High Atlas Mountains and Sahara Trekking Adventure

Our trip itinerary can be modified to meet your needs, so please contact us to speak about the details of the excursion

Day One: High Atlas Mountains

We will pick you up in the morning from your hotel, or at a predefined meeting place to begin the excursion. On the first day, we will drive across Tizi n’Tichka pass, at 2,260 meters above sea level. We will stop at the Kasbah Telouet. It stands at 1,800 meters above sea-level and is one of the highest and most beautiful Kasbah in Morocco. After visiting this location we will visit Ait Ben Haddou where we will have lunch in the old village near the residential castle which is part of Moroccan heritage. The adobe buildings here are uniquely stylized with corner towers and crenellations which is why Hollywood loves to use this area as a set for blockbuster movies. Famous films which have been shot here include Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Prince of Persia and Game of Thrones. In the evening we arrive at Foum Zguid, a small oasis town on the edge of the desert. The accommodation for day one will be in a simple but pleasant Riad Hotel. A Raid is 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. From the Riad there is a view of palm groves and of the oasis. You will be able to stroll through the Ksar (the old village) with its narrow streets and half-ruined adobe houses.

Day Two: Encounter With The Desert.

The Erg Chegaga sand desert is the greatest wilderness in Morocco. On this day a 4×4 vehicle will pick us up and take the group to the starting point of the desert trek. Camels will help by carrying luggage through the desert. There are both rocky and sandy sections which we will hike though during the day until we reach the immense sand dunes of Erg Chegaga in the afternoon. The region is still very untouched by tourism and therefore it is a very authentic experience. There are only a few permanent camps in this area which is where we will spend our night. Of course, it is our tradition to enjoy sandboarding and to climb some of the shifting dunes. Step by step our feet sink into the fine desert sand. In the evening, we can witness an impressive spectacle when the soft light of the setting sun bathes the high dunes in everchanging shades of yellow and orange.

Day Three: Trekking Through The Desert

On day three, we hike across the constantly changing desert landscape to the dunes of Bougarns. At this place the sand dunes can be over 100 meters at their highest peak. They are among the most beautiful in the Moroccan Sahara. Camels will take care of the luggage transport again today. The winds let the fine grains of sand fly around us as we hike. To protect themselves from the sun and sandstorms, the Berbers use turbans (chèches), which are scarves wrapped several times around their head. We will eat our lunch in the shade of a tamarisk. This is one of the few plants that can survive in the Saharan climate. We will drink sweet mint tea and let the silence of the desert sink in. At night, the stars shine in the sky. You will even have the option of sleeping outside under the stars, if the weather permits.

Day Four: Hike to Oued Naam

On day four, we allow ourselves to be completely immersed in the experience of the desert. Today we hike through the sea of sand. This is a meditative and mind-clearing experience. We continue our hike in the orange sand until we reach the dry river of Oued Naam, where we spend the night in tents or outside under the beautiful starry sky of the Sahara. At night the temperature cools down significantly and the air is pure so the stars shine brighter.

Day Five: Return To Marrakech By « Tamegroute »

The morning mood of the desert is something very special. In the still fresh air, we walk through the sand dunes towards civilization. We will visit the small desert village of Tamegroute. This location has been the religious center of the Nasiriyya Sufi people since the 11th century. At its height, the university in Tamegroute was attended by more than 1,400 students from all countries of the Middle East and West Africa. Today, Tamgroute is a village that is best known for its pottery and the so-called, ¨green ceramics¨. After visiting this village, we will make our way back to Marrakech (400 km). We arrive in Marrakech in the evening and this will conclude the High Atlas Mountains and Sahara Trekking Adventure.