Hiking adventure in the Sahara Desert

In this adventure we hike 105 km at the beginnings of the Sahara desert, close to the border with Algeria. We will travel by the valley of the Draa, the pre-desert of Sarhro, and the dunes of Chegaga. Films like Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator were filmed in this region. We travel by foot and camels transport our luggage.

On this trip there is a Moroccan guide and a YokmoK guide. The Moroccan guide has an in-depth knowledge of the region, and the YokmoK guide is there to assure the good quality of the trip and help the local guide in whatever is needed.

ITINERARY

DAY 1

Arrival to Marrakech

It doesn’t matter at what time you arrive, we will be waiting for you at the airport in Marrakech. We then transfer to the hotel in the centre of the city. While all the participants arrive, you can spend the afternoon visiting Marrakech.

DAY 2

Marrakech - Faija

We take a scenic drive across the High Atlas Mountains to Ouarzazate and then Zagora. It takes almost 8 hours driving, passing along date-palm oases, Berber villages, and incredible landscapes. In Zagora we leave the minibus and take a more appropriate vehicle that will take us to Faija. There we meet the camels and their cameleers.

DAY 3

Faija - Camping

Today we start our trek. In the morning we load the camels and head to Hamada. We have good views of the Saghro Mountains, with little vegetation, and maybe some Bedouin nomads. After lunch in an oasis, we walk along dried riverbeds and arrive at the campsite at sunset. Walking time: 6h30

DAY 4

Camping - Dunes of Chegaga

We climb to the Abbes pass, from where we can observe the vastness of the desert. Far away we can already spot the dunes of Chegaga. We get to them later in the afternoon. Walking time: 6h30

DAY 5

Dunes of Chegaga

Today we explore the Chegaga dunes. We can contemplate sunrise from the top of the dunes. After breakfast, we then walk around the immense sea of sand that are the Chegaga dunes. Walking time: 4h30

DAY 6

Dunes of Chegaga - Dunes of Bougarne

After walking the multitude of small sand dunes of Chegaga, we continue towards M'hamid. We eat under the trees of Tamares, and in the evening we arrive at dunes of Bougarne, a site rarely frequented by the tourists. Walking time: 5h

DAY 7

Dunes of Bougarne - Dunes of Oued Naam

We wake up early in order to contemplate the dawn on the dunes of Bougarne. The rest of the day we walk on a huge rocky plateau, and we reach the dunes of Oued Naam late in the afternoon. Walking time: 6h30

DAY 8

Dunes of Oued Naam - Dunes of Mhamid - Marrakesh

This last stage of the trek takes place along beautiful desert landscapes, and an immense plateau of small dunes. Without realizing it, we reach the Regaga dunes and then Mhamid. Here the trek reaches an end. Later, we continue by car along the Draa valley to Zagora. Transfer to Marrakech. Walking time: 3h

DAY 9

Transfer to the airport of Marrakech, where we bid farewell until our next adventure together.