The jewel of the Moroccan Desert

Description

And if it's your first time in the desert, hold on because you're going to go crazy! Spend the night under the stars at a desert camp until the sunsets you'll be frolicking alongside the camels. The wonder of the desert never ceases to amaze every tourist and time in Morocco will lift you up!

Lying beyond the towering barrier of the Atlas Mountains, the seemingly endless sands of the Western Sahara stretch into sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. This incredible journey takes you to the high passes of the Atlas and the northern lands of the hottest desert in the world, in an adventure involving imperial cities, Berber villages and the amazing sand dunes of the Sahara. You will start from Marrakech destination of the highest mountain range in Africa, traveling through the Berber tribal areas on the edge of the Sahara and the spectacular sand dunes of Erg Chebi. After camping in the desert, you then continue to the famous oases of the Dades Valley, before returning to the mountains to enjoy Berber hospitality, of "Kings of Atlas". Staying in traditional Berber villages, you will spend some time exploring the mountains and villages on foot, before the climax of the journey, see you among the labyrinthine alleys and medinas of Marrakech, one of the most enchanting cities in Morocco.

Unforgettable experiences

Visit a local hammam

This traditional Moroccan bath has two forms, public or private. To really experience a real Moroccan hammam, go to the local and, if you are alone, you will definitely have the opportunity to enjoy a nice relaxing massage!

Watch the sunset in the desert

Erg Chigaga is the largest and relatively untouched part of the Sahara in Morocco. Sleep among towering sand dunes under starry skies for a true desert nomad experience.

Stay in a traditional riad

La Villa des Orangers is a charming, luxury riad style hotel, designed around three courtyards filled with fountains and citrus groves. This quiet old palace offers spacious and comfortable rooms. Relax in the rooftop pool or the heated garden pool.

In summary

MEALS

4 x Breakfast

4 x Lunch

x Dinner

TRANSPORT

There will be transport by van or minibus depending on the number of participants and by camels

NUMBER OF PEOPLE

Maximum: 9

ACCOMMODATION

Overnight in selected A class hotels and camping in the desert.

Detailed program and map

The trip starts at 9 in the morning, when the driver with the local leader will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel or riad. We head towards the spectacular High Atlas Mountains, crossing the winding pass of Tizi n Tichka (the point is the gateway to the Sahara). We drive further until we reach the famous Kasbah Ait Benhaddou. The Kasbah is a well-preserved walled city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From here we visit the city on foot. Lunch at Kasbah Ait Benhaddou. After lunch we continue south, through the city of Ouarzazate, also known as the Hollywood of Morocco and nicknamed the "gateway to the Sahara". We continue until we reach Agdz, which is located at the foot of the dominant mountain Jbel Kissane. Agdz means resting place and is located along the old caravan route from Marrakesh to Timbuktu. Dinner and sleep at a hotel in Agdz.

Free time until lunch

After breakfast we head to the green Draa valley where the Berbers grow dates and other agricultural products. The valley is also famous for its many kasbahs and oases. We continue further and stop to visit a pottery workshop in Tamegroute, where you see how pottery is made using traditional methods. Then you will visit the Koranic library and the medersa (school) next to the pottery workshop. We then continue for approx 2 hours until we reach M'hamid where you have your lunch. There is also time to swim and relax by the hotel pool. We then head off road into the desert and after approx 1,5 up to 2 hours we arrive at the luxurious camp in the dunes of Erg Chegaga. There you will enjoy a camel ride around the sand dunes, and you will try sandboarding. Back at camp a wonderful dinner is served. After dinner we sit around the camp fire and listen to traditional music from the members of the nomads.

Luxury Tents (berber camps)

Breakfast, Dinner

Wake up to a beautiful scene in the middle of the sand dunes. Enjoy delicious meals prepared by the camp chef. All meals and drinks are included in the price. There are many activities to do. You can make a camel, hiking, sand boarding, guided walks, to visit the oasis, to rest in a hammock, enjoy the music of the evening by taking part and trying to learn its traditional percussion around the campfire. The camp is a mixture of traditional Berber design, combined with modern comfort. In the center of the camp is the traditional Berber living room. It is a place to relax and is filled with traditional mattresses and poufs. Frozen drinks, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, they are always available here. Meals are served outside, under the stars or under cover in a Berber tent. There is also a separate open-sided tent with sunbeds, another with sofa and chairs and another with hammocks. The tents are spacious (over 25 sq.m.) and luxurious. Each tent has a double bed (which can be converted to 2 alone). There are also 'wall to wall' plush carpets, full length mirror, bedside tables, solar powered lighting. Each item is handmade in Morocco. The beds also have high quality individual mattresses, cotton sheets, duck comforters and you have a choice of synthetic pillows or feather pillows. Each bathroom has its own toilet, wardrobe and washing area. High quality soaps are provided, shampoo, towels and "other goodies". Due to the chronic lack of water in the desert, instead of a shower the camp provides two silver tin buckets 20 liters with hot and cold water. Washing a bucket is incredibly refreshing and takes us back to other eras that Europe has left in its past..

Luxury Tents (berber camps)

Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation and overnight in a hotel in the area, around 8 in the morning. We head off-road into the desert towards Lake Iriki, a dried up lake. We follow the old route of the Paris-Dakar rally. After approx 3 hours off the road, we reach the cobbled streets and the town of Foum Zguid where we stop for refreshments. On the way, we will also pass by the village of Taznakht, which is famous for its berber carpets. Lunch is served here. We arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon. Transfer to the hotel for overnight stay.

Free time until lunch

Breakfast, Free time until lunch

Breakfast and boarding the coach where we will depart for the airport. After breakfast boarding the bus where we will depart for the airport. After breakfast boarding the bus where we will depart for the airport!! Until then this experience will travel your mind back to this place full of action and adventure.

Breakfast

Spend the night under the stars at a desert camp until the sunsets you'll be frolicking alongside the camels

Morocco