of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Local guides will teach you how to mount and dismount and other handy camel-related safety tips.Accommodation - Camp- Auberge Dunes D'Or Camp
Day 4: Merzouga
Have breakfast at camp before returning to civilization. Then, opt to spend time further exploring the undulating golden sand of the dunes, and discovering the surrounding communities on a land cruiser desert excursion, or simply relax at the hotel. Later, attend a cooking class to learn about local cuisine and taste your creations. Cap off the day with a sunset sand boarding experience from the highest dunes with the sun turning everything a shining gold!
You can pre-book this optional 4x4 desert excursion when booking your tour on the check-out page.
Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Enjoy an epic sand boarding experience in the dunes during sunset. As the light turns the undulating hills a deep gold, you will be boarding down the slopes and laughing with your friends!Activity - Attend a cooking class and learn how to make the locally loved dish of Medfouna, and hear stories about traditional dishes and Moroccan cuisine. Medfouna is a regional delicacy in eastern Morocco which is best described as a stuffed pizza sans cheese. Stuff the flatbread with various meats and spices before baking it in a fire pit.Free_time - Spend free time enjoying the dunes on a 4x4 excursion or sit by the pool and cool off in the desert heat.Accommodation - Auberge Dunes D'Or
Day 5: Merzouga/Aït Ben Haddou
Leave right after breakfast and travel along the Route of 1000 Kasbahs to Ait Ben Haddou, one of the most iconic and beautiful kasbahs and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk through the narrow alleys and admire the uniqueness of this place both in traditional architecture and historical significance. At the end of the visit, climb to the highest point of the kasbah and witness the views of the surrounding desert and the Ounila River around golden hour and sunset. In the evening, you can choose to join an optional cooking class to make tajine. Otherwise, dinner will be on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site and kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, the most famous ksar in the Ounila Valley, located in the foothills of the southern slopes of the High Atlas Mountains. Of all the remaining kasbahs in Morocco, the walls and interior of this area are the most intact. It's a collective grouping of dwellings inside defensive walls and was once one of the many trading posts on the route linking Sudan to Marrakech. The kasbah still houses a few families, but many now live in the adjacent village. Like many of the earthen built fortresses in Ouarzazate, Aït Ben Haddou has been used in many film and television productions like Gladiator, Babel, and Game of Thrones.Accommodation - Auberge La Baraka
Day 6: Aït Ben Haddou/Marrakech
Journey to the "Red City," Marrakech. Unlock the many secrets this ancient city has to offer in its maze-like alleys, ornate palaces, and lush gardens. Enjoy a guided visit of the medina and see the Saadian Tombs, Bahia Palace, and Jamaa el Fna square. End the day with an optional group dinner in the famous food stalls of Djemaa el Fna.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Head into the maze of tiny streets and alleyways of the ancient medina to really get a taste of everyday life in Marrakech. Shop to your heart’s content in the souk and search out spices, traditional jalabas and slippers, or the famous Moroccan lanterns. Visit the Saadian Tombs - a complex of sepulchers and mausoleums that house the remains of Saadian Sultan Ahmed Al Mansour Ed Dahb. The tombs were sealed off until their re-discovery in 1917. Tour the grounds of the Bahia Palace, marvelling at the intricate decoration, and experience the sights and sounds of the bustling Jemaa el-Fnaa square.Accommodation - Hotel Gomassine Marrakech
Day 7: Marrakech
It's not goodbye, it's see you later. After all, after a trip like this, who wouldn't be itching to return?
Opt to get up early and catch the sunrise over Marrakech by pre-booking the Hot Air Balloon excursion. Please ensure you allow enough time to return from the activity when planning your onward journey.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures, founded in 1990 by Bruce Poon Tip, is a global adventure travel company specializing in small-group tours that emphasize authentic, sustainable, and culturally immersive experiences. Originally launched as GAP Adventures (“Great Adventure People”), the company pioneered the concept of community-driven travel by offering affordable trips that connect travelers with local communities while minimizing environmental impact. Today, G Adventures operates in more than 100 countries, offering a wide range of itineraries across themes such as active adventures, wildlife, wellness, family, and National Geographic–partnered tours, while maintaining a strong commitment to responsible tourism and social enterprise through its Planeterra Foundation.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Jonathan F. - Traveled, November 2023
Very well organized, it makes the logistics of travel almost stress free
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/22/2023
Hannah S. - Traveled, November 2023
Easy and goes to the best places. Plus the tour guides llkm after you very well
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/22/2023
Michael C. - Traveled, November 2023
Not for everyone
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/22/2023
Caterina P. - Traveled, November 2023
The experience was nicely organized and authentic.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/22/2023
Laura-Akofa K. - Traveled, November 2023
Travel guide 'Abdul' - plans and organizations of G-Adventures
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/15/2023
Zoe K. - Traveled, November 2023
We covered a lot of ground in remote areas that you just wouldn't be able to experience otherwise. And solo travel as a group is safe and fun
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/08/2023
Catriona M. - Traveled, November 2023
Booking was easy and there were lots of trips to choose from
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/01/2023
Katharina S. - Traveled, November 2023
Es ist super, mit G Adventures zu reisen! Der einzige Grund, warum ich nicht die vollen Punkte gebe ist, weil es einfach ab und zu schade ist, dass man immer von der Gruppe abhŠngig ist und oft viel Zeit verliert, bis zb. alle bezahlt haben usw
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/01/2023
Heinrich P. - Traveled, November 2023
It would be a 5 star for me but the distance drove vs number of evenings at each place made me downgrade it a single star
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/01/2023
Alina K. - Traveled, November 2023
I think it's a very nice way to see lot of places and be part of a group.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/01/2023
Hayley D. - Traveled, October 2023
Excellent CEOs and well organized trips
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/25/2023
Thomas B. - Traveled, October 2023
Was an amazing experience start to finish
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/25/2023
Benjamin W. - Traveled, October 2023
I have done two G Adventures trips now and have thoroughly enjoyed both. The particular value comes from having such an otherwise complicated itinerary fully outsourced and managed by the G team and CEOs, and secondly from the connections and friendships formed during the trips. Additionally, I feel most trips are good value for money.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/25/2023
Jennifer R. - Traveled, October 2023
Intercultural exchange, great people, great CEO, great places, easy travel
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/25/2023
Vishal Krishna Balvant M. - Traveled, October 2023
Had an amazing time with a great group, saw things I wouldn't have been able to organize in such a short space of time. My guide Abdullah was incredible, he went above and beyond. Only critique would be an additional night in Merzouga.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/25/2023
Edward J. - Traveled, October 2023
Tour guide, itinerary, fellow travelers, price
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/25/2023
Zainab H. - Traveled, December 2023
Sofia was an amazing CEO
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Lune H. - Traveled, December 2023
You see the most in a short time
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Katrin S. - Traveled, December 2023
It is amazing how good the tips are planned. You can just enjoy the vacations.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
Adam W. - Traveled, November 2023
Fantastic trip! Big shout out to our amazing CEO Sophia!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/29/2023
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