14 Days Morocco Mineral & Fossil Trip
Our 14 Days Morocco Mineral & Fossil Trip. 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 mine – Ouarzazat
We will leave Marrakesh toward Sidi Rahal’s Mine which contains Quartz chalcedonies, Amethyst, Agate. Picnic in the road then cross the High Atlas Mountain to Ouarzazate and night accommodation in Ouarzazate
Day 2 : Ouarzazate – Beni Zoli – Serradrar – Alnif
Departure at morning from Ouarzazate to an Ordovician area ( where you will see trilobites) in Beni Zoli, then visit Silurian area where black Orthoceras found. Overnight in Alnif.
Day 3 : Alnif – Jbel Tiakaouine – back to Alnif
Morning leave Alnif and drive to Cambrian site where you will see yellowish trilobites. Afterward, visit Ordovician area in Jbel Tiskaouine rich in Calymenes and Flexycalymenes. Then back to Alnif.
Day 4 : Alnif – Isoumour – Atchana – Mharch’s Oasis
Drive at morning from Alnif to visit where all kinds of Devonian trilobites lived together in Issoumoure. Next drive to Atchana to see another site of Devonian trilobites and then head to Lakrabis to gather Ammonites, then drive to hotel in Mharch’s Oasis.
Day 5 : Mharch’s Oasis – Lalla Mimouna area – Jbel Mdaouar – Merzouga
After breakfast we drive to Messeci and visit Lalla Mimouna area where you will have chance to collect Devonian trilobites, next drive to Jbel Mdaouar and gather Devonian goniatites. Afterwards, we drive to Merzouga and spend night in hotel near dunes.
Day 6 : Merzouga – Taouz – Boutaryt – Mifis Mine
We drive to Taouz and visit the area of Kem kem which is rich in fish crocodiles and spinosaurus bones and teeth then pass to Boutariyt and gather Echinoderms, next visit an old mine of filon 12 which known by its Vanadinites quartz and goethite, next visit old laid mine in Mifis and after that back to hotel in Merzouga at evening.
Day 7 : Merzouga – North Merzouga – Azourz site – Tisket site – Back to Merzouga
Leave Merzouga and drive to north of Merzouga where we will collect black Devonian Pyritised Goniatites in Azourz, then visit area trilobites in Tisket place, at afternoon collect sand roses and also bites of bones vertebras. Evening back to hotel in Merzouga
Day 8 : Merzouga – Hamarlaghdad area – Jbel Boutchrafine – Arfoud
Leave merzouga and drive to Hamarlaghdad area where you can collect Devonian formation rich in Corals, Bivaves, Brachiopods, Speripheres, Trilobites...then we drive again to Jbel Boutchrafine and gather rolled trilobites, and then visit the Crinoids area and after drive to Erfoud and visit factories where trilobites cleaning and all big blocs are cut and made table tops, book ends and many decorative items. Overnight in Erfoud.
Day 9 : Erfoud – ZIZ Valley – Ziz Gorge – Midelt
We leave Erfoud and drive to Midelt by passing through Ziz Valley and visit Echinoderms from Cretacious, Cidaris, then we will stop in Ziz Gorge and collect Jurassic Brachiopods and bivalves. Afterwards, drive to Midelt where we will spend night in hotel.
Day 10 : Midelt – Ahouli’s mine – Mibladan mine -Sidi Ayad
After breakfast in hotel we will drive to visit an old mine in Mibladan rich in Cerusite Barythe and Vanadinite but is difficult to find because it is very deep and dangerous digging. next we will drive again to visit another old mine in Ahouli and we will have lunch there, after go to Sidi Ayad and collect Azurites and Malachites before back to hotel in Midelt city.
Day 11 : Midelt – Todgha Gourge – Dades Gorge – Ouarzazate
We will leave Midelt after breakfast and drive to Ouarzazate by passing through the two Gorges ( Todgha Gorge and Dades Gorge) and then accommodation night in Ouarzazate.
Day 12 : Ouarzazate – Azilal – Ouzoud waterfall – Marrakech
During this journey we will visit Dinosaur foot prints in Azilal and we will have a break for lunch there then visit waterfalls in Ouzoud and after Ouzoud Waterfall drive to Marrakech and overnight over there in Marrakech.
Day 13 : Sightseeing of Marrakech
Free day in Marrakech and it is an occasion to discover the charming and magic , historic monuments of Marrakech.
Day 14 : Transfer to the airport
Depends your flight time, 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
