12 Days Fossil And Trilobite Tour
Travel and explore fossil sites in 12 Days Fossil And Trilobite Tour. Mining for fossils in Morocco is a labor-intense and delicate process. Since fossils, intended to be sold as scientific curiosities, or in cases even as natural works of art, have to be retrieved from the ground undamaged. Typically, many of local Berber tribesmen with deep regional roots, work in small trenches and pits with picks, chisels and shovels. Each fossil digger, numbering in the thousands, typically has their own spot, and leaves their equipment there each night. After having been extracted from the earth, locals clean and prepare the fossils for sale.
The most common and famous finds are trilobites and the nautiloid cephalopod Orthoceras. Orthoceras often found in huge numbers in black limestone, and fossils, often polished along with the surrounding stone, are sold either as scientific curiosities, or fashioned into various ornamental shapes. Moroccan Orthoceras limestone is in cases fashioned into furniture, such as ornamental sinks, bathtubs, or coffee tables.
Day 1 : Marrakech - Sidi Rahal’s mine – Ouarzazate
We will depart from Marrakesh to Sidi Rahal mine affluent in Quartz Chalcedonies, Amethust, Agate. Lunch meal will be picnic in Sidi Rahal mine, then we will cross High Atlas Mountain to Ouarzazate and overnight in riad in Ouarzazate.
Day 2 : Ouarzazate – Daraa Valley – Alnif
After breakfast in your riad in ouarzazate we drive along Daraa valley with its beautiful scenery then visit an Ordovician huge trilobites found in Beni Zoli (lunch is picnic on the site), next drive to Serradrar where you will visit and gather black Orthoceras and then the end of the journey day stop in Alnif and spend night in hotel.
Day 3 : Alnif – Jbel tiskaouine – back to Alnif
Departure at morning after breakfast and drive to Cambrian place notorious by its yellowish trilobites and lunch under palms in oasis, afterward we drive to visit Ordovician place in Jbel Tiskaouine which is rich in Calymenes and Flexycalymenes then we back to hotel in Alnif.
Day 4 : Alnif - Isoumour – Atchana – Oesis of Mharch
After breakfast in Alnif we drive in dry landscape and head to site where all kinds of Devonian trilobites lived together, and lunch on the site and will it be picnic, then drive to Atchana which is contains Devonian trilobites and we pass through Lakrabis and collect red Ammonites. Afterward, we drive to oasis of Mharch where you spend night in hotel.
Day 5 : Oesis of Mharch – Lalla Mimouna site – Jbel Mdawar – Merzouga
Departure from Oasis of Mharch toward Mecessi to visit Lalla Mimouna site which contains Dovenian trilobites then we will head to Jbel Mdawar and see the Devonian Goniatites our picnic in Rissani then drive to Merzouga where you will spend night in desert atmosphere in hotel with desert music.
Day 6 : Merzouga – Taous – Kem Kem site – Boutariyt site – Back to Merzouga
After breakfast in hotel we drive to south of Merzouga towards famous Kem Kem site rich in Fish Crocodiles and Spinosaurus bones and teeth. Then we visit the Boutariyt place and gather Echinoderms ( lunch depends your option) next we head to an old mine of filon 12 which contains Vabadinites Quartz and Goethite. Afterward, we visit Mifis old laid mine, and then we back to the hotel in Merzouga.
Day 7 : Merzouga – Azourz Site – Tisket Site – back to Merzouga
Departure from hotel to north Merzouga, we drive to north Merzouga and visit Azourz site which rich in black Devonian pyritised goniatites. Then visit Tisket site where trilobites found. Moreover, we will visit also Brythe mine, then picnic overthere in oasis. Then, in afternoon we collect sand roses made of Gypsum and sand ….then back to hotel in Merzouga.
Day 8 : Merzouga – Hamarlaghdad – Jbel Boutchrafine – Erfoud
After breakfast in Merzouga we drive to famous Devonian formation rich in Corals, Bivalves, Brachiopods, Speripheres, and Trilobites. Then we drive to Boutchrafine and gather rolled trilobites, lunch will have in Boutchrafine site next visit crinoids site, after we head to Erfoud and visit many factories where trilobites cleaning and where blocs are cut and manufactured to table tops, sinks,…and decorative items. Then, we head to hotels in Erfoud.
Day 9 : Erfoud – Ziz Valley – Ziz Gorge – Midelt
We depart from Erfoud to Midelt and pass through Ziz Valley and Ziz Gorge along these Gorges we stop you in different panoramic views to make pictures of beautiful geologic mountains and then drive to Midelt and visit Ahouli and Mibladen mines before drive to hotel in Midelt city.
Day 10 : Midelt – Todgha Gorge – Boumalane Dades Ouarzazate
After breakfast in Midelt we will drive to Dades gorge pass through Todgha Gorge, lunch is optional, after we drive to Ouarzazate and accommodation night in hotel in Ouarzazates.
Day 11 : Ouarzazate – Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah – Marrakech
After breakfast in Ouarzazate we drive to visit Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah a historic monument Kasbah in Morocco and oldest one around Morocco. Then drive to Marrakech by pass through dramatic Tizi N T’chka path then arrive Marrakech evening and reach you to your hotel.
Day 12 : Transfer you to the airport
We will Transfer you to the airport.
What is include during the tour:
- Touring in 4x4 Vihicle / Minibus / Bus
- Experienced English speaking Driver/Guide
- official local guides in imperial cities
- Camel ride in Sahara Desert
- Overnight at the Desert Camp
- Fuel of the transportation during the tour
- Braekfast and dinner in Sahara desert / Boumalane Dades / Ouarzazate
What is not include during the tour:
- Lunches
- Tips
- Drinks
- Travel inssurance
