Morocco Desert Trek.

Story of this sporting trek for which you have to be trained. In total, 160 kilometers of hiking in 9 days. Daily average of 20 kilometers, 5 at 6 hours of walking except 2 first days dedicated to the walk approaching the dunes of Chegaga where there are 8 hours of hiking per day.

First day, we leave Marrakech with our guide. The road is long : 450 kilometers of road to the Faija Plateau. We pass the Tichka pass 2 260 meters, lunch break in Ouarzazate and descent of the beautiful Draa Valley. Postcard landscapes, adobe villages, beautiful palm groves !

At the end of the afternoon, arrival at our campsite on the Faija plateau.

Our cook and our camel drivers have already set up the large kitchen and "dining room" tents. They welcome us by serving us the traditional mint tea. Our dromedaries for their part, walk quietly around. And it is in a good mood that we pitch our tents and prepare our bed. At dinner, our cook serves us a delicious tagine.

What a joy to be there, the adventure can begin !

The next day, wake, everyone is active. Storage of the camp, breakfast, loading dromedaries. When we're all ready, start of the hike. Steady rise of 300 meters on a well-marked path that ends in large switchbacks and leads to the Oum Laachar pass.

At the pass, superb view of the Faija plateau and its cultivated fields. We cross the pass, last mountain barrier that separates the atlas from the desert.

Leisurely hike on a plateau to the oasis n & rsquo; Adiad, lunch break and a nap in the shade of palm trees. Nice introduction to this Morocco desert trek !

The afternoon, easy hike to the dry river Lehmacer. In the river, the pebbles are smooth and flat. From afar, we have the impression that there is water…….but it is only an illusion ! We walk on a balcony path above the river. The landscape is wonderful. We meet a dromedary mother and her two cubs. Camp on a plateau in the middle of nowhere !

Third day, same ritual of nomadic life as the day before. Wake, we tidy up the camp, load the material. After breakfast, start of the hike. Easy route on a large plateau.

After an hour of walking, stopover with a family of semi-sedentary nomads. Mint tea break. Girls are eager to exhibit objects they have made with the means at hand : dromedaries in colored fabrics with pearls, wool bracelets.

We continue our hike on the desert plateau. Lunch break in the shade of an acacia tree. It was always a very pleasant moment and we appreciate “putting our feet on the mat” to savor the good dishes concocted by our cook. !

Ensuite, around 2 H before arriving at the famous dunes of Chegaga, the terrain is changing, that's it we are walking in the sand ! Moving forward, requires a sustained effort ! Barely arrived at the camp, we climb on a large dune to admire the sunset. Downhill running straight into the dune ! They are the same sensations as fresh snow, but the sand flies and seeps everywhere ! After this busy day, evening around a delicious couscous in the tent.

Fourth day, we are now well “wheels”. As soon as the camp has been tidied up and our local team has loaded the camels, it & rsquo; is the departure. Hiking in the large dunes of Chegaga. The wind shaped the dunes overnight and erased all traces of the day before.

The environment and the landscape are beautiful. What a nice Morocco desert trek !

We then leave the dunes and hike on a huge plateau. In this location, several herds of dromedaries with their young. After this plateau, hiking in small dunes before arriving at our Bougarn camp. Bougarn means “cornes” in Berber and represent the ridges of the dunes. The place is wild. Tonight, we observe the starry sky which, devoid of any light pollution is beautiful.

Fifth day, hike in small dunes. Ensuite, crossing a huge plateau that never ends. We are in front of Djebel Bani. Lunch break in the shade of a large tamarisk at the wadi Naam, which means the river of ostriches in Berber. After a little nap, 1.5 hour hike to our wild camp at the foot of a large dune. Superb sunset at the top of the dune.

Sixth day, hike in small dunes, then plateau and again small dunes before arriving at Ouled Driss. Installation in a campsite. A little comfort and a good shower are appreciated. Visit of the village, his beautiful kasbah, its adobe houses and we have a drink in a small cafe before going to dinner.

Seventh day, after a good night's rest, start of the hike. We leave the palm grove of Ouled Driss, let's go through small dunes and join a huge plateau. Long crossing to Erg Sahel. Wild camp site. Tonight, we make a fire with tamarisk wood that we have collected around. The camel drivers prepare the dough for the "mella", the desert bread they bake on embers, all covered with sand. We savor this delicious bread accompanied by a tagine. Evening dances and songs around the fire. Superb moments of sharing with our local team.

Eighth day, beautiful hiking route in the dunes with our guide Mohamed. Ensuite, crossing a plateau and we climb 150 m to cross Tidri mountain. The landscape is lunar. From the ridge, nice view at 360 ° on the desert. Hike in small dunes to our camp in Tidri.

Ninth day, quiet hike in the Draa valley to "get out" of the desert and find civilization. We pass through the village of Zaouit Sidi Salah and join our camp installed under a large tamarisk near the village of Nesrate.

The next morning, we thank our cook and our camel drivers for having accompanied us on this Morocco desert trek .

Transfer road back to Marrakech with memories in your head !