High Atlas, Kasbah Télouet and Ait ben Haddou, Taznakhete at the end of Foumzguid, Stay in the Desert
Everything will depend on the choice of destination and the duration of the trip. Here we will take an example for a 5-day trip
[ DAY 01 ] High Atlas,
In the morning departure from your hotel. On this day, we cross the High Atlas by vehicle, Tizi-n-Tichka, at 2260 meters above sea level, we would have a stop at the Kasbah Telouet. It stands at 1800 meters and is one of the highest and most beautiful in Morocco then, Ait Ben Haddou where we would have had lunch and one of this old village with its nested residential castles is part of the world cultural heritage. The adobe buildings with corner towers and crenellations give the place its fortified face and stylize it unvarnished for a cinema set format. Famous feature films have been shot there such as « Lawrence of Arabia » or « The Bible ». In the evening we reach Foum Zguid, a small oasis town on the edge of the desert. Night in a simple but pleasant riad hotel. This means a traditional Moroccan mansion, which today serves as a place of accommodation. Our riad hotel in Foum Zguid has air-conditioned rooms, a roof terrace and a garden with an outdoor swimming pool. We look at the palm groves of the oasis and perhaps stroll through the ksar, the old village with its narrow streets and half-ruined adobe houses.
[DAY 02] Encounter With The Desert.
The Erg Chegaga sand desert is the greatest wilderness in Morocco. A 4×4 vehicle picks us up and takes the group to the starting point of the desert trek. Camels help carry luggage. Rocky and sandy sections alternate in the morning, and in the course of the afternoon we reach the immense sand dunes of Erg Chegaga. The region has been little affected by tourism and is therefore very original. There are only a few permanent camps in the area. Where we spend our night night. Of course, we will climb to the crest of one of the shifting dunes. Step by step our feet sink into the fine desert sand. Towards evening we can witness an impressive spectacle when the soft light of the setting sun bathes the high dunes in ever new shades of yellow and orange.Towards evening we can witness an impressive spectacle when the soft light of the setting sun bathes the high dunes in ever new shades of yellow and orange.
[ DAY 03 ] Trekking Through The Desert
We cross the constantly changing desert landscape to the dunes of Bougarns. A hundred meters and more make it possible to reach the sand dunes of Erg Chegaga. They are among the most beautiful in the Moroccan Sahara. Camels take care of the luggage transport. The winds let the fine grains of sand fly. To protect themselves from the sun and sandstorms, the Berbers use chèches, which are scarves that are wrapped several times around the head. We take our lunch break in the shade of a tamarisk. It is one of the few plants that can survive in the Saharan climate. We drink sweet mint tea and let the silence of the desert sink in. And at night, the stars shine in the sky.
[DAY 04] Hike to « Oued Naam »
Today too, we allow ourselves to be completely immersed in the experience of the desert. The hike through the sea of sand is also a meditative and mind-clearing experience. We advance painfully in the almost orange sand and finally reach the dry river of Oued Naam, where we spend the night under the tent or the beautiful starry of the Sahara. The nights in the desert are cool, the air is pure and the stars shine brighter.
[DAY 05] End Of Trekking, Return To Marrakech By « Tamegroute »
The morning mood in the desert is something very special. In the still fresh air, we walk through the sand dunes towards civilization. We then visit the small desert village of Tamegroute. The place has been the religious center of the Nasiriyya Sufi order since the 11th century. At its height, the university was visited by more than 1,400 students from all countries of the Middle East and West Africa. Today, Tamgroute is again a village and is best known for its pottery and the so-called green ceramics. Then follows the long journey back to Marrakech (400 km / 8h), the evening end of our services in front of your hotel door.
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