This exclusive 10-day Sahara desert trekking tour is the ultimate desert experience that takes you far from the hustle and bustle of civilization, allowing you to connect intimately with the beauty of the magnificent Sahara dunes and the rugged Atlas Mountains while experiencing the rich Berber culture, and what we consider to be the luxuries of the Saharan lifestyle, building wild camps, cooking on the fire, marveling at stunning sunsets, the milky way of the night sky, and the natural great silence of the Sahara environment.
Your Hotel or Raid in Marrakech
At 8h am
First night (included) in Riad or hotel in Marrakech before starting your tour, for the reason of flight time and the earlier departure of the tour.
Departure early at 7:30 from your riad to across the High Atlas mountains via the highest pass of TIZ N’TICHKA 2260m, while seeing typical Amazigh villages and lush valleys by the roadside. After arriving at OUARZAZATE, we will cross the Anti-Atlas mountain of the AIT SAOUN range. Before enjoying the DRAA River valley, which is the longest river in Morocco 1200 km to the Atlantic coast, and flanked by a glorious oasis of palms & mud-build Kasbahs and driving via AGDZ and Zagora. Overnight just outside M’HAMID in the palm grove, staying at a guest house of the region. Overnight on a half-board basis.
After a nice sleep and breakfast, a short distance of driving from the guest house to M’HAMID, where you will meet your camel caravan which is loaded with your luggage/equipment. Desert guides will also teach you to wrap your CHACH (turban), the ideal protection from wind in the Sahara. Then, the morning’s trekking follows the DRAA River through the vast palm groves of its river and the original settlement of M’HAMID for approximately 300 years. After having time to visit some ancient mud-building houses, mostly abandoned, then enjoy the shade time offered by acacia, palms, or tamarisk trees. Since the palm grove ended, you got lunch at a place called RAS NKHAL (head of palm). Here, the palm trees open out the way to the stony plateau scrub geographically named (Hamada), The area is filled with tamarisk trees, providing a serene spot for daily rest after trekking. After lunch, carry on to the southwest by a proximity of 2.5hrs towards the marabou of a holy man called SIDI NAJI, where overnight camp will be made, clause by small dunes. Depends on group trekking- time taken: 5 hrs.
After a calm sleep and Saharan breakfast, collecting camp then a getaway to the remote dune of ZAHAR region, it will be reached before lunch. So trekking day was largely flat, it looked like a dried lake that gradually transformed into rolling dunes, with less wild vegetation. Desert- Camp is established near the dunes, this is a little visit to a small dune of the region and your afternoon is given to exploring ZAHAR, reaching the highest point to enjoy the romantic views across the ERG (big sand) and then the magic sunset of Sahara desert. It’s a vantage point that gives you a look at the next day’s route to the wonderful view of Erg SMAR. ‘Screaming dunes’ which are known as ZAHAR dunes, are a legend that tells of village novels and history. Trekking time take: 4hrs
After breakfast and trucking camp, We will cross the DRAA River on the first day of trekking to the abandoned desert village of Erg SMAR, which is fortified by 35 families farming the land. DRAA river-size bed is astonishing, given it now runs dry. but once flowed in abundance through the Sahara. Water still runs deeply underground here and there is a well on the river where you will replenish the water supply, with a quick shower. Human existence was evident anywhere in the outline of agricultural gardens and abandoned mud-buildings which were homes. The trekking day finished under the generous large shade of tamarisk trees, where the camp is established – hard in Harte of Sahara area, given the big size of the trees at this village. Following lunch, you could explore, the DRAA and the dunes that have since started to encroach on the buildings. Trekking daytime: 3hrs.
After breakfast, we headed to the dunes of Bougrine, where you could come across other visitors for the first time on trekking. Departing Erg SMAR, we leave the dense behind to cross small dunes and then a broad, earth plateau, passing through an area where is possible to see traces of gazelles. northly and southly, rolling dunes are still visible. The vegetation also increases once more, then you have lunch under the trees’ shade. After lunch, carry on through the desert to enjoy the plateau before the rolling dunes of BOUGARN. Leave your camels behind then scramble up BOUGRN sand to the nearest vantage point. With good visibility of getting nice pictures, you should see the dunes of ZAHAR and Erg CHIGAGA. The Camp was established in a shelter of small dunes. Trekking daytime: 5-6hrs.
After breakfast, the trekking day will give you a chance to see more green plantations, some lining the course of former river tributaries. Lunch will be under the shade of tamarisk trees. Then After lunch, your trekking would a crossing a flat and fertile land. You will come across remnants of agricultural land which is now used as pasture for grazing camels. In the Sahara desert, the camp will be made in the seclusion of small sand dunes. Trekking day time: 5hrs.
Left Sahara behind then toward back to M’HAMID, to complete your trekking. The Sahara moreover becomes marked by desert scrub and earth banks, and palm groves become more apparent the closer you reach M’HAMID. Lunchtime break in the shade then, before reaching the village. Finely transport will transfer you back to the guest-house, in the heart of the palm grove. Trekking daytime: 3-4hrs.
After the unforgettable Sahara desert trekking tour, a departure from the guest-house in the early morning, enjoy the road to Marrakech by visiting AIT BEN HADOU Kasbah in OURZAZAT then enjoy the road to your Riad/hotel in Marrakech.
colleen j2024-04-25Verified 3 days /2 nights from Fez to Sahara to High Atlas Our driver and Tour guide Rabin was exceptional in every way.His driving was safe and information terrific on our 3 day trip from Fez to Merzouga to High Atlas across 3 days.Definitely recommend Josefina D2023-02-27Verified Awesome experience It was a great experience. The guide helped us plan the trip according to our needs and interests, he also helped us choose the hotels and restaurants, which were great. He also was a very kind person who was able to speak many languages JaceyRight2023-01-05Verified Must have Experience with a Great Guide Rabi was a fantastic guide an driver he picked us up outside Marrakech and knew so much about the landscape and history on our way to the Sahara. While in the Sahara he took us on an excursion to visit the nomadic people of the region and provided a ton of great info. After a fabulous three days in the desert, Rabi drove us to fes. It was a great trip with an awesome guide. Thàis C2023-01-05Verified Amazing time. Rabi was amazing. He shepherded us from Marrakech to the Sahara and then on to Fez. I highly recommend his services. He was always there when we needed him. Prompt and on time. africaweasel2022-12-11Verified This is the one. Book it. One of the best experiences we have ever had. We did a 3 day trip travelling from Marakkesh through the Atlas Mountains to stay on the outskirts of the Erg Chegagag desert then into the desert for a night then a different route back. Every day was memorable and beautiful - Rabi is the perfect guide and we were very glad of his sand driving skills in the desert.Seriously. Just book it. You won’t regret it. Daniel2022-12-07Verified thanks for everything and the great time in Morocco very professional and very nice staff everything worked as discussed thank you for everything and gladly again with friends Rachelle E2022-07-13Verified Beat tour guide and driver in Morocco! The Sahara desert was one of my favorite experiences. Rabi planned the whole two nights and three day tour. On the way there, we stopped at many attractions. He explained all the history and details behind it and also was kind enough to take pictures! His knowledge and experience was much appreciated. I’d also like to highlight that he is a very good driver. He was always focused on the road and made sure we were safe. The trip was memorable because of the thoughtful things that he included on our tour-water and beverages for the long road trip to the Sahara, provided us an astrology map to find stars in the Sahara, the conversations and more. I would highly recommend rabi for your next trip to Morocco. We actually found him through a previous client of his who happens to be my friend. So he has a good reputation for a reason. We will definitely be back to explore more of Morocco with him. Thanks rabi! AY Man2021-08-24Verified Verryy goooddd Its been a wonderful trip with a wonderful guide . I can't wait to travel with rabii again just wow unbelievable !!! tcapec2020-03-10Verified La miglior esperienza - The best experience - La mejor experiencia My brother and I took a trip to Morocco from 6 to 13 February 2020. Rabii was our magnificent guide.He picked us up at the airport in Marrakech and we immediately start our trip to discover this wonderful country.In 8 days thanks to Rabii and his experience we managed to have unforgettable experiences.Our stops:Marrakech—>Merzouga desert—>Fez—>Chefchaouen—>Rabat—>MarrakechRabii organized everything for us, he organized the tour (according to what we wanted to do) and he also booked the hotels and he suggested us amazing restaurants and experiences to do.. we couldn't be happier than that, everything was perfect.The distances are long and the trips by car could be heavy, but Rabii made us do many intermediate stops that allowed us to break the trips and see many more things that we would otherwise have missed.He is a person of an incredible culture, he deeply knows his country under every aspects. He is always available for dialogue and discussion. He is a very good driver, always nice and generous in explanations and advice but never intrusive.It was a real pleasure for us to be able to share this experience with him that surely, without him, would not have been so beautiful.We bring home beautiful memories and we are sure that we will soon return to explore Morocco with Rabii, whom we consider a new friend rather than a guide!I recommend everyone to contact him and rely on Rabii, both in the planning and in the travel phase.Thanks a lot Rabii, see you soon! Keiara2019-11-04Verified Amazing: An experience of a lifetime! Rabii is fabulous trip organizer! He was very thoughtful when planning activities around what we wanted to do and suggested activities we would have never thought of. He suggested the Museum of Water and the Berber village where we enjoyed homemade Moroccan treats while learning how to make traditional Moroccan mint tea!Rabii knows all the “must-see” places in Morocco. He set up our tours of the souks and Medina’s with an amazing tour guide that was super knowledgeable and excited to teach us about the rich culture of Morocco. Our overnight stay in the desert with camel ride was AMAZING. The campsight was beautiful and the meals were prepared by a chef who made us delicious vegetable tagine.Everything Rabii planned was very organized and he was on time for every pick-up and drop-off. His vehicle was also very clean and well air conditioned. It was only my friend and I (both of which are women) and he made us feel safe and comfortable the entire time. He made us want to come back to Morocco and explore more! Our trip wouldn’t have been the same without him!Load more