Desert Dorcas Gazelles

Duration

8 Days

Description

Slowly but steadily, you immerse yourself in the fantastic, seemingly endless dune world of Erg Chegaga. Your route will take you over gentle sand dunes, through dried-up riverbeds and sometimes through sandy, stony plains. Each participant will be provided with their own camel and the pace of the caravan will allow you to either ride your furry companion or walk alongside. In the evening, when the African sun has sunk behind the seemingly endless sea of sand, you can listen to the nomads’ stories around the campfire, sing, play the drums or simply enjoy the endless tranquillity of the desert away from the group.

Highlights

Marrakesh one of Morocco's four royal cities
Drive over the Atlas Mountains
Visit to the Pasha Residence
Journey across the Anti-Atlas
Drive along the Draa Valley
On the road with the nomads
Berber settlements, kasbahs, oases, stone desert, shadow plays in the desert.

Included

All transfers according to program
3 nights in a Riad in Marrakech with breakfast.
Half-day city tour Marrakech
3 nights in camp full board during the hike
1 night in a hotel in Ait Ben Haddou with dinner and breakfast
Meals according to the program
Local transportation from the desert
Water during the hike
Licensed hiking guide for the entire trip
Cooking and camping equipment
Pack dromedaries on the desert tour

Excluded

Flight
Tips for the team
Entrance to the monuments
Travel insurance
Drinks
Additional costs for illnesses
Lunch and dinner in Marrakech

Optional additional service

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Marrakech

Your trip begins with a flight to Morocco. On arrival at Marrakech airport, your tour guide will give you a warm welcome and accompany you to your accommodation. Use the rest of the day to relax or explore the city on your own.

Day 2: City tour of Marrakech

Today you will discover the highlights of Marrakech. A German-speaking local guide will accompany you to important cultural monuments such as the Koutoubia Mosque, the magnificent Bahia Palace, the Medrasa Ben Youssef and the impressive city wall. Immerse yourself in the colorful hustle and bustle of the souks and experience the famous “Djemaa El Fnaa” square, where acrobats, storytellers, snake charmers and musicians perform. The city tour ends at midday and your tour guide will bid you farewell.

3: Marrakech - Tichka Pass - Telouet - Ait Ben Haddou - Agdez

A scenic drive over the highest road pass in Morocco, Tizi n-Tichka (2260m) to the Berber village of Telouète. We visit the old residence of the former Pasha of the South and Marrakech El Glaoui, then continue along the beautiful Ounila valley with its green fields in the desert landscapes to Ait ben Haddou, the fortified mud town that lies on the old caravan route to Tombouktou. We then continue through Ouarzazate, the “gateway to the desert”, to Agdez. Lunch on the way and overnight stay in a riad/hotel in Agdez.

Day 4: Agdez - Draa Valley - Tamgroute - Mhamid el ghizlane - Erg Chegaga

After breakfast, we enjoy the idyllic drive along the Draa Valley with its palm groves, Berber settlements and old kasbahs. The most beautiful part of the Draa Valley leads us to the “Plain of Gazelles” M’hamid el Ghizlane, the very last outpost of Morocco before the Algerian border, and from there into the wilderness of Erg Chegaga, where we meet our desert team. The solitude of the desert can still be experienced here. The beauty of the gracefully curved dunes, whose sand appears orange-colored in a certain light. We spend the night in a tent.5 hours drive and 30 min hike.

Day 5: Erg Chegaga hike & ride on camel

Today we are standing on a wonderful sea of sand. After we have finished dismantling our sleeping tents, a delicious breakfast prepared by our cook awaits us. Today we hike through sand dunes and flat plateaus with black mountains in the background. We have lunch on the way and spend the night in a tent near the dunes of Erg Lghoul. 5 hours hiking.

Day 6: Erg Lmhazil hike & camel ride

If you want to experience the sunrise, you should get up early. Our cook has already chosen a nice dune for breakfast. We fortify ourselves with a delicious breakfast and hike west again today through dunes and plains. Lunch at the camp and afternoon for relaxation. We also spend the night in a tent near the dunes of Erg Lmhazil.

Day 7: Desert - Marrakech

After breakfast, we say goodbye to our desert colleagues and drive by off-road vehicle along the southern edge of Jebel Bani towards Foum Zguid. From there, we continue by minibus to Marrakech through the High Atlas over the Tichka Pass at 2260m.

We arrive at the riad in the evening.
2 hours by jeep and 7 hours by minibus.

Day 8: Departure

Three hours before your departure time, your transfer to Marrakech airport will be waiting for you at the riad. At this point we will bid you farewell and say “Beslama”, until the next time in Morocco.

Travel time: approx. 18 min.