Itinerary

• Day 1 - Marrakech

  We’ll start our workshop in the exciting city of Marrakech, starting our photo tour and workshop in the heart of the ancient Medina.

  

• Day 2 - Travel from Marrakech across the High Atlas to Tamdaght

  We’ll head out after breakfast and drive out of Marrakech into the High Atlas Mountains towards the Ounila Valley. En-route we make plenty of stops to capture stunning views in the mountains.

  We’ll then head down the unspoilt Ounila Valley to Tamdaght where we will stay in a beautiful Riad just outside the historic walls of the Kasbah. This Kasbah will also be our photo subject for the evening.

  

• Day 3 - Travel to the Erg Chigaga and the Berber desert camp

  After heading to the UNESCO site of Ait Ben Haddou to photograph sunrise we have a long drive ahead of us (approx. 6.5 hours excluding stops en-route) to reach the highlight of our tour, the Erg Chigaga dunes.

  We stay for two nights in a remote Berber desert camp in the midst of the erg. This location offers endless opportunities to photograph Erg Chigaga. We climb different dunes to get great views of the surrounding sea of sand.

  The first evening we head to the highest dune in the area. Here we can photograph in all directions as the sun sets behind the horizon and the colours of the desert transform from gold, to red, to blue. There will be a late night photography session to photograph the near full moon over the desert. This will be a once in a lifetime moment. That is why we will do it twice!

  

• Day 4 - Shooting and walks in the dunes of Erg Chigaga [NEW MOON]

  We will rise early to photograph the dunes and stay to watch the sunrise transform the desert before our eyes.

  In the afternoon we will prepare for our second sunset shoot and second night shoot in the desert.

  

• Day 5 - Shooting and leisure in the dunes of Erg Chigaga

  We’ll start with a blue hour shoot before breakfast.  We can do this then rest and wake again for the sunrise shoot. Plenty of time to sleep in the car! 🙂

  We will have the chance to photograph dromedaries (camels!) in the dunes before riding back on them for our final dinner at the desert camp.

  

• Day 6 - Travel to the Canyon landscape near Foum Zguid

  With time allocated for photographing the mountains near Lake Iriqui, the Jebel Bani and Madouar, driving hours will be approx. 2.5 hours from the Erg Chigaga dunes.

  Afterwards we have some additional time to enjoy the silence of the Sahara desert until we head towards the mountainous landscape near Foum Zguid. These spectacular cliffs and mountains have rarely been photographed. With our wild camping close by, we will have the opportunity to get some unique photos during both sunset and sunrise.

  

• Day 7 - Travel from the Sahara Desert to Tafraoute

  After an early photo shoot in the hills near Tafraoute we head back to our hotel for breakfast and to plan out the rest of the day.

  The area around Tafraoute provides many beautiful hikes, of which we can do a few shorter ones, visiting some of the spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and/or the local villages. The drivers are available to take us a little further afield which is optional (e.g. to the Ait Mansour Gorge with its palm oasis). If you like exploring and discovering new compositions, then this day will be perfect for you.

  The views we like the most will be our destination for sunset, but not before having lunch in the hotel or in Tafraoute town, and enjoying some time to relax.

  

• Day 8 - Exploring around the Ameln Valley and Tafraoute

  Driving hours to Marrakech are approx. 6 hours (excluding stops en-route).

  After an early breakfast we have a long, yet varied drive ahead of us to reach Marrakech. We’ll then head to the famous night market for some delicious dinner, and some awesome night shooting!

  

• Day 9 - Marrakech

  In the morning we will dive into editing and processing our images from the workshop. We will have lunch together then go back to the Riad for more processing. 

  In the evening we will explore more of Marrakech during the blue hour. It’ll be an exciting last evening in the city.

  

• Day 10 - Marrakech

  After breakfast at the Riad we will start with the image review session which should last about 4 hours.  This is such a cool part of the workshop where we review all the photos that everyone has captured, and all we have experienced. There will be plenty of tips, ideas and feedback for ongoing development. The workshop ends around 3pm after a final tasty Moroccan lunch.