Moroccan Sahara Desert Trip
We took a 3 day, 2 night Moroccan desert trip.
Day 1
We left on Saturday morning from the Medina at around 8am. From there, we took a minibus with a group of about 17 people (some who we picked up along the way).
And then we made our way over the Atlas Mountains and through the countryside to our first stop Ait BenHaddou. The ancient fortified city has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and is often home to movie and television show shoots. Some things that have been filmed there are Gladiator, Game of Thrones and The Prince of Persia.
After lunch (we got sandwiches from a small cafe), we got back into the bus and headed to Ouarzazate, a huge filming location, because of its many studios. We only briefly stopped there (a bit unnecessary, in my opinion, but it was nice to sit in the sun for a half hour).
We drove through the Valley of the Roses, which I wish were in bloom, because there really just wasn’t anything special there. Visit in late spring to see the roses in bloom.
From there we drove through the Dades Valley on our way to our hotel for the evening. We stayed at Le Vieux Chateau De Dades, a charming riad in the mountainside. The dinner that was included there was really tasty, but no drinks were included which was a bit ridiculous in my opinion. There was one other girl in our room and aside from the fact that it was actually freezing (I used four blankets), it was a nice and clean hotel.
Day 2
We left the next morning to head to Merzouga and the Sahara desert. During the day we drove through the Todra Gorges and while visiting there, we explored a Berber co-op and saw some traditional rugs being made. We stopped for lunch at a roadside cafe and then continued driving.
When we arrived in Merzouga, we were immediately put on our camels and the caravans took off into the Sahara. We were on the camels for about an hour and a half. We were on the camels for about an hour and a fifteen minutes longer than necessary… It hurt!!! Still, it was absolutely gorgeous seeing the sunset over the desert.
When we got to the Nomad camp, where we would be spending the night, we were served dinner. It was tagine and rice, which we all ate off of the same plate. I thought this was odd. After dinner we sat around the fire, watching the berbers play music and then Rachel and I climbed up a sand dune and just stared at the stars. The sky was so incredibly clear. I have literally never seen anything so perfect in my life.
Day 3
We went to bed after that and were woken up at 5 AM to catch the sunrise on our camel ride back to the hotel. Thankfully this camel ride was only 45 minutes long. After we arrived back to the hotel, we were given a traditional berber breakfast of bread and jam. There were also pancakes and honey. Then we went back in the minibus and drove for about 9 hours back to Marrakech.
So, all in all, I had a good time, in the long run, the tour was inexpensive and worth it. Still, we were given minimal information and our bus driver did not speak a word of english. We had people in our group who spoke french and he still would not communicate with them. We were never told how much time we would be spending in the bus. I feel like that should be disclosed.
Honestly, the night in the desert is what made the whole thing worth the hassle. I would not do it again. However, I think that if you really want to see the desert and are on a budget, it works.
Interested in more Morocco posts? Check them out! Shopping in Marrakech, Moroccan Adventures, Marrakech City Guide, Checking in: Equity Point.
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