Overview
This ten day walking in the Sahara holiday takes you not only on a guided trek in the Sahara but also a journey into the surrounding valley towns such as Ouarzazate and Zagora. This is a trip where you can really take in the array of Moroccan landscapes, all jewels in their own rights, as well as the cultural heritage of people who live there. These include the luscious Draa Valley, Atlas Mountain passes and the mystical Saharan oases, with overnight stays in traditional tents, gîtes and riads, and camels to carry your luggage.
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Itinerary
Day 1: Marrakech
You are welcomed at the airport, before heading to a riad in Marrakech for the night.
- Accommodation: Riad Chamali, Riad 64 or similar in Marrakech
Day 2: Marrakech – lkhtara
You are driven by 4X4 or minibus from Marrakech to Tizi n’Tichka Pass, taking in views across the Marrakech Plains. This is the highest and most beautiful mountain road in Morocco. Your journey continues through Ouarzazate, the Ait Saoun Pass and the verdant date palms of the Draa Valley, the landscape then transforming slowly but surely to one of desert, reaching the plateau at lkhtara. Your day finishes meeting your camelteer and support team as you spend your second evening in the heart of the Sahara at Jebel Bani.
- Accommodation: Desert camp
- Walking for the day: 3h 30min
Day 3: Ikhtara – Achgig Oasis
Enjoy a guided climb up lkhtara Col, where you are rewarded with a panoramic view of the famous Erg Chigaga, the largest sea of sand, and collection of dunes in Morocco. This is your first sighting of a true desert wilderness, where you will also see some small oases, Bedouin tents and camels, with lunch at Achgig Oasis, where you spend the night in tents.
- Accommodation: Desert camp
- Walking for the day: 3h 30min
Day 4: Achgig Oasis – Labyed
After camp breakfast, your guided trek follows the river from Achgig Oasis until you reach a nomadic Bedouin campsite, where we have lunch. These are Bedouin who head into the high Atlas in the heat of summer, but then descend to desert oases for autumn and spring. After lunch, you continue the desert trek before coming to the next overnight camp at Lbayed.
- Accommodation: Desert camp
- Walking for the day: 4h
Day 5: Lbayed – Erg Chentouf
Today’s hike is down into a beautiful desert valley and then back into the vast desert itself. Trekking up a large stony plateau, you have another opportunity to take in views of Erg Chigaga, and then by late afternoon you arrive into the heart of the erg, continuing on to Erg Chentouf for overnight camp.
- Accommodation: Desert camp
- Walking for the day: 4-5h
Day 6: Erg Chentouf – Erg Sedrat
With an early start, climb to the top of the one of the highest dunes in Morocco, Erg Zehar, at an elevation of 300m, with views across the Sahara’s many other dunes for a distance of 40km. In the early morning hours, the sand ridges remain undisturbed with wind streaks the only thing visible on the sandy surface all around. Descend the dune for camp breakfast, before another trek through the dunes to Erg Sedrat, where you camp overnight.
- Accommodation: Desert camp
- Walking for the day: 5h
Day 7: Erg Sedrat – Bougaren
Continue trekking across Saharan dunes, east of Bani Mountain, towards the small oasis town of Mhamid El Ghizlane and the Draa Valley. Lunch is prepared by the camelteer before continuing on to the dunes at Bougaren. The day closes with a group search for firewood to light a desert campfire.
- Accommodation: Desert camp
- Walking for the day: 5h
Day 8: Bougaren – Oued Naam
Another early start to catch sunrise over the dunes for your last day of desert life. Then continue on across flat desert and rocky plateaus, arriving at Oued Naam at the end of the afternoon, also known as a wadi. This is your last overnight desert camp, where you are also likely to meet other nomadic caravans at this well known water source.
- Accommodation: Desert camp
- Walking for the day: 5h 30 min
Day 9: Oued Naam – Marrakech
We bid farewell to our camel team, and head back towards Ouarzazate by 4X4 or minibus, taking in one last view across the Tizi n’Tichka Pass and High Atlas Mountains. Final night in the city of Marrakech for time in its famous souks and restaurants.
- Accommodation: Riad Chamali, Riad 64 or similar in Marrakech
Day 10: Departure
Departure or extend your trip for extra time in Morocco.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is in quality hotels (riads) in Marrakech at the beginning and end of the trip. Once in the desert, accommodation for the remaining 7 nights is in basic riads, mountain refuges (dormitory rooms) or tent camps.
Click to view sample hotels
- Riad Chamali (Marrakech)
- Riad 64 (Marrakech)
*Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide to you exact accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Meals
All breakfasts are included, as well as all lunches, dinners and hot drinks in the mountains (picnic lunches are included when out on walks). This is a privately guided walking holiday – during your mountain walks, you will be accompanied by a local guide and a cook.
Difficulty and terrain
The rating for this trek is easy to moderate. The terrain varies with walking becoming more challenging in the sand. The trails are often exposed to the sun, so sun protection and hydration are important. The tour is suitable for anyone in good physical shape. (read more about difficulty grades).
When to go
This trip is available to start on any date between 1st of September and 31st of May.
The Sahara Desert is scorching in summer, making it too hot to trek. At night, temperatures fall dramatically—and in winter they can be freezing, however, the low winter sun creates some beautiful lighting.
The best time to book a desert tour is during the spring and fall months when the weather is neither too hot nor too cold. October still has rather warm day-time temperatures and very pleasant evenings. In March the desert begins to bloom and the temperatures start to rise. Be aware, though, that March and April occasionally coincide with the Sirocco wind, which can cause sudden sandstorms and poor visibility.
Please note that during Ramadan and Eid Al Adha’s festival times, many restaurants and shops will be closed, which may affect your trip experience. Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr change yearly. Ramadan 2023 will begin March 22nd and ends April 20th. Eid al-Adha 2023 will begin June 28th and ends July 2nd.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK).
- Private transfer from the airport to your hotel on Day 1 and from the hotel to the airport on Day 9 is included. Please note that only one airport transfer is included, though we can arrange additional transfers. Therefore, it is advisable that all party members arrive on the same flight or at least at a similar time. Extra charges may be applicable on private transfers in case of late-night arrivals.
Inclusions
Included
- 2 nights in a comfortable 3-star grade riad in Marrakech
- 7 nights in basic riads, mountain refuges (dormitory rooms) or tent camps in the mountains
- 9 breakfasts
- 8 lunches (some of which are packed lunches)
- 7 dinners (Not included in Marrakech)
- One airport transfer on arrival and one airport transfer on departure
- Camels and bag transfers of one bag of up to 20kg per person between accommodations (no hard-side suitcases please)
- Services of a qualified English-speaking mountain guide and a cook as appropriate in the mountains
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare
- Meals not listed in itinerary
- Mineral water
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- A supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room. Please note that in mountain refuges single room accommodation cannot be guaranteed.
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as costs are not shared.
- You can also book one of our guided day tour extensions – listed below – for these extra days in Marrakech, or just relax and stroll the streets of Marrakech.
Click here to view Ourika Valley full day guided tour
Ourika Valley, due to its many waterfalls and several attractions, is a very popular day trip from Marrakech. This valley is the sole location within the High Atlas Range where the endangered primate Barbary macaque, Macaca sylvanus is known to occur; this primate is found in the Middle Atlas and a few disjunctive populations in Algeria and Gibraltar. The region is inhabited by Berber people who practice a traditional way of life. You can picnic in the oasis or hike up to the famous seven waterfalls. It is an easy hike, accompanied by an official guide, and it can take between 1 and 3 hours.
Note: Overnight accommodation not included, please choose an extra night in Marrakech extension when booking.
Click here to view Fishing port of Essaouira full day guided tour
Your day trip to Essaouira from Marrakech will begin with a drive along the Haouz planes to Chichaoua village where you will stop for a cup of coffee before you continue to Sidi Mokhtar. On your way, you will cross the Argan trees forest, where you might spot some goats climbing the trees. To watch how the Argan oil (also called the liquid gold, or Moroccan oil) is extracted, you can visit a local ladies’ cooperative and learn how some fine cosmetic products are locally made out of the rich Argan oil. From here, we will carry on to Essaouira. Upon arrival, you can explore the beautiful city at leisure:
- Visit the fishing port of Essaouira and watch the local fishermen returning inland with their catch
- See Skala Kasbah, which was a citadel in the times of war
- Visit some of the beautiful Essaouira art galleries scattered in the Medina
- Stroll in the Medina of Essaouira, which can be explored easily as the streets are aligned opposite to every other Medina streets in Morocco, which look like a maze.
- Shop at leisure for some local souvenirs
- Have a seafood lunch in the harbour stalls or at a local café terrace
- Walk down the beach and watch local boys playing football
- Sunbathe at the 6 km long sandy beach
Note: Overnight accommodation not included, please choose an “Extra night in Marrakech” extension when booking the guided tours (or book a hotel on your own).
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