Geological Tours in Morocco

Day 1: Errachidia – Ziz Valley – Erfoud Fossil Workshops – Merzouga

Your geological journey begins with pickup from Errachidia Airport (or your hotel in Errachidia). Your guide will greet you and provide an overview of the incredible geological history you’re about to explore .

Late Morning: Ziz Valley

Drive through the spectacular Ziz Valley, one of Morocco’s most stunning natural oases. The road winds through dramatic gorges lined with thousands of palm trees, offering incredible photo opportunities at panoramic viewpoints. This valley was carved by the Ziz River over millions of years, revealing sedimentary layers that tell the story of ancient seas .

Afternoon: Erfoud Fossil Workshops

Arrive in Erfoud, the capital of Moroccan marble fossils. Here you’ll visit local fossil workshops to see how 400-million-year-old trilobites and ammonites are excavated, polished, and incorporated into marble slabs .

You’ll learn about:

• The Devonian period when this region was a shallow tropical sea
• How marine creatures became fossilized in the sediment
• The traditional craft of transforming fossils into art

Late Afternoon: Arrival in Merzouga

Continue to Merzouga, gateway to the Erg Chebbi dunes. Check into your hotel at the edge of the desert, where you’ll have time to freshen up before dinner .

Overnight: Hotel/Auberge in Merzouga (at the dune’s edge)
Meals included: Dinner

Day 2: Merzouga – Fossil Hunting Expedition – Khamlia – Nomadic Family Visit

Morning: Dedicated Fossil Hunting

After breakfast, your guide will take you off-road in a 4×4 to explore the desert’s ancient seabeds. This is the heart of your geological adventure .

You’ll visit quarries and outcrops near Merzouga where you can search for:

• Trilobites – The region’s most famous fossil, dating back 400+ million years (Devonian period) 
• Ammonites and Orthoceras – Spiral-shelled cephalopods 
• Crinoids (sea lilies)
• In some areas, dinosaur bones and shark teeth from the Cretaceous period 

Your guide will show you how to spot fossils in the rock and provide tools for collecting. This is a hands-on experience where you keep everything you find!

Late Morning: Khamlia Village

Visit the village of Khamlia, home to descendants of sub-Saharan slaves who preserve the mesmerizing Gnawa music tradition. You’ll enjoy a private performance and learn about their unique culture .

Lunch: Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant or with a Berber family.

Afternoon: Nomadic Family Visit

Drive deeper into the desert to visit a nomadic Berber family in their traditional tent. Share mint tea with them and learn about their traditional way of life, moving with their goats and camels through the seasons .

Optional Exploration:

Depending on time and interest, you may also visit:

• Mifiss Mines – Ancient mines once rich in kohl and other minerals, offering panoramic desert views 
• Hassi Labied oasis – See traditional farming methods 
• Lake Merzouga (seasonal) – A salt lake that appears after rains, attracting flamingos 

Evening: Return to your hotel for dinner and rest.

Overnight: Hotel/Auberge in Merzouga
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 3: Merzouga – Erg Chebbi Exploration – Camel Trek & Desert Camp

Morning: Free Time or Optional Activities

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast. The morning is free for relaxation or optional activities:

• Quad biking across the desert 
• Sandboarding down the dunes 
• Additional fossil hunting in nearby areas

Afternoon: Final Fossil Sites

Your guide may take you to explore additional fossil-bearing sites depending on your interests and the group’s energy.

Late Afternoon: Camel Trek into the Dunes

Around 4:00 PM, meet your camel and begin a memorable trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes. The ride lasts approximately 1 hour, taking you deeper into the Sahara where the dunes tower up to 150 meters high .

As you ride, watch the setting sun paint the sand in shades of orange, gold, and crimson a truly magical experience .

Evening: Desert Camp Experience

Arrive at your Berber desert camp nestled among the highest dunes. You’ll be welcomed with traditional mint tea .

Experience includes:

• Traditional dinner prepared at the camp
• Berber drumming around the campfire
• Stargazing in one of the darkest skies on Earth – the Milky Way is often visible to the naked eye 

Overnight: Desert camp (private tents with comfortable beds)
Meals included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 4: Merzouga – Sunrise – Rissani – Erfoud – Return to Errachidia

Early Morning: Sunrise Over the Dunes

Wake early to climb a nearby dune and witness the sunrise over the Sahara. As the first light touches the dunes, the desert comes alive with color – an unforgettable moment .

After sunrise, enjoy breakfast at the camp before riding your camel back to Merzouga (or optionally taking a 4×4 transfer).

Late Morning: Rissani Market

Freshen up at your hotel, then depart for Rissani, the ancient capital of the Tafilalet region and birthplace of Morocco’s ruling Alaouite dynasty .

If it’s a market day (Sunday, Tuesday, or Thursday), you’ll experience the Rissani souk – one of the most authentic in southern Morocco. Here you’ll find:

• Spices, dates, and local produce
• Donkey market (a unique photo opportunity)
• Traditional crafts and textiles 

You’ll also visit the Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif, founder of the Alaouite dynasty .

Afternoon: Return via Erfoud and Ziz Valley

Enjoy lunch in Rissani before beginning your journey back to Errachidia. The route takes you through:

• Erfoud – Optional final stop at fossil workshops for any last-minute purchases 
• Ziz Valley – Final panoramic views of the spectacular oasis 

Late Afternoon: Arrival in Errachidia