Trek to the Sahara Desert
- Kandoo Trekking
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Arrive into Marrakesh and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your flight time, spend the afternoon exploring the famous Medina markets and hidden souks of the city. A pre-trek briefing will be held at 7pm this in your hotel foyer in Marrakesh. 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.
We depart early this morning to cross the stunning peaks of the High Atlas on our way to Ouarzazate. On the way, we stop at the rural village of Tighza, making the short walk up the scenic valley, for a sumptuous lunch sampling local delicacies. We then continue on to visit the regal Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou; an iconic site used in many famous televised scenes. After having some time to explore the narrow passageways of this ancient settlement, we head to Ouarzazate and have some time to prepare for our dunes adventure.
Another early morning departure by road takes us to Foum Zguid, the last droplets of civilisation before the expansive wilderness of the desert. Climbing aboard our 4x4 vehicles, we set out into this desolate kingdom. We pitch camp at the edge of the immense sea of sand and meet our team of camel drivers who will accompany us during the trek.
Today we begin our walk through the sea of golden dunes. All around us the sun reigns supreme. At noon, we have a hearty picnic then spend a luxurious few hours siesta'ing in the shade of our large Berber tent.
Today we continue to delve deeper into the desert. Here and there Tamarisk trees punctuate the sumptuous landscape. With the undulating skyline of Jbel Bani providing a backdrop to the north and the Hamada du Drâa to the south, we plod along at the pace of our caravan.
Today the size of the dunes gradually increase until we reach the immense shapes of Erg Lâabidlya. A superb panorama awaits us at the summit of one of these sandy mountains. We camp at the foot of this huge dune and wake up to sunrise the next day. An unforgettable memory.
Our last day trekking amongst these sandy, rolling waves, we continue along to Khert el Galzim. Here, take the opportunity to try riding a camel and learn how to bake bread in a traditional manner in the sand. As a snack with honey, it's excellent!
After a short walk on the plateau, we bid farewell to the team and get in our 4x4 vehicles. We take the winding Draa Valley, full of Ksour and Kasbah. The road crosses desert plateaus, meanders between palm groves and oases as the foothills of the Atlas appear before us. We arrive in Marrakech at the end of the afternoon, relax and unwind in the calm of our hotel.
Spend the day taking in the vibrant colours and eclectic styles of Marrakesh. Enjoy the sights at a leisurely pace with the opportunity to take a walking tour, should you so wish. Then dine out in one of the delectable restaurants for your final evening meal.
Transfer from your hotel to the airport to catch your return flight.
A trek through the desert requires you to be in good physical condition and have some experience of walking for up to 5 hours a day for several days in a row. The trail will vary from rocky paths to sand dunes, which can be quite demanding, particularly in the desert heat.
There won't be any changes in altitude and little height gain or loss on each day. A good amount of endurance is necessary but mental stamina is the most important thing.
This programme does not require any technical climbing ability or experience but you should try to be in the best physical condition possible before departure. You will be accompanied by a qualified Berber guide at all times as well as your cook and camel drivers. As well as hiking you will also be assisting the team with packing away and putting up tents. On this trip, you are part of the team and must do your share of the work. Although this makes the adventure a little more demanding, it also adds to the enormous sense of satisfaction and achievement at the end of your journey.
If you have any questions about your suitability or how to prepare for this trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
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
and couscous or pasta. 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 hotel or head out in to the city to
find a restaurant. Less than a 5 minute walk from the hotel you will find Bd Moulay Rachid, a street with a wide range
of international and local options and you will find most dietary requirements
are catered for. 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.
On the trek we will provide mineral water for you to drink. You will need to bring with you at least two
water bottles or flasks to top up daily. Prior to and after the trek, your drinks are not included, you may wish to bring a water filter for use during these times, or simply buy bottled water.
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.
At camp each evening we will set up a toilet
tent. This is a very basic facility that provides a little privacy. The toilet tent will simply cover a hole
in the ground. If you don't wish to use the toilet tent there is always the option to find somewhere hidden, away from camp or the path and go wild. We can guarantee it will be the most scenic toilet break you've ever had! Please remember to bring toilet roll and a lighter to burn it after use.
Other Accommodation
In Marrakesh and in Ouarzazate, you will be staying in comfortable 4 star hotels in an en-suite twin or double
room. The hotel in Marrakesh has a swimming pool, restaurant and free WiFi.
Where the terrain is rougher, you will travel by 4x4 vehicle.
Lost / delayed luggage
We recommend that you wear your walking boots to travel and pack as many essential items as possible in your carry-on luggage. If your luggage is delayed we can then do our best to kit you out to start the trek on time. In the event that your luggage is delayed or lost, our procedure is as follows:
Establish what items are missing and a contingency plan for each critical item
If it reaches 6pm on the evening before starting the trek and your luggage has not arrived we recommend buying and/or hiring items immediately as a precaution
We will take you to a shop where you can buy toiletry items, e.g. toothbrush. You will be able to find everything you need in Marrakesh.
We will do everything we can to help if your luggage is lost or delayed. Be sure to check your insurance policy coverage for lost luggage cover.
A pre-trek briefing will be held at 7pm on the evening of Day 1 in your hotel foyer 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.
The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). For the most up to date exchange rate please visit www.xe.com.
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 3-7 camels and drivers)
From | To | Price | Availability | Book | Enquire |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
07/12/2024 | 16/12/2024 | $1,105 £849 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
01/03/2025 | 10/03/2025 |
$1,254
|
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
05/04/2025 | 14/04/2025 |
$1,254
|
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
25/10/2025 | 03/11/2025 |
$1,254
|
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
15/11/2025 | 24/11/2025 |
$1,254
|
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
06/12/2025 | 15/12/2025 |
$1,254
|
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
28/02/2026 | 09/03/2026 | $1,319 £1,099 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
21/03/2026 | 30/03/2026 | $1,319 £1,099 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
04/04/2026 | 13/04/2026 | $1,319 £1,099 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
31/10/2026 | 09/11/2026 | $1,319 £1,099 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
14/11/2026 | 23/11/2026 | $1,319 £1,099 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
05/12/2026 | 14/12/2026 | $1,319 £1,099 |
Available
|
Book now | Enquire now |
Want to ask us a question or book a private trip? Don't hesitate to contact us!
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