Following in the footsteps of the Nomads: an 8-day trek in the Sahara

Early morning departure from Marrakech in a private vehicle (minibus or 4x4 depending on group size). You leave the Red City heading south, crossing the impressive Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m), the highest paved mountain pass in Morocco. The winding road offers magnificent panoramic views of the peaks, verdant valleys, and Berber villages clinging to the slopes.

Arrival in Ouarzazate in the late morning or early afternoon. Lunch break in town (or picnic depending on the time). Ouarzazate, nicknamed "the gateway to the desert", is known for its kasbahs and film studios where many legendary films have been shot.

In the afternoon, the route continues along the Draa Valley, famous for its thousands of palm trees and earthen ksours. You pass through several oases before arriving in Zagora , an iconic city in southern Morocco and a former caravan crossroads.

The final stretch of road leads to El Faija , a small village nestled near Jebel Bani , the starting point of your Saharan trek. There you'll meet the local team: guide, cook, camel drivers, and dromedaries. The first bivouac will be set up not far from the village.

First night in the middle of the desert, under the stars, to soak up the unique atmosphere of the Sahara before starting the walk the next day.

The day begins with a beautiful crossing of the Jebel Bani massif, with its mineral and arid landscapes. This pre-Saharan terrain offers a striking contrast between stony plateaus, small gorges and hills with warm colors.

Continuing along the path, you reach the vast dry bed of the Oued Mhasser , framed by tamarisk and acacia trees, an ancestral passage for nomadic caravans.

Set up camp in a sheltered and peaceful spot. At the end of the day, enjoy the tranquility of the desert before sharing a traditional dinner and spending the night in a tent or under the stars.

After breakfast, the trek resumes across the open landscapes of the desert plateau , known as reg , where the stony ground stretches as far as the eye can see. The silence of the desert is broken only by the wind and the slow gait of the camels.

Along the way, you cross small sandy areas, with sparse vegetation of tamarisk and dry grasses, a sign of life that persists in this arid environment.

At the end of the day, we arrived near Erg Sahel , a field of gently rolling dunes, a prelude to the great dunes of Chegaga. We set up camp in a peaceful setting, between the sand and the starry sky. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.

Heading due south towards the famous Chegaga dunes , the largest in southern Morocco. Little by little, the sand takes over from the stones, and the land rises to form majestic dunes that can reach 300 meters in height.

The journey through this ocean of sand is punctuated by the undulations of the terrain and the interplay of light and shadow. The arrival at Chegaga is spectacular, especially at the end of the day when the dunes blaze with the colors of the sunset.

Setting up the last bivouac at the foot of the great dunes , dinner under the stars, and a peaceful evening in the silence of the desert.

After a final sunrise over the great dunes of Chegaga, the walk resumes heading west, through an area of ​​shifting dunes and small sandy plains.

Gradually, you reach the Erg Elmhazil dunes , located on the edge of Lake Iriki . These dunes, more isolated and less frequented than Chegaga, offer a magnificent and silent setting, perfect for a final immersion in the magic of the desert.

Set up camp in the heart of nature , between fine sand and the salty expanse of the lake. At the end of the day, enjoy a spectacular panorama of the sunset lights reflecting on the cracked ground of the dried-up lake.

Dinner and overnight stay in a bivouac , far from any trace of civilization.

After an unforgettable sunrise over the dunes, we set off in 4x4 vehicles across the vastness of the desert. The track crosses the ancient Lake Iriki , now dried up, whose cracked ground evokes lunar landscapes.

Continue to Foum Zguid , a small Saharan village on the edge of the desert, where the trekking part of the trip ends.

After a short break, transfer by private vehicle to Marrakech through the changing landscapes of southern Morocco: desert plateaus, palm groves, Berber villages and Anti-Atlas mountains.

Arrived in Marrakech at the end of the day.

After breakfast , transfer to Marrakech airport according to your flight schedule. End of trip and final glimpses of the atmosphere of the Red City.