Yourmoroccotour's Blog

Traveling through the Sahara Desert is an adventure to be experienced not be talked about

The desert silence is very meditating, calming experience that will clear your mind of any worries. You will not care what day of the week  or time it is.  You forget your emails, cell phones and other daily chores. There is nothing around you only miles and miles of sand.  The solitude is very calming as the soothing orange sand.

“Our camels were strong, beautiful and smelly. I suddenly had a great appreciation for these animals. They walk so gently; in slow pace rocking from one side to other. Without any complain they carry loads of heavy equipment, supplies and our food. As gratitude, I had fed them peels of my orange and carrots out of my cous cous”

“I enjoyed the evenings so much, when the sun started setting down and temperature cool of. The desert at that time became like one flame of red color. All was red before the black pitch night with million of stars, strong and bright covered the night sky. I have never seen so many shooting starts, now I hope that all my wishes will come true”

” At night our guide made campfire and prepared delicious diner for us.  We have even baked our own bread in the sand. We passed the time before heading to sleep by listening to his singing and drumming, by talking about life, his, ours. The stories told will be remembered. One night a small group of local Nomads joined us. These people are the only people you might encounter on your journey though the Sahara desert. Their herds of animals and children look at your with interest. Their nomadic life might seem romantic and they greatly appreciate the help one another.”

When to go: Trekking is possible from September to May, but the best time to go is from November through March. Daytime temperatures are pleasant (20-25°C or 68-77°F) and the sun is not as strong as during the rest of the year. Spring is a wonderful event in the desert and arrives in late February or March, bringing the amazing sight of flowering plants to the base of the sand dunes. Sandstorms can happen anytime but are most common towards the end of March and into April.

Where To Go. Morocco has two main desert areas set around the towns of Merzouga – Erg Chebbi sand dunes and by M’hamid Erg Chigaga. Both are in the southeast of the country but are yet quite far apart from one another–and each town has its own distinct flavor.

Prices. Our prices depends on many factors

• How many people will be on the tour?
• How many people to a tent?
• What is included?

Count on spending 350-650 Moroccan Dirhams (US$45-82) per person, per day for trekking–including food, camels and guides. At the lower end of the price range, expect to share your trip with other travelers, while at the high end couples or small groups should get an all-inclusive private tour.

What to bring. Packing lightly is best. Remember, on a trek it is the camel that carries all your things, along with the supplies for cooking and camping! Put everything in bags that can get bumped and thrown around. This is not the place for fine suitcases. Among the most important things to bring are:

• Clothes suitable for trekking under a hot sun. There may be lots of sand but this is not the beach and you will be in the sun all day long. To protect your body, bring along light pants and shirts and a big hat to keep your head under cover. You can buy a typical Moroccan scarf that wraps around your head like a turban when you are in the country.
• Thermal underwear to sleep in. The days are hot but the nights can be near or below freezing. A good pair of long johns is essential.
• Sunscreen. High SPF sunscreen isn’t always easy to find in Morocco. Get some that is at least 30 SPF – higher if your skin burns easily.
• A comfortable pair of walking shoes. Sandals are not the best choice. Sometimes you can wear them, but in other places the terrain is rougher than you might imagine, with many small rocks on the ground.
• A camera. The desert can be hard on photographic equipment, so a compact camera is best since it is enclosed and better protected against dust and sand. If you bring something fancier with changeable lenses make sure to get a good carrying bag and extra plastic bags to protect everything against grit. Consider a second battery for long treks.
• A short-wave radio. This is debatable. If you travel to get away from it all, you may want to leave the radio at home. On the other hand, the local people love tuning in radio stations and the songs that come over the airwaves will often start off a round of singing.
• Baby wipes. If you are doing a longer trek, water to wash with may not appear for 3-4 days, until you reach a well. A pack of baby wipes helps to take off the day’s grime and they can be burned in the fire at night, leaving no trace on the landscape.
• Games or Your Best Performance. Games are commonly played at night around the fire. Memorize a few word games, bring a small puzzle along, and be prepared to sing a song or anything else you can do to entertain. This is a good way to share and get to know your guides and fellow travelers.

We can arrange treks that last from one day to several days, for more trek ideas please email us at info@your-morocco-tour.com or visit our website. http://www.your-morocco-tour.com

Camel Trekking Tours Depart from M’hamid

There is CTM bus departing Marrakech to M’hamid

11h00 morning and the other around midnight.

Supratour bus departing Marrakech to M’hamid:

Supratour at 03:00 p.m

Public bus in Bab Doukala station at 07:00 p.m from Marrakech