Yoga & Hiking Retreat in the Moroccan Desert
In summary
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Sports
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Duration7 days
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LevelAll levels
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DestinationAtlas Mountains / Marrakech
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AgeFrom 18 - 80 years
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CO₂-Emissions227.99 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
Arabic
English
In a few words
Immerse yourself in a contrasting 7-day adventure, linking Marrakech to the far reaches of southern Morocco. This journey takes you from the majestic peaks of the High Atlas Mountains, dotted with historic kasbahs and traditional Berber villages, to the captivating immensity of the Sahara.
Following ancient caravan routes, you'll enter a fascinating world of fossil plateaus and wild expanses, culminating in the majestic dunes of Erg Chegaga . This yoga-focused trek, perfectly suited for groups of friends, centers around an immersive hike with an overnight bivouac under the stars. It's the ideal opportunity to share in the daily life of nomads, learn the traditional art of sand bread making, and feel the rhythm of Saharan songs around the campfire.
This trip offers a perfect blend of wide open spaces, culture and authentic human encounters for a total disconnection.
The highlights
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Combination of soft adventure and comfort
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Complete desert experience, trek and dunes of Chegaga
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Private transport and professional supervision. Balanced and accessible pace.
Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
The expert's opinion
This trip offers a hike accessible to all, with an adapted pace, combining the discovery of landscapes and authentic encounters.
In figures
Yoga
- Average duration/day: 1h
- 1 average daily practices
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 3h30
- Average distance/day: 7 km
- Exposed Passages: Yes
Management
French
Arabic
English
Support from your yoga teacher during your stay: Anne
I suggest you practice dynamic yoga in the morning (traditional Hatha Yoga) as well as gentle and relaxing yoga (called Yoga Nidra) or a meditation session at the end of the day.
A meditative walk will also be offered.
These practices encourage awareness of the body and breathing, and develop concentration skills through physical exercises.
They also allow one to experience a state of balance and inner peace.
Ali Your Guide
Your guide is a qualified and experienced guide, passionate about Morocco and its culture, which he will be able to help you discover in an authentic way.
Your stay is supervised by an experienced and passionate local team, consisting of guides, drivers, camel drivers and cooks.
Your guide has extensive knowledge of the region, nomadic culture, and desert routes. He ensures the smooth running of your stay, your safety, and shares his knowledge with you throughout the trip.
The professional driver ensures comfortable and safe journeys, while adapting to the pace of the group.
In the desert, you will be accompanied by a nomadic team of camel drivers and a cook, who will handle all the logistics of the bivouac. Meals are prepared on-site with fresh ingredients, and the team will ensure your comfort every day.
Discreet and attentive, all team members are committed to providing you with an authentic, friendly and safe experience.
Program
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Arrival – Marrakech (or Ouarzazate)
- Transportation Minibus - 00h20 - 6km
- Accommodation Riad
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Airport welcome by our team then transfer to your riad located in the medina (or hotel depending on availability).
Installation, free time depending on arrival time.
Discussions and questions about the practices of the following days and guided meditation time. 30 to 45 minutes.
Day 1 -
Marrakech – Aït Ben Haddou – Mhamid (gateway to the desert)
- Transportation Minibus - 08h - 460km
- Activity Yoga
- Duration of the activity 1h
- Number of practices per day 2
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Muscle awakening and Hatha-Yoga - 45 minutes.
Early morning departure in a 4x4 vehicle or private minibus heading south.
Crossing the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka pass with panoramic stops.
Visit to the ksar of Aït Ben Haddou (UNESCO listed site).
Lunch on your own along the way.
Continue towards the Drâa valley, then arrive at Mhamid, the last oasis before the desert.
Yoga Nidra and/or meditation - 1 hour
Dinner and overnight stay in a fixed bivouac – half-board option.
Day 2 -
Start of the trek – desert immersion
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 7 km
- Exposed passages Yes
- Activity Yoga
- Duration of the activity 1h
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
After breakfast, meet with the local team (guide, camel drivers).
Departure for a hike accompanied by camels (luggage carrying).
Approximately 2.5 hours of walking in the morning at a leisurely pace.
Lunch under the tamarisk trees (shaded area).
Resumption of the walk in the afternoon (approximately 2.5 hours).
Setting up the mobile bivouac.
Yoga Nidra and/or meditation - 1 hour
Preparing dinner on site with the team (traditional sand bread).
A convivial evening around the fire and a night in a nomadic tent.
Day 3 -
Desert trek – varied landscapes
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 9 km
- Exposed passages Yes
- Activity Yoga
- Duration of the activity 1h
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Breakfast in the middle of the desert.
Full day of walking through different landscapes (regs, dunes, isolated oases).
Pace adapted to the group with regular breaks.
Lunch outdoors.
Setting up the mobile bivouac in a new environment.
Yoga Nidra and/or meditation - 1 hour
Dinner and overnight stay in a tent – authentic and immersive atmosphere.
Day 4 -
Chegaga Dunes – comfort bivouac
- Transportation Car - 01h - 30km
- Activity Hiking
- Distance 4 km
- Exposed passages Yes
- Activity Yoga
- Duration of the activity 1h
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Muscle awakening and Hatha-Yoga - 1 hour.
Morning walk followed by lunch.
In the afternoon, transfer by 4x4 to the great dunes of Chegaga.
Installation in a fixed bivouac with good comfort (equipped tents).
Free time to enjoy the dunes: sunset, possibility of sandboarding.
Sunset meditation - 45 minutes.
Dinner and lively evening (local music possible depending on availability).
Night in a comfortable tent.
Day 5 -
Return to Marrakech
- Transportation Car - 07h - 450km
- Activity Yoga
- Duration of the activity 1h
- Number of practices per day 2
- Accommodation Riad
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Muscle awakening and Hatha-Yoga - 1 hour.
Breakfast at the bivouac.
Departure by 4x4, crossing the dried-up Lake Iriki.
Passing through Foum Zguid then driving through the Anti-Atlas.
Lunch on your own along the way.
Arrived in Marrakech in the late afternoon.
Meditation - 45 minutes.
Night at the Riad.
Day 6 -
Riad in the Medina - Marrakech Airport
- Transportation Car - 20h - 7km
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Breakfast and transfer to the airport.
Day 7
Note
We are pleased to offer you a 7-day stay departing from Marrakech, with full support from our team throughout the trip.
This stay will be accompanied by a yoga teacher present throughout the circuit, allowing you to combine well-being, relaxation and the discovery of Moroccan landscapes.
Anne
Certified teacher, trained in Hatha Yoga, Iranian-Egyptian Yoga and meditation
with Raymond Kotaï Lambert for over 20 years and then in Pondicherry in
India (600 hours) in Integral Yoga with Selvi and Ajit Sarkar.
I also offer Yoga Nidra sessions; always very popular in
The desert at the end of the day.
I am also a craniosacral energy healing therapist using the Method
Surrender.
I am committed to gently guiding you on the path of yoga, of the
Meditation for more peace and joy in your daily life.
From beginner to intermediate; regular practice is not necessary
With yoga experience, I would be able to suggest postures tailored to each individual.
On the agenda:
Yoga sessions in exceptional locations in the heart of Moroccan nature.
Discover the valleys, oases and landscapes of southern Morocco.
Immersion in the Sahara desert with night(s) in a camp.
An authentic encounter with nomadic families to share a unique moment of their daily lives and discover their traditional way of life.
Walks and moments of contemplation in the dunes.
Musical evenings under the stars around the hearth fire of the Moroccan desert.
Accommodation
All the selected cottages and riads offer a good level of comfort, with quality bedding as well as bathrooms and showers to ensure your comfort and hygiene throughout your stay.
Access
Upon your arrival at the airport, you will be met by our local team who will greet you with a sign bearing your name and that of our agency. We will then ensure your entire transfer to the hotel in optimal comfort and safety.
Go to the starting point
Transfers to and from the airport are included in our services.
Price details
The price includes
- Round-trip transportation from Marrakech or Ouarzazate, depending on flights
- Accommodation for the first night in Marrakech or Ouarzazate (riad or hotel)
- Breakfast on the first day and dinners at your leisure
- 5 nights full board, Gîte and Bivouac, with water provided during the hike
- Camels for transporting luggage (optional for children)
- Experienced nomadic team (guide, cook, camel drivers)
- Accompaniment by a professional guide
- Return transfers to Marrakech
The price does not include
- International flights
- Lunches of the day 7
- Meals in Marrakech
- Drinks
- Personal expenses
- Tips
Options
- Single room : CHF132.65 / person
- 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
- Tent
- Blanket
- Carpet
Equipment to bring
Your outfit should be appropriate for the country you are going to visit.
Please avoid shorts and tight-fitting clothing.
To be expected:
- canvas hat
- Cotton t-shirts or shirts (long sleeves are recommended for sun protection)
- sweater or fleece for cool evenings in the desert
- lightweight trousers and cotton canvas bermuda shorts (no shorts)
- underwear and socks
- K-Way or rain cape for the mountains
- spare shoelaces
- sunglasses
- sunscreen
- lip balm
Useful accessories
- washcloth (often not provided in some hotels in Morocco)
- toilet paper
- tissues / Kleenex
- toiletry bag
- flashlight or headlamp for evenings in the tent
Small personal pharmacy
We advise you to plan ahead:
- Elastoplast -type dressings
- Compeed (second skin for blisters)
- disinfectant
- bandages for scrapes
- paracetamol
- intestinal antiseptic
- gastric dressing (Smecta type)
- small scissors
- tweezers
- sun protection
- water purification tablets
Clothing to bring
Luggage
- A travel bag (avoid suitcases)
- Please limit the weight to 15 kg per person .
- A small backpack of approximately 35L for the day's essentials.
For the night
- A good warm sleeping bag : nights can be cool in the mountains (guesthouses generally do not have heating) , and in winter in the desert the temperature range is significant.
Shoes
- Comfortable walking shoes
- A good pair of shoes must first and foremost be comfortable. Remember to test them before you leave.
Regardless of the difficulty level of the hike, the sole must be of good quality, non-slip on varied or wet terrain (Vibram type) .
To properly protect your ankles, choose high-top shoes that offer good support. Shock-absorbing soles are also recommended to protect your back and joints.
Avoid wearing new shoes to limit the risk of blisters.
The LAGHFIRI team
Drawing on expertise honed over years throughout the kingdom, this passionate organizer designs tailor-made trips that capture the essence of Morocco. Laghfiri relies on a dedicated team of drivers, camel drivers, cooks, and local guides to offer a safe and deeply personal immersion.
The establishment offers a diverse range of experiences, from trekking in the High Atlas Mountains to inspiring yoga retreats in the silence of the desert. Whether following in the footsteps of nomads on a camel trek or exploring hidden kasbahs in a 4x4, the agency provides comprehensive airport-to-airport support. Blending tradition and professionalism, this agency transforms each itinerary into a personalized adventure, ideal for families or travelers seeking authenticity and tranquility.
