6-Day Morocco Fossil Tour from Marrakech: Trilobites, Dinosaurs & Desert
- Private Tour
- Kasbahs, Hotels + Desert Camp
- Fossils & Minerals
- Atlas & Sahara
Private tours · 500 million years in the rocks
Private tours for fossil and mineral lovers: trilobites in the Anti-Atlas around Alnif, the Cretaceous dinosaur beds of the Kem Kem, the orthoceras quarries of Erfoud and the old vanadinite mines of Midelt, with the Sahara and the High Atlas along the way.
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Good to know
South-eastern Morocco is one of the richest fossil regions on Earth. In the Anti-Atlas, the rocks of an ancient sea floor hold trilobites from the Cambrian, Ordovician and Devonian; around Erfoud, black Devonian limestone is packed with orthoceras and goniatites; and near Taouz, the red cliffs of the Kem Kem have yielded the teeth and bones of Spinosaurus and other Cretaceous giants. Further north, the old mines of Mibladen and Aouli near Midelt are famous among collectors for their red vanadinite crystals.
Our fossil and mineral tours combine these sites with the classic sights of the south: the Tizi n'Tichka pass, Ait Ben Haddou, a camel trek and a night in the dunes of Erg Chebbi. A local guide joins you for the field days, you visit the workshops where specimens are prepared, and you learn how to recognise fakes before you buy. No experience is needed, and every tour is private, so you choose how long to spend at each site.
Highlights
The Anti-Atlas around Alnif, Issoumour and Latchana is one of the best places on Earth for Cambrian, Ordovician and Devonian trilobites, from simple forms to spiny species.
The red Cretaceous cliffs of the Kem Kem near Taouz have yielded teeth and bones of Spinosaurus, Carcharodontosaurus, crocodiles and giant fish.
Around Erfoud and Hamar Laghdad, Devonian limestone and mud mounds are packed with orthoceras, goniatites and crinoids, cut and polished in local workshops.
The old mines of Mibladen, Ahouli and Sidi Ayad near Midelt are known to collectors worldwide for vanadinite, galena, azurite and fluorite.
Every fossil tour also crosses the High Atlas and includes a sunset camel ride and a night in a desert camp in the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
In a single trip you travel from the Cambrian seas of the Anti-Atlas to the rivers of the dinosaurs, reading the story of life layer by layer.
Where to go
What you can find
What you see depends on the sites open at the time of your visit and on what the local diggers are uncovering, but these are the classic finds of south-eastern Morocco.

Alnif, Issoumour, Latchana and Beni Zoli

Jbel Mdawar, Lakrabis and the Erfoud quarries

Erfoud, Hamar Laghdad and Beni Zoli

Surface finds at the Kem Kem, Issoumour and Latchana
When to go
Fossil sites can be visited all year, but most of the field days are spent in the open desert of the south-east, so the temperature shapes the best months.
Private tours
Frequently asked questions
No. Our fossil tours are designed for everyone, from complete beginners and families to experienced collectors. At each site we explain what the rocks are, how old they are and how the fossils are found and prepared.
At several sites you can walk the outcrops, look for fragments on the surface and watch the local diggers at work. Serious excavation is the work of licensed local diggers, so we do not promise that you will dig out a complete specimen yourself.
Yes, you visit preparation workshops and dealers in Alnif, Erfoud and Midelt. We show you how to recognise restored or fake specimens, but the choice and the price are always yours. Ask for a receipt, and check the import rules of your own country before you travel.
The Kem Kem beds near Taouz, south of Merzouga, are the classic area for Cretaceous fossils such as Spinosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus teeth. Our fossil tours spend a day there, together with the mines of Mifis and Filon 12.
All our fossil and mineral tours are private. You travel only with your own group, choose your dates and decide how long to spend at each site.
Yes. Every fossil tour includes a sunset camel ride and a night in a mid-range luxury desert camp (luxury camp on request) in the dunes of Erg Chebbi, with dinner around the campfire.
The price depends on the number of travellers, the season, the length of the tour and the accommodation you choose, so we quote each request individually. Send us your dates and interests and we will reply with a detailed proposal.
Where will you go?
Click on a destination to discover our tours, top attractions and unique experiences.
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Golden dunes, camel trekking, desert camps and unforgettable sunsets in the heart of the Sahara.
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The red city: lively souks, palaces and gardens, and the gateway to the High Atlas and the desert roads.
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The oldest living medina in the world, with its tanneries, madrasas and master craftsmen.
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Morocco's Atlantic metropolis, home of the Hassan II Mosque and the usual starting point for imperial-city and grand tours.
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Where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean — a white medina, sea views and the road to Chefchaouen.
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Kasbahs, film studios and the road of a thousand kasbahs towards the Dades Valley.
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Long Atlantic beaches and year-round sunshine, a relaxed start or end to a Morocco tour.
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Don’t find the perfect tour? We will create a tailor-made itinerary based on your interests, travel dates and budget.
Plan a Custom TourThree quick answers about our Morocco fossil tours.
Fossil hunting in Morocco centres on the Anti-Atlas around Alnif, the Kem Kem beds near Merzouga and the orthoceras quarries of Erfoud. Fossil hunting in Morocco is done with a local guide who knows the sites.
Trilobite tours spend field days at the Cambrian and Ordovician sites around Alnif, in the Anti-Atlas. All our trilobite tours are private, from 6 to 15 days.
Morocco mineral tours visit the old mines of Mibladen and Ahouli near Midelt, famous for vanadinite, and the small mines of Sidi Rahal for quartz and amethyst. Our Morocco mineral tours combine these with the fossil sites of the south.