Embark on a 5-day exploration of the cultures of Southern Morocco and the Sahara Desert. En route to the Sahara, we will travel along ancient caravan roads, visit historic kasbahs and palaces, and will learn about local artisans. The dramatic landscape transitions from mountains to gorges to oases and eventually to the desert. We will spend two nights under the stars at a luxury desert camp, riding camels, hiking up dunes, and resting in the vast open space. We will learn about traditional Bedouin (nomadic) cultures, have coffee as we watch the sunrise over the dunes, and have plenty of down time. On the way back, we will visit an Amazigh carpet stronghold (the perfect place to buy a carpet) and visit a saffron plantation. We will round out our trip by heading back through the mountains, where we will stop for lunch in a rose garden, and spend one last night in Marrakesh. The following morning, guests will be transported back to the airport to catch departing flights. Since the Sahara Desert is very remote, we have carefully curated this trip in order to break up the driving. This will allow us to see more of this fascinating region of Morocco while spending less time in the car each day. Expect to spend about 5 hours each day driving and expect a range of accommodations on the road (from desert camp to budget hotel to full-service hotel).