|
Caravan into the desert dunes Morocco camel trek: Erg Chebbi & Merzouga This trip will take you to some of the most magical places in Morocco, across the rugged Atlas Mountains and into the land of sand and camels. You’ll spend the night in a cosy palace, a small mountain hotel and a traditional Bedouin tent. You’ll make your way to the desert town of Rissani, through spectacular mountain passes with unprecedented views across the Atlas Mountains. Beyond, at Merzouga lies the desert and the unearthly orange dunes of Erg Chebbi. Perched high on its hump, you'll take a camel trek into the sea of sand dunes where the silence is overwhelming. At night, you fall asleep under a clear starry sky and wake up just in time to see the dawn sun slowly colour the Sahara purple, red and orange. |
| Duration |
3 days / 2 nights departs daily from Fes or Marrakech (from Marrakech you'll need at least 2 days to get to Rissani) |
Accommodation |
Traditional Bedouin tent in the desert, stylish kasbah hotel. Comfort level 2-4 (see accommodation). |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Price |
£75 per person - based on 2 people sharing |
Includes |
2 nights' accommodation with breakfast, traditional evening meal in the desert, camel trek and guide |
|
Transport |
Hire car, camel |
Excludes |
Car hire, other meals |
Day 1: RissaniTravel time: approx 8 hours (from Fes)This morning, your hire car will be delivered to your accommodation in Fes. It’s a full day’s drive to Rissani, so if you leave early you'll have time to take it easy, stopping off on the way when you need to. Driving in Morocco is no problem at all. The roads are well maintained, everything’s well signposted and you can take it at your own pace. For more information check out our Morocco car hire page. The rental company representative will hand you the car in exchange for your ‘deposit’, in the form of a blank credit card slip. Your car will be dropped off with a (nearly) empty tank, so at the end of your trip you can hand in the car again with an (almost) empty tank. You’ll have just enough petrol to get to a petrol station at the edge of town where you can fill up before you head into the great wide open for your Morocco camel trek. The route will take you past some spectacular valleys and mountain rims. On the way stop off at the Gorge du Ziz, a huge gorge near a lake that you’ll pass just before Errachidia and the turn-off to Erfoud. |
|
|
From Erfoud, it’s another 20 minutes across an immense palm oasis to Rissani where we’ve selected a charming kasbah hotel on the outskirts of this small desert town. The hotel is tastefully decorated by the friendly and extremely welcoming owner Hassan, who also designed the sets for famous films like 'The Mummy'. Hassan and his brother Ibrahim will make you feel right at home in their beautiful desert hotel. After your long drive, take a refreshing dip in the pool or relax with a cool drink in the bedouin tent. You’ll be well looked after by Hasna and Said. In the evening enjoy a wonderful home-cooked tajine and a glass of wine out on the candlelit terrace as you gaze up at the starry sky and look forward to your Morocco camel trek tomorrow. |
Day 2: Rissani - Erg Chebbi desert (Merzouga)Travel time: Approximately 45 minsToday you can take it easy and recover from yesterday’s long drive. After breakfast, take a dip go in the beautiful pool or sit on the terrace with a good book. If you want to look around town, there’s an old kasbah that’s open to the public across the road from the hotel. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, you can visit the local market in Rissani. Towards the end of the afternoon, you’ll make your way to the sand dunes of the Erg Chebbi desert at Merzouga for your Morocco camel trek. It’s about a 40 minute drive across a brand new tarmac road. As you peer ahead, you'll see the orange dunes shimmering on the horizon. |
|
|
You'll pass dozens of signs for hotels, bivouacs and desert bedouin tents along the road, so read your directions carefully for your exit. You can park your car close to the kasbah hotel where the friendly owner Mohammed will welcome you.You can have a refreshing drink in the garden before you begin your Morocco camel trek and wobble your way into the desert as the cheerful young camel drivers lead the way, humming old nomad songs as they guide you through the dunes. After about an hour and a half, you'll spot a small tented camp in the dunes. Your basic camp is little more than five Bedouin camel hair tents and stone water jugs. Mattresses and blankets are provided so you don’t need to bring your own. As the camel drivers prepare a traditional dinner you can go for a walk into the surrounding sand dunes. The unusual shapes, colours and deafening silence make this place seem almost unearthly. |
Day 3: Departure from Erg Chebbi (Merzouga)At the crack of dawn, you'll be woken to see the sunrise. Climb up to the top of one of the dunes for the best view. As the sun slowly creeps up from behind the dunes, the sand is basked in a soft purple, red and finally golden glow. Once the sun is up and the temperature begins to rise you’ll have a final glass of mint tea before you begin your Morocco camel trek back towards the inhabited world. You can have some breakfast back at your hotel and take a shower before you leave for your next module.Our Atlas Mountains tour will take you to the heart of Morocco, with it's backdrop of the snow-capped mountain peaks and deserted kasbahs to the lush, green Dades Valley. You’ll go on a trek through the mountains with some magnificent views across the valley. If you’re heading to the coast, you could drive via the mountains at Tafraoute. During our Morocco Off the Beaten Track tour you’ll stay in a traditional Berber home and experience rural life. You’ll visit small mountain villages on foot and cycle through a landscape of bizarre rock formations, some of them painted bright blue and purple. A fascinating insight into an unexpected side of Morocco. |
|
|
Best time to travel The temperature in the desert can soar to searing heights. It’s best to avoid the Morocco camel trek at Merzouga in the hottest months July and August when temperatures can reach 45C. You can still do a Morocco camel trek during the summer months, just be prepared to endure the stifling heat. In the winter months December and January the road from Marrakech across the Atlas can sometimes be closed due to snowfall. In this case we’ll give you an alternative travel route. Camel clothes A bit of an odd tip, but a handy one. Shifting about on the back of the camel in shorts, your bare legs can get quite sore rubbing along the rough camel hair. Long trousers are a lot more comfortable. Wear a sun hat and sunglasses to protect you from the harsh sun and a scarf to wrap around your head to protect you from the sand. Cheap but good quality scarves can be picked up for less than £2 in any Moroccan souk. |
Your accommodation while on this trip
