Sahara Desert Trek
Hosting you is a delight
Best to have : 10 days
Best time : Spring and Autumn
Great for : Couple , groups
Description :
Sahara Desert Trek Tour allows you to fully experience this beautiful region, traversing twisting Ouadis and intact sand dunes, whilst encountering isolated villages frequented by nomads. The highlight of your trek will be to watch the sunset from the top of Erg Zaher, a 1900′ dune and one of the highest in the region. The hike ranges between 5 and 7 hours a day. You will stop for lunches and refreshment in the shade of trees. You will spend the night in wild camp each night on the sand dunes below clear skies with bright stars.
Your expedition starts and ends in the colorful and captivating city of Marrakech where you will have time to explore the famous Djema El Fna, Marrakech’s main square and the endless maze of markets in the Medina. Your journey starts before you even reach the desert as you will cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tichka Pass (2260m), the highest road pass in Morocco by private mini bus, and enjoy and overnight stop in Ouarzazate on your way.
- Day 1 : Arrival to Marrakech or Casablanca
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Upon arrival in Marrakech or Casablanca GME driver will meet you for transfer from the airport to your Riad in the medina of Marrakesh. Once you have settled in, ramble out to experience the famous Djemaa el Fna square. Your first experience of the square is one of a senses explosion; entertainers performing, a myriad of food stalls all lit up with the smells to accompany them, and the general melee of activity.
- Day 2 : Drive Marrakech to Ouarzazate
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Pick up your riad in Marrakesh after breakfast start your journey towards Ouarzazate region to explore its famous enegmatic Kasbahs.Kasbahs are great rise colored citadels standing proudly on the hillsides, defying anyone who passes to ignore them. These are the far famed kasbahs of the Moroccan south, residences built from adobe, a mixture of clay and straw, their architecture of striking originality and rare elegance. Standing eternal, they are southern Morocco’s dearest heritage.
You will pass the olive fields of the Oued Zat as you ascend to the Tizi N’Tichka pass (2260-meter-high) that will take you through spectacular mountainous land. Along the road you will see panoramic sights of the High Atlas Mountains as well as rich valleys, colorful villages, and striking geology.
Explore The majestic Taourirt Kasbah listed as a national heritage monument. It was built in the 19th century and was the Pasha of Marrakesh ‘s largest residence. Its architecture, with its many crenellated towers, geometric motifs, and interior richly attired in painted stuccowork and cedar wood, is a marvel to behold. The Kasbah has just been restored throughout, and now houses exhibition galleries, a library and an Amphitheatre.
Visit Telouet Kasbah whose construction started in 1860, and further buildings were added over the course of the decades. The result is a masterly work of art, fortress, chateau and caravanserai all rolled into one, a marvel of painted woodwork, wrought iron, sculpted stucco and colorful zellij. Legend has it that it took 300 craftsmen three years to sculpt its ceilings and walls.
Explore the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. A revelation of pure beauty listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah is a stunning work of architecture overlooking the Ounila Valley. A graceful ensemble of adobe kasbahs, this one of the oldest and most impressive ksars in all morocco. The earliest of its buildings, a granary standing on the hilltop, dates back to the 11th century. The village gradually grew up around it over the course of the centuries, adding houses, more granaries, cowsheds, a well, and protective surrounding wall
Visit The Tifoultout Kasbah Built in the 17th century to accommodate the pasha of Marrakesh’s guests, The Tifoultout Kasbah was renovated 30 years ago and is now a hotel and restaurant. It stands beside the village of Tifoultout, near Oued Draa, a spot where tranquility and peace of mind reign supreme.
From its terrace, you can enjoy magnificent views of the city of Ouarzazate below, and of the surrounding mountains while having your lunch
B&B accommodation in a nice riad in Ait Ben Haddou .
- Day 3. Drive to Erfoud -Hike in The valley of Ziz, Tafilalt Oasis /Errachidia
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Rise and have your breakfast and head the road to Erfoud. This 5hr drive takes you through the beautiful Ziz Valley and Tafilalt oasis where your will start your 4hrs hiking in the Oasis of Tafilalet, which gave its name to the entire valley and the province of Errachidia. It is the largest palm grove in the world, some 800,000 palms palm trees produce very varied dates. It is the last great oasis before the desert and the immense expanse of the Sahara.
You will eventually reach, Tsa in the heart of the valley and where the road literally ends. Here you will meet GME support team, complete with camels and handlers and your trek begins. The first section is fairly short to introduce you to the terrain and also allow you to set up your tents for the first time. Dinner and overnight
- Day 4. Sahara Trekking
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Rise early and have your breakfast. For your first full day, you will trek further into the desert, experiencing what life there is and the tranquility that it can bring. Life is simple here. The evenings and nights in the desert are dark and quiet. The stars are so bright, and it is very easy to spot the orbiting satellites as they speed across the skies above you. During the trek, you will stop for picnic and continue your trek. Dinner and overnight in the tents under the magistic glorious bright sky.
- Day 5 : Sahara Trekking, sunset across the sahara
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Get up early and have your breakfast and be prepared for the day trek. As you trek deeper into the Desert you will experience deeper and more abundant dunes until you can see Erg Chigaga on the horizon. Camping tonight will be amidst the dunes and once camp is set up, you will climb this 300m dune to watch the sunset across the Sahara. This is a moving and quite surreal experience for most people as the colors of the desert are highlighted by the setting sun. A time to reflect and truly experience the silence surrounding you.
- Day 6 : Sahara Trekking
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Today you will continue your journey and by now you will be wondering how your Guide is navigating.It all looks so similar with no landmarks to speak of. Although your days are spent walking separately from your support crew, they will always be miraculously waiting for you when you arrive at your lunch or evening stop.
- Day 7 : Sahara Trekking
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On your final full day of trekking you will start to leave the deeper dunes behind as the terrain changes to hamada or rocky, barren plateaus. You may encounter abandoned and derelict dwellings or even remote wells used by the Nomads as they traverse the desert.
- Day 8 : Final trek day, overnight Ouarzazate
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This morning a short final trek will take you to meet your transport where you will say goodbye to your support crew and head back to Ouarzazate. Once in the hotel, you can relax and have that well-earned shower! Then it’s time to get those clean clothes on and enjoy a celebration dinner.
- Day 9 :Drive to Marrakech, overnight hotel
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After breakfast, it’s back towards Marrakech. We get you back as soon as we can leaving you plenty of time to get out into the Medina and experience the multitude of Souks. The bartering and market activity is something special. In the evening, enjoy a traditional meal in any one of many restaurants or try your chance by eating on one of the street stalls.
- Day 10 : Departure
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You will be transferred back to the airport for your flight home
