In summary
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Sports
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Duration4 days
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LevelBeginner
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DestinationAtlas Mountains / Marrakech
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AgeFrom 5 - 70 years
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CO₂-Emissions254.02 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
English
German
Spanish
In a few words
From Marrakech, you will cross the Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka pass, descend to Ouarzazate, cross the palm grove to reach the gateway to the desert at Mhamid El Ghizlane.
During this trek, you will discover the atmosphere of the Mhamid desert, authentic, powerful and gentle at the same time.
You will be captivated by the beauty of the landscapes. You will experience the simple nomadic life. Eat around the fire, sleep under the stars or in a nomadic tent.
A perfect stay to discover a new environment, with friends or family.
The highlights
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Discovering the desert
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Walking in the vastness
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Nomadic culture
Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
The expert's opinion
This trek does not require a high level of fitness as there is very little elevation gain, but requires the ability to walk for 3.5 to 4 hours.
The walks take place in the morning to avoid walking in the heat.
In figures
Trekking
- Average duration/day: 4h
- Average distance/day: 13 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 150 m
Management
French
English
German
Spanish
You will be accompanied by a guide who speaks at least French and English, as well as by nomads (cook, camel drivers), all kind and welcoming. They were all born in the desert.
Program
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Marrakech Road Trip to the Gateway to the Desert
- Transportation Car - 07h - 450km
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Departure from Marrakech between 7:30 and 8:00 AM or from Ouarzazate between 12:00 and 1:00 PM towards Mhamid El Ghizlane. Transportation will be by taxi or minibus. The journey begins with the discovery of the High Atlas Mountains and Berber villages. You will cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass at an altitude of 2,260 meters! This pass will lead you to Ouarzazate and the entire southeastern region of Morocco. We will stop for lunch at a restaurant along the way. Afterwards, we will travel through the Draa Valley (Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs) and admire the beautiful landscapes of the palm grove.
For arrivals via Mhamid, meet at 5:30 PM. Transfer by 4x4 (15 minutes) to the wild bivouac for your first night in the desert. Meet our team and enjoy dinner around the campfire. Entertainment with the nomads will continue the evening before you retire to your sleeping bag on the dunes and fall asleep under the stars. You can also sleep in a nomad tent.
Day 1 -
Trek to Sidi Naji
- Activity Trekking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 13 km
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
After breakfast, we'll set off on a 4-hour trek with the camel caravan and your team: camel drivers, cook, and your guide. The desert beckons: dry valleys, ergs, and regs unfold before you, offering ever-changing landscapes and diverse vegetation. We'll catch a glimpse of the Kraab mountain range. We'll set up camp for the night amidst the dunes. This place is very special because of the fossils found here and the history of the nomads. We'll enjoy a magnificent sunset, then return to the camp. Everyone is free to take their sleeping mat outside to sleep under the stars in the dunes or in the nomad tent.
Day 2 -
The dunes of Erg Zahar
- Activity Trekking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 13 km
- Positive elevation gain 300 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
After a hearty breakfast, we'll set off for Erg Zahar (the screaming dunes). Gradually, the tamarisk trees will become less frequent, and the view will become increasingly spectacular. After lunch in the shade of a tamarisk tree, we'll reach the most majestic dunes in the Sahara. Upon reaching the summit, you'll be captivated by the beauty of the wind-sculpted landscape. We'll take the opportunity to admire the sunset. We'll then head to our bivouac in the heart of the dunes for our third night, either under the stars or in tents.
Day 3 -
Return to Mhamid and Marrakech
- Transportation Car - 07h - 450km
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
After breakfast in the dunes, we'll leave the camel caravan and depart for Mhamid in a 4x4, a 1.5-hour drive on a dirt track. We'll then continue our journey to Marrakech by car or minibus, stopping for lunch at a restaurant along the way. Arrival in Marrakech is expected in the late afternoon, either at your hotel/riad or at the airport, depending on your departure date and time.
Day 4
Accommodation
Access
Day 1 is the day of departure for the desert.
You will need to arrive the day before.
Go to the starting point
Price details
The price includes
- Taxi from Marrakech or Ouarzazate to Mhamid, the starting point of the trek (round trip depending on the chosen option)
- Lunches on the way there and back if you arrive via Marrakech or Ouarzazate
- accompaniment by guides, camel drivers and the cook
- Full board throughout the trek. All our meals are cooked on site in the desert with fresh produce.
The price does not include
- the flight from your home to Marrakech and back
- the tip for the nomads
- insurance
- Dinner, overnight stay and breakfast at the hotel if you arrive the day before day 1
Options
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment provided on site
- mattress
- a cover
- 2 blankets for the winter months of December, January, February
Equipment to bring
- a small backpack that you will keep with you during the trek, in which you can put a water bottle, camera, toilet paper and lighter
- a 30L backpack for clothes and toiletries; this bag will be transported by camels every day (no suitcases).
- a sleeping bag. Note that in winter nights in the desert are cold with temperatures close to 0°C, so bring a sleeping bag rated to 0 to -10°C to ensure good comfort.
- Toilet paper or tissues for bodily functions, with a lighter to burn the paper. Zero waste!
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, cap or shemagh (mandatory)
- a flashlight or a headlamp
- a waterproof bag for women who are menstruating during the trek
- a spray bottle with water to refresh oneself during hot periods.
- As a preventative measure, have an anti-diarrheal, anti-emetic, and paracetamol (acetaminophen) on hand. Rehydration solution
Clothing to bring
- Gloves and a hat for the cold periods (December and January)
- warm socks for cold weather
- a small bath towel
- long trousers + long-sleeved or short-sleeved t-shirt,
- High-top or low-top hiking boots, or sports sneakers or trekking sandals
They traveled with us
The Ismail team
Our local expert is an eco-tourism trekking agency made up of nomads all born in the desert. They accompany travelers on their journeys and introduce them to their culture and nomadic way of life.
