2024 - Morocco trip and a cruise : Mar 4, 2024 - Sahara Desert Sunrise, Todra Gorge and Ouarzazate

We got up before dawn this morning and rode camels to see sunrise. It was the highlight of this trip. It took us about 20 minutes to arrive to the spot for sunrise. We all got off the camels and climbed to the top of a sand dune waiting for the sunrise. Of course, we already started clicking our cameras and smart phones for the sand dunes. We did not wait for too long and spotted the sunrise. It was a magical moment for all of us. This definitely was the highlight of our trip.

Got up before dawn and riding camels to see sunrise

Sand dunes and camels before sunrise

Climbed up to the top of sand dune to see sunrise

Sunrise, sand dunes, camels and Fei

Sunrise, sand dunes and camels

Mission completed, taking a photo for remembering it

Riding camels back to camp

Above, is a clip when we were waiting for the sunrise.

Then, we had another wonderful meal (breakfast) before we left the camp. Again riding the 4-wheel drive jeep to meet our regular van driver. On the way, we had lunch at Auberge Restaurant.

Then, we drove by the Todra Gorges which are a series of limestone river canyons, or wadi, in the eastern part of the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco, near the town of Tinerhir. Both the River Todra and neighboring Dades Rivers are responsible for carving out these deep cliff-sided canyons, on their final 40 kilometres through the mountains.

Todgha Gorges

Later, we drove over the rocky Atlas mountains to Quarzazate which is an ancient Berber Town on a hill used as a backdrop to Lawrence of Arabia, Ait Ben Haddou, and the Game of Thrones movie set. We checked in Hotel Berbere Palace which is a beautiful hotel with a lot of decorations and wonderful pool. Our dinner was in the hotel. Prior to dinner, we went to the hotel courtyard and took a lot of pictures.