Initiatory trek, yoga, meditation, Ayurveda in the Sahara Desert
In summary
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Sports
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Duration8 days
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LevelAll levels
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DestinationAtlas Mountains / Marrakech
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AgeFrom the age of 18
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CO₂-Emissions114.16 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
In a few words
Experience an unforgettable adventure in the Sahara ! Those who have lived it say there's a before and an after... The silence, the magic of the place, and the breathtaking landscapes invite you to introspection, reconnecting with your heart and soul in a truly nurturing environment! This retreat, starting in Marrakech , seamlessly blends trekking and wellness in the desert. Enjoy its magnificent sand dunes, beginner and intermediate yoga sessions, a variety of wellness activities, and guidance from Anita, a French teacher and Ayurvedic therapist. She will generously share her knowledge with you. With a dedicated Moroccan team, you'll be captivated by this experience…
The highlights
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Anita's teachings: yoga, ayurveda, pranayama, meditation, relaxation,
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Discover the immensity of the desert, its beauty, its gentleness and its energy
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Sharing the life, culture, joy and kindness of desert nomads
Photos
CHANTAL - verified review - march 2025
CHANTAL - verified review - march 2025
CHANTAL - verified review - march 2025
Pascale - verified review - march 2025
Pascale - verified review - march 2025
Audrey - verified review - december 2024
Audrey - verified review - december 2024
Audrey - verified review - december 2024
Audrey - verified review - december 2024
Audrey - verified review - december 2024
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
The expert's opinion
The yoga taught is beginner/intermediate level Hatha yoga . This type of yoga is gentle, but you hold the postures, so it is also somewhat physical. The instruction is designed to help you develop a routine for independent practice when you return home.
The trek requires a level of fitness that includes being able to walk 4 hours a day for a week, sometimes in the heat, especially in March and April. There is no significant elevation gain, so this trek is accessible to everyone who is used to walking.
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 3h30
- Average distance/day: 11 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 17 m
Yoga
- Average duration/day: 1h30
- 2 average daily practices
Management
French
Passionate about travel, well-being, nature and above all about people and living things, Anita accompanies you with warmth and kindness throughout your initiatory stay, to gently guide you towards overall well-being.
A Hatha yoga teacher trained by Lav Sharma, a certified Ayurvedic therapist from the Tapovan Ayurvedic Center, and initiated into mindfulness through the MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) program with Prezence-Mindfulness. Drawing on her extensive knowledge and experience, she will share much more with you.
Curious and committed, she is constantly enriching her knowledge: currently training at the School of Medicinal Plants in Lyon, she is also interested in psychogenealogy and joyfully shares mantra chants from the Indian tradition.
During this trek, you will be accompanied by a team of experienced nomads. They were all born in the desert. Cheerful, attentive, generous, kind, and full of humor, they will share their culture, their history, and their way of life with you each day.
If you wish, you can bake bread, pitch a tent, or prepare a fire...
A stay offering total immersion in the nomadic Saharan culture.
Program
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Arrival in Marrakech (or Ouarzazate)
- Transportation 00h20 - 5km
- Accommodation Riad
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Arrival in Marrakech or Ouarzazate.
Airport transfer to accommodation.
Dinner at your leisure or at the riad as you prefer, and overnight stay at the riad with breakfast.
Day 1 -
Route to reach Mhamid (entrance to the Sahara Desert)
- Transportation Minibus - 07h - 425km
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 0h40
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Departure from Marrakech at 7:30 am towards Mhamid El Ghizlane. Transportation will be either in a large car or a private, air-conditioned minibus. Let's go for this 7-hour road trip! 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 2260m! This pass will take you towards Ouarzazate and the entire southeastern region of Morocco, where you will have lunch.
Next, you'll cross the Draa Valley (Valley of a Thousand Kasbahs) and the beautiful landscapes of the palm groves, before reaching the gateway to the desert: Mhamid. From there, you'll set off for a wild desert camp (a 40-minute walk). You'll meet the team of nomads who will accompany you throughout the journey.
Dinner, nomadic songs and relaxation in the evening. First night in the desert.
If you have chosen to arrive in Ouarzazate:
The minibus coming from Marrakech with part of the group will pick you up at the accommodation between 11:30am and 12:30pm.
Day 2 -
Mhamid - Sidi Naji
- Activity Yoga
- Duration of the activity 1h45
- Number of practices per day 2
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 13 km
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
8am to 8:30am: Gentle wake-up with yoga.
After breakfast, the trek begins with the camel caravan and your team : camel drivers, cook, and guide. The desert beckons: dry valleys, ergs, and regs unfold before you, and you'll discover new landscapes as you venture deeper into the desert. The Kraab mountain range comes into view. This area is very special because of the fossils found there and the history of the nomads.
- 1:30 pm: Setting up camp (which you can help with if you wish), tea ceremony, and lunch amidst the dunes. You will discover the many surrounding plants (tamarisk, acacia, and also medicinal plants...).
- 3:30 pm: Workshop on Ayurveda (approximately 2 hours) as well as lifestyle advice
- 5:30pm: yoga class before heading to the top of a dune to watch the sunset.
- 7:30 pm: Dinner around the fire to enjoy the delicious dishes prepared by your cook.
Night in the dunes under the stars or in a tent.
Day 3 -
Sidi Naji – Erg Zmila
- Activity Yoga
- Duration of the activity 1h45
- Number of practices per day 2
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 13 km
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
8am to 8:30am: Gentle wake-up with yoga
After a hearty breakfast, you'll gradually be drawn into the heart of the desert, towards Erg Zmila. Little by little, the tamarisk trees will become less frequent and the view will become increasingly spectacular. Each day you'll discover a different landscape. Even the color of the sand changes...
- 1:30 pm: setting up camp with the ritual of mint tea and lunch in the tent in the shade.
- Free time after the meal to stroll in the dunes, take a nap or write about your feelings in your travel journal.
- 5pm: Yoga class with pranayama
- 7:30 pm: Dinner around the fire
- 8:45 pm: Storytelling evening with the nomads, where you can hear traditional stories.
Night under the stars or in a tent.
Day 4 -
Erg Zmila – Erg Zahar
- Activity Yoga
- Duration of the activity 1h45
- Number of practices per day 2
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 13 km
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Yoga class from 8am to 8:30am.
After breakfast, we set off for the magnificent Erg Zahar dunes, vast dunes just as you imagine them. Sculpted by the winds, this landscape, like a cocoon, envelops you in its gentleness and immerses you in a powerful and restorative energy. Nestled among the dunes, you feel completely at one with the universe. The place is so magical that we'll stay for two nights.
- 1:30 pm: setting up camp, tea ceremony, and lunch in the dunes in the shade of a tamarisk tree.
- Free afternoon for a walk on the dunes or a nap in the shade.
- 5pm: Yoga class followed by meditation. You will witness the magnificent sunset.
- 7:30 pm: Dinner by the fireside.
Night under the stars or in a tent.
Day 5 -
Erg Zahar
- Activity Yoga
- Duration of the activity 1h45
- Number of practices per day 2
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 3h30
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 100 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
8am to 8:30am: Gentle wake-up with yoga
After breakfast, you will go to the summit of the Erg Zahar dunes : a magnificent 360° panorama awaits you!
- 1:30 pm: Return to the bivouac. A ceremonial mint tea before enjoying a delicious tagine and Moroccan salad.
- Free time, take advantage of these special moments in this magical and magnificent space to write in your travel journal about your feelings, your impressions, what the desert brings you, teaches you.
- 5pm: "Surprise" workshop
- 6pm: 1 hour 15 minute yoga class with pranayama or relaxation before going to admire the sunset from the top of a dune.
- 7:30 pm: Dinner around the fire. An evening of sharing and nomadic songs.
Night under the stars or in a nomad tent.
Day 6 -
Erg Zahar - Erg Ait Ounnire
- Activity Yoga
- Duration of the activity 0h30
- Number of practices per day 1
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 13 km
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
8am to 8:30am: Gentle wake-up with yoga
Breakfast, the caravan is on the move; we leave the large dunes behind and gradually re-enter the vegetation. We explore and cross smaller dunes to set up camp in the shelter of the tamarisk trees.
- 1:30 pm: lunch under a tamarisk tree and setting up the nomadic bivouac for our last night in the desert.
- Free time before watching the sunset from the top of a dune. And the surprise: a shower in the desert! Yes, it's possible.
- 7:30pm: last dinner all together and moments of sharing about this magnificent experience!
Night in a bivouac.
Day 7 -
Departure
- Transportation Minibus - 07h - 425km
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
This is the last day: breakfast at 6:30 am and then it's time to leave the desert!
Departure for Marrakech airport at 7:30 am. If time permits, we will stop at an argan cooperative on the way if you wish to bring back spices or argan cosmetics in your luggage.
For a return to Marrakech, plan a flight from 8pm onwards or an extra night for a departure the next day.
For a return to Ouarzazate, you arrive between 12pm and 1pm, leaving the possibility of taking a flight from 3pm.
Day 8
Note
The itinerary of our programs is provided for informational purposes only. It may be subject to modifications or adjustments based on technical criteria, safety requirements, or prevailing weather conditions. In such cases, only the program leaders are authorized to make the necessary decisions.
Accommodation
The Riad is located a stone's throw from Jema El Fnaa Square in the medina.
Depending on availability, we may be accommodated in another riad of the same standard, i.e. very comfortable.
The nomadic bivouac will be set up each day in the middle of the dunes of the Moroccan Sahara.
You will have the choice between
- sleep in a 4-person tent or in a large tent
- or under the stars beneath the celestial vault.
- Optional: Individual Kechua tent available
Access
For the last day, transfers will be organized according to your arrival/departure times:
- Departure from Ouarzazate : plan a return flight from 3pm onwards, not before.
- Departure from Marrakech (recommended): plan a return flight after 8 pm or an extra night's stay. The minibus will drop you off either at Jemaa El Fnaa Square or at the airport for those taking a Saturday evening flight.
Go to the starting point
✈️ Here are the routes we recommend for getting to Marrakech (recommended) from Saturday to Saturday:
- From Paris Orly: Direct flights on Royal Air Maroc or Transavia, Easyjet
- From Toulouse: Ryanair direct flight
- From Bordeaux: Transavia direct flight
- From Brussels: Flights with a stopover on KLM or Tap Air Portugal.
- From Lyon: Direct flights on Easyjet or Transavia.
- From Nice, Geneva, Toulouse and Paris Charles de Gaulle: direct flights on Easyjet.
- From Marseille to Marrakech: Direct flights on Ryanair and Transavia.
- From Marseille to Ouarzazate: direct flight on Ryanair
Price details
The price includes
- Taxi transfer on day 1 from Marrakech or Ouarzazate airport to the hotel
- Overnight stay at the riad on day 1 and breakfast on day 2 in a shared double or triple room
- The comfortable private minibus from Marrakech or Ouarzazate on day 2 to Mhamid
- Meals, overnight stays, and accompaniment by nomads and camels during the trek
- Lunch on day 8 for people with a flight from Marrakech
- Yoga and wellness practices and guidance by Anita (French)
- Transfer to Marrakech airport on day 8
The price does not include
- International flights to Marrakech and Ouarzazate
- Dinner at the hotel on day 1
- Dinner and overnight stay on day 8 if you depart on day 9
- Tips for nomads
- Personal expenses
- Overnight stays, meals, or taxi for arrival before day 1 or departure after day 8
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
- A mattress for nights spent camping
- A cover
Equipment to bring
- A small backpack for trekking (to carry a 1L water bottle, toilet paper and a lighter)
- A 30-40L backpack for clothes and toiletries (travel light and no suitcase)*
- A sleeping bag rated to 0-10°C depending on the season. A quality blanket and sleeping mat are provided. In colder weather, two blankets will be provided.
- Toilet paper and a lighter to burn the paper (zero waste!)
- A washcloth (no showers available in the desert)
- Lavender or rose hydrosol with cotton, during the trek
- Gloves (cold periods - December and January)
- Hats (cold periods - December and January)
- a bath towel for the shower on the last day in the middle of the desert
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Portable battery
- A notebook to express your feelings in writing
*This bag will be transported by camels every day. The camels are treated with care and respect. The loads are properly balanced, and they are unloaded at the end of the 4-hour trek to rest, then fed appropriately. The nomads know their needs perfectly and ensure their well-being.
Clothing to bring
- lightweight hiking pants or wide-legged flowing pants
- Cap or hat + shemagh (shemagh can be purchased on site for approximately €7)
- short-sleeved or long-sleeved t-shirt
- Lightweight long-sleeved shirts are ideal for warm weather.
- windbreaker
- sweater for evenings in all seasons
- Fleece + down jacket for the period from December to February
- trekking sandals or high-top hiking shoes or low-top hiking shoes or outdoor shoes with gaiters
- You are in a Muslim country, so no short skirts, shorts, transparent clothing or t-shirts without a bra.
They traveled with us
