Magical Desert

3 Day Itinerary

This abbreviated tour is ideal if you only have a few days and want to experience the splendour of Morocco's magical desert landscape. This tour is anideal way to enjoy the very best of the desert landscape in a short amount of time.

Overview

Day 1: Marrakech to M'Hamid

Day 2: Enjoy the Desert

Day 3: Return to Marrakech

Day 1

Marrakech

We will pick you up early in the morning from your riad in Marrakech or directly at the airport. From Marrakech, we will drive through the breathtakingly beautiful High Atlas mountains. Along the way we will enjoy the rugged beauty of the landscape and see ancient villages that cling to these rocky slopes.

At lunchtime, we will arrive at Ait Ben Haddou, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of the best preserved ksars in Morocco. This beautiful desert landscape has also been the location for a number of movies including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. After lunch we will visit this ancient fortress together. Then we will continue our drive south through Zagora and the village of M'Hamid. Nuzzled against the dunes of the Sahara desert, M’Hamid is historically important as a gathering place for trade journeys to Timbuktu.

From M'Hamid we travel to our desert camp, Erg L'houdi, by 4X4, a short drive from the village. The camp is surrounded by the vast and picturesque sand dunes of the Sahara. Here we will welcome you with “Berber Whisky” (traditional Moroccan mint tea), and pastries. In Erg L’Houdi you can explore the enchanting landscape of dunes and you can also have fun sand boarding. Enjoy a delicious dinner and traditional entertainment and then spend some time around the campfire looking up at the beautiful night sky in the desert.

We will overnight in the tent camp which is equipped with beds, shared showers and toilets.

Day 2

Enjoy the Desert

If you like sunrises, be sure to wake early for the beautiful desert sunrise over the majestic sand dunes. After breakfast, you have the option to ride on camel (dromedary) accompanied by a guide. Then we will drive through the vast stretches of the Sahara desert, passing the stony desert (Hamada) interrupted by sand dunes. At the Oasis Sacre (Holy Oasis), we will have lunch waiting for us.

Just in time for sunset, we will reach the sea of dunes at Erg Chegaga, the largest group of sand dunes in the region. They reach a height of 300 m and a width of 40 km. After another delicious desert dinner, we will spend the evening around the warmth of a campfire. We will overnight here in nomad tents or under the glittery night sky, whichever you prefer.

Day 3

Return to Marrakech

In the early morning, take another opportunity to climb the dunes and watch the breathtaking sunrise. After another delicious breakfast, we will drive back to M’Hamid where we will have a short rest at a cafe and then continue to Zagora for lunch. On the way to Zagora, we have the option of stopping in Tamgrout where you can visit a local cooperative to see how traditional Moroccan pottery is made. These are the very pieces that you see in the colorful pictures of Morocco.

Then we will drive back to Marrakech, arriving in the evening.

We believe that your vacation should be a magical experience, based on your desires. This itinerary is provided as a general guide and we are happy to customize it to ensure that you have a wonderful time in Morocco.

Other experiences that can be added to your trip include:

extended trips to the desert by camel
express trips from Zagora to the desert using helicopters
ATV/quad biking in the desert
surfing or kitesurfing on the coast
hiking in the mountains
motor cycle trip along the windy mountain roads
cycling in the mountains or any area of interest
an exploration of cooking and the spices of Morocco
a day trip to Tangier to see Spain (Gibraltar) from Morocco

We look forward to welcoming you to Morocco!