trekking-in-the-sahara-desert
8-day adventure

Sahara Desert Explorer

Morocco
  • Kandoo Trekking
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Code: MRSD8

8 days
Moderate
Emissions 89 kg/pers.
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Our local team

A country that has such contrasting trekking locations, Morocco offers a variety of incredible hikes, between the jagged peaks of the High Atlas to the rolling dunes of the Sahara. Our local team can pick a path through the infinite dunes and rocky outcrops with their eyes closed! Our operations in Morocco are managed by our very own local Berber guide Mohamed Zbair. He and his highly experienced team know the local paths like the back of their...
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Kandoo's view

Be immersed in the vast expanse of amber dunes, billowing out into the infinite Sahara. Trek by camel and follow the centuries-old routes taken across the desert by nomads. Spend unforgettable nights beneath the thousands of stars smattered across the endless sky and trek to the rhythm of the caravan, a true Bedouin experience. Starting at the ‘gateway to the desert’, Ouarzazate, you will traverse the Plateau Faija, camp between the beautiful dunes of Chegaga and Bougarn, before emerging from the tranquillity of the desert and returning to the bustle of Marrakesh. Marvelling at the shadows cast by this ever-changing landscape, swaying between a steady plod and taking siestas under the cool shade of canopy.

Trip highlights

  • Marvel at the endless, dark skies, smattered with stars.
  • Trek to the steady rhythm of the caravan as it plods over ochre dunes.
  • Cross the expansive dunes of the Sahara.
  • This trip is fully carbon offset as standard.

Experiences

  • Kandoo Trekking
    Small group hiking in the Wadu Rum desert
    Our core collection of treks and hikes, through some of the world's most outstanding landscapes

Gallery

Itinerary

  • Day 1

    Welcome to Marrakesh!

    Arrive in Marrakesh and transfer to your hotel. After clearing immigration and collecting your luggage, exit the arrivals building and look out for one of our team holding a KANDOO sign. If you wish to exchange money in the airport, make sure you do this before leaving the building. Our transfer will then take you to your riad. Depending on the riad you are staying in, you may be dropped nearby where a member of staff from the riad will come meet you and help you with your bags. You can then spend the afternoon exploring the famous Medina markets and hidden souks of the city. Your pre-trek briefing will take place this evening at 7pm in the riad foyer, here you will meet your guide and gain an in depth understanding of the trek you are about to embark on.

    • Transport: Private transfer
    • Accomodation: Riad
  • Day 2

    Marrakesh - Faija

    We depart early this morning to cross the stunning peaks of the High Atlas on our way to Ouarzazate. On the way, we cross Tizi n’Tichka pass. With a high point of 2260m, you will be able to take in the stunning views across the Atlas mountains before making a stop at the rural village of Telouet. Here you will visit the magnificent Glaoui Kasbah, former home of the head of the Glaoui tribe who is also referred to as “Lord of the Atlas”. We continue our journey towards Ouarzazate, or the ‘Gateway to the Desert’ and marvel as the landscape changes around us, taking us through the dramatic Draa Valley and ancient hillside settlements of Zagora before reaching our final destination and camp for the night in the Faija Plateau.

    • Accomodation: Camping
    • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
  • Day 3

    Faija - Oed Lemhasser

    After breakfast, we make our final preparations before setting off on our trek. We trek across the plateau towards the djebel Bani mountain range and ascend the famous Oum Laachar pass. Along the way, we will find a shaded spot to take our lunch and a rest before continuing across the stunning desert landscape to Oued Lemhasser where we can relax at tonight’s campsite.

    • Hiking time: 5 - 6 hours
    • Accomodation: Camping
    • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
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sahara-desert-explorer-map See the map

Details

Trip information

Difficulty

This adventure is of moderate difficulty. You will be required to walk for up to 6 hours a day for 6 consecutive days. There may be up to 600m of vertical ascent and the temperatures could reach as high as 35°C. It is essential that you drink plenty of water and stay well hydrated. Pathways through the dunes are often loose and care should be taken to avoid slips and trips, you may find walking poles are useful. You should be in good physical condition with recent experience of hiking for several days in row.


In the Sahara Desert you will be joined by camels for your trek. They will walk alongside you and your fellow trekkers and are there to ride or carry equipment as necessary. 

To ask about your suitability for this trip and what you can do to prepare please feel free to give us a call.

Food & drink

During your trek your team will prepare all of your meals.  At breakfast there is jam, bread, cookies, fruit, juice, butter, tea, coffee and sometimes a local speciality. Afternoon Tea is served at the end of the days walking, once you get to camp. In addition to mint tea and other hot drinks, there will be some biscuits or a light snack provided to help restore some of the energy you’ve just burned off.  A typical lunch will be a salad with fresh vegetables, corn, boiled eggs, tuna and rice or pasta served alongside a traditional curried dish, such as lentil dahl or a tagine. 


Evening meals will always be made up of delicious Moroccan cuisine prepared with locally sourced ingredients.  There will normally be a soup starter followed by a tagine or stew with salad, couscous or pasta and bread.  We can provide vegetarian, vegan or gluten free meals on request.   If you have special dietary requirements please let us know when booking your trip.


In Marrakesh, at the start and end of your trip, you can purchase meals at the Riad or head out in to the city to find a restaurant. The Riad is a 15-minute walk from Jamaâ el Fna Square where there are numerous restaurants with international options such as pizza and burgers, French and local cuisine, or if you are wanting something lighter then look for the roadside cafes offering the locals favourite, Omelette Khaali (lamb omelette) and Mint Tea.     


Bottled water is included whilst on your trek, however you will need to source this yourself whilst in Marrakesh.There are plenty of market stalls and shops selling bottled water near to your Riad, hot drinks and bottled water is also available at the Riad. 

Accommodation

Camping

We provide a good quality 3 man tent. They are designed to sleep three people, but we only ever sleep 2 to a tent, to ensure you have plenty of space for you and your gear. Keep in mind, these are proper mountain tents, designed to cope with extreme conditions so don’t expect to be able to stand up and walk around inside! A foam mattress per person will also be provided. You will be required to assist with pitching your own tent at the end of each day. 


Your meals will be taken in a separate mess tent where you will be able to sit comfortably, while you relax and chat to your team mates and enjoy some of the delicious food that our cook has freshly prepared for you. At camp we will set up a toilet tent.  This is a very basic facility that provides a little privacy and will simply cover a hole in the ground. If you don't wish to use the toilet tent there is also the option to head up to the refuge and use the facilities there. A wash basin can also be provided on request with cold water.

Riad
Our Riad is located next to the Royal Palace and is a 15-minute walk from Jamaâ el Fna Square. It has a roof terrace with a swimming pool and a coffee shop on site. You will be staying in en suite twin rooms and there is free Wi-Fi access throughout the accommodation. A continental breakfast is served on the terrace and evening meals are available in the dining room should you wish to eat in.


Your guide

Once you set foot on the trek, your Lead Guide has overall responsibility for your health and welfare. You must listen carefully to all their instructions and follow them carefully. The Guide’s ruling on any matter is final.

Transport

We use a private air conditioned minibus with seatbelts for our transfers. 

Luggage

Main bag weight: 15kg


During the trek your luggage will be carried by camels.  To be suitable for carrying, your duffel bag must be flexible not rigid, maximum 100 litres and weigh no more than 15kg. You should also bring a small day pack to carry water, snacks and anything else you may need whilst trekking.  This could be used as your hand luggage on your flight. 

It is also worth being aware that sometimes our vehicles are unable to take you all the way to the door of the Riad as the streets are very narrow and can become too busy with visitors to drive down during peak times. This may mean you need to carry your luggage for the five minute walk from where the vehicle is able to drop you off, to the Riad itself. A member of the Riad staff will be available to help with this. 

How do I get there?

On our Moroccan adventures you will need to arrive in Menara Airport, Marrakesh on Day 1 of your trip. For UK travellers there are direct flights with BA, Easy Jet and Ryan Air from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and Manchester. With a short stop in Europe, you can travel from virtually any major UK airport.  The flight time from the UK is roughly four hours. 


There are no direct flights to Marrakesh from the USA but, it is only necessary to have a short stop of less than 3 and a half hours somewhere in Europe. Delta Airways operate convenient flights via Paris from New York, Boston and Los Angles. TAP Air Portugal, American Airlines and United provide further options.


Menara Airport is located 8km outside the city of Marrakesh and the transfer to your Riad will take around 30 mins. Once you have cleared immigration, collected your luggage and exchanged any money you need to, please exit the arrivals doors and look out for a Kandoo team member holding a big sign reading "KANDOO ADVENTURES". 


Due to local regulations at Marrakesh, mobile boarding passes are not valid for your return flight. You will need to print your boarding pass and go to the check-in desk to get your documents checked, even if you don't have bags to drop off.

If you are changing airlines or re-checking your luggage at an airport on route, please ensure you leave a minimum of 3 hours between flights. This will account for any delays on arrival, travel time across airports (this can take longer than you think) and time taken to re-check baggage.

Travelling Responsibly

Here at Kandoo, we like to support our guests to make their travel more sustainable. As of 2025, we are offsetting the carbon on all of our trips from arrival in destination to dropping you back off at the airport. As we don't include flight travel in our trips these aren't included in our offsetting calculations, so we are providing you with the calculator below for you to do this yourselves. 

Pre-trek briefing

A pre-trek briefing will be held at 7pm on the evening of Day 1 in the foyer of your Riad in Marrakesh and we strongly recommend that you book a flight that arrives in time for you to attend the briefing. If you should arrive on a later flight, you will be given the full briefing the next morning before you set off on your trek. 

Budget & change

The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD).  For the most up to date exchange rate please visit www.xe.com.


The dirham is a closed currency, which means it can only be bought once you arrive in Morocco. You’re allowed to bring in or take out 1000Dh (around £65) but you’ll need to exchange the rest on arrival. You can get good exchange rates at the airport with cash and credit card exchange available alongside baggage reclaim and debit/travel card exchange available in the arrivals buildings after you have cleared customs. You can also exchange your GBP (don’t bring Scottish, Gibraltar or Northern Irish Sterling notes) or US Dollars to Dirhams at a bank and in most hotels. Keep hold of your receipt to convert your Dirhams back when you leave – you can do this at the airport for a good rate.

A meal out for 2 people in Morocco will cost ~$15. You will need to account for two evening meals in Marrakesh plus money for any lunches whilst in Marrakesh, tips, drinks and souvenirs. Gifts and souvenirs are best acquired from the markets in the Medina. Prepare to get haggling! Our recommended guidance for spending budget in Morocco would be between $50-100 on top of your tips ,to give you ample souvenir spending money. 

Tips

Tipping is common in Morocco but not mandatory and should be based on the level of service you feel you have received.  The below amounts will give you a rough idea of how much you should tip (per trekker per week). Please tip in Moroccan Dirham rather than in your home currency where possible. 

Guide: 100-160 MAD ($10-15)

Cook: 85-110 MAD ($8-10) 

Camel drivers: 160-210 MAD ($15-20) - amount per driver (depending on your group size you may have between 3-5 mules and drivers)

Driver: 10-20 MAD (per journey)

Different crew members will be with you for different stages of your trip to Morocco:

 

  • Your guide will be with you every day that you are in Morocco.
  •  Your camel drivers will be with you while you are on the trek itself (you may have up to 5 mule drivers on your trek, depending on the number of participants. You will be provided with this information 3 weeks before departure)
  •  A driver will provide your airport transfers and transfer you to and from the trek.

3 weeks prior to departure you will be provided with a tip recommendation for your trip. This will give you a more accurate representation of the amount you will need to take for tips. 

Formalities & health

Passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date. We recommended you keep a colour photocopy of your passport with you at all times.

Visa

UK and USA passport holders do not require a visa to enter Morocco for a period of up to 90 days, however, you should check the latest information with the Moroccan authorities before travelling.

Vaccinations

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend the following vaccinations for travel to Morocco. It is your responsibility to check the latest health information before departure.

Hepatitis A / Hepatitis B / Typhoid / Polio / Tetanus

Insurance

Before you can join any Kandoo Adventures trek / climb, you will need to insure yourself against accident, injury, and illness. Your insurance must cover the cost of helicopter evacuation and repatriation if necessary. Make sure your insurer knows of your travel plans, and verify that your policy fully covers your trek / climb, and any other activities you will participate in. Specifically for all our adventures in Morocco, you need to be covered for trekking up to 4200m. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fully and adequately insured for the duration of your trip. Please ensure that all activities, excursions and destinations in your itinerary are included in your travel insurance policy, in addition to your regular cover for cancellation and medical expenses.

We ask that you keep a copy of your policy summary (containing policy number and the emergency contact number for your insurer) in your day sack at all times, so that we can access this information should we need to contact the insurer on your behalf. You will also need to bring details of your insurance cover to the pre-trek briefing.

Medication

Your guide carries a first aid kit at all times but we recommend you carry the following items : - Painkillers - Anti-diarrhoea tablets - Sunscreen (high factor) for lips and skin - Moisturising cream (for sunburn) - Elastic bandage and regular bandages - Sanitary products - Mosquito spray - Blister bandage - Hayfever tablets (antihistamines).

Other information

Alcohol:
Although Morocco is more liberal than many other Muslim nations you do need to be careful when purchasing or consuming alcohol.  Morocco does allow the consumption of alcohol and you can buy beer, wine and spirits in licensed hotels, bars and supermarkets.  In supermarkets there will often be a separate alcohol room which is out of sight.  If you attempt to purchase alcohol outside of one of these licensed areas then you may find yourself in trouble with the police. 

Bars with a licence to sell alcohol will not usually have windows.  This is because although it is legal to purchase and drink alcohol on the premises, you are not allowed to be seen by the general public outside.  Officially only tourists are allowed to drink outside but to avoid causing any offence it is best avoided.  You are allowed to bring alcohol in to the country with you, but only a maximum of 1 litre.  

While in Marrakesh, if you want to have a drink with a meal, it is best to check with the restaurant if they serve alcohol before you sit down.  You should also ask if they are happy for you to sit anywhere whilst drinking or if they would prefer you to sit at a corner table out of sight.  While you are up in the mountains trekking, things tend to be a bit more relaxed than in the city.  However, it is best to show some consideration for your cook and porters by checking with your guide before you crack open the whisky. 

Dressing appropriately:
Although Moroccan people are very tolerant of tourists it is always a good idea to be respectful of the local customs. We would advise female travellers to keep their knees, shoulders and stomachs covered while out in public in Marrakesh to avoid any unwanted attention. You need to balance this conservative style of dress with the excessive heat that you may experience in Marrakesh. A long sleeved maxi dress will keep you covered while providing some airflow to keep you cool. Long sleeve breezy button up shirts, harem trousers or jeans are also good options.

For men it is best not to walk around topless despite the heat. Moroccan men do not tend to wear shorts, although there is certainly no problem with male tourists doing this, if you want to blend in with the locals then go for some loose fitting cotton trousers.

When you are in the mountains things are much more relaxed than in the city. You should wear clothing that is appropriate to the conditions and the activity you are engaged in; walking shorts and a light t-shirt will be a good combination for both men and women. 

Animal welfare:
In the Sahara Desert the use of camels and camel drivers is very common.  The strong and sure footed camels have spent their lives in the desert and they can transport your gear from A to B with ease.  Camels are a big source of income for the local people, as a result they are generally treated with great respect and consideration for their well being.  However there are always exceptions and in some cases camels have experienced terrible neglect and cruelty.

The main problems that cause suffering are: traditional bits, overloading, inadequate feeding, wounds, poor footcare and working unfit camels (lame, sick or injured).

Kandoo Adventures are committed to ensuring that the camels we use on our treks receive only the very best treatment. 

To ensure the animals are never overloaded we have placed restrictions on the weight of the luggage you can bring with you.  Your main bag must always be flexible and not weigh more than 15kg.  The maximum load a camel can carry is 80kg, this will ensure the health and comfort of the camel as well as a sustainable working life.  We will not start trekking with camels who are obviously lame, sick or wounded.  We will never condone the use of traditional bits which can cause terrible pain for the animals.  We only work with a select number of muleteers who we know and trust to provide the very best level of care to their animals. 

Equipment & clothing

Equipment supplied by Kandoo Adventures

  • 1 tent per 2 people
  • 1 mattress per person
  • Communal dining tent
  • Toilet tent

Clothing to bring

  • Wide brimmed hat for sun protection
  • Hat for warmth
  • Scarf or head scarf that can be wet
  • Sunglasses
  • Long sleeve shirts or cotton t-shirts
  • Jumpers, 1 light weight and 1 warm
  • Windproof and waterproof jacket with hood
  • Breathable fast drying underwear
  • Warm gloves
  • Comfortable long trousers (fast drying)
  • Waterproof trousers
  • 1 or 2 pairs of long shorts
  • Trainers or sandals for evenings
  • Wool and cotton socks
  • Hiking boots (high rise, sturdy soles)
  • Swimming costume may be useful 

Equipment to bring

  • Sleeping bag, minimum rating of 5˚C and sleeping bag liner
  • 2 water bottles or flasks minimum (1 litre)
  • Walking poles (highly recommended)
  • Head torch with spare batteries and bulb
  • Toiletries (including wet wipes)
  • Toilet paper and a lighter for burning it after use
  • Container for any toxic rubbish (batteries, sanitary items etc)
  • Duffel bag (80 to 100 litres), flexible and water resistant (must not exceed 15kg)
  • Daypack (30 to 40 litres) to carry with you each day
  • Water purification system (charcoal filter, chlorine tablets or similar)
  • Camera
  • Microfibre towel
  • Sun cream (high factor)
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Dates & prices

From To Price Availability Book Enquire
21/03/2026 28/03/2026 £1,249 $1,629
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31/10/2026 07/11/2026 £1,249 $1,629
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14/11/2026 21/11/2026 £1,249 $1,629
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05/12/2026 12/12/2026 £1,249 $1,629
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Want to ask us a question or book a private trip? Don't hesitate to contact us!

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Price includes

  • Airport transfers
  • A qualified English-speaking local guide
  • All transportation as detailed
  • 7 nights accommodation: 2 nights in hotels, 5 nights camping
  • Tents and mattresses
  • 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners
  • Bottled water whilst on trek
  • Camels and handlers to transport baggage on treks

Price does not include

  • Flights and Visas
  • Drinks when not on the trek
  • Tips
  • Travel Insurance
  • Any meals not listed in the programme details

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