Marrakech
5-day, 4-night trek in the Moroccan desert departing from Marrakech
Réf : AUNEIZ
In summary
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Sports
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Duration5 days
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LevelIntermediate
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DestinationAtlas Mountains / Marrakech
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AgeFrom 4 - 80 years
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CO₂-Emissions248.15 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages🇦🇪Arabic🇫🇷French🇬🇧English
In a few words
Set off to conquer Erg Zahar , one of the most spectacular dune massifs in the Moroccan Sahara . Renowned for their mystical singing caused by the sliding of the sand, these "screaming dunes" are the highlight of a four-day camel trek .
At the soothing pace of a camel caravan , your journey winds through a palette of striking Saharan landscapes: golden dunes , arid regs , and tamarisk trees . The ascent to the ridges reveals a magnificent 360° panorama of the vast desert.
This adventure offers an authentic immersion alongside a Bedouin team . Throughout the journey, you'll learn the ancestral skills of nomadic life : baking bread in the sand , cozy evenings around the campfire , and sharing meals. Each night, the bivouac is set up amidst the elements, offering you the magic of a night under the stars beneath an exceptionally clear sky.
A rejuvenating trek , perfect for experiencing a total disconnection and discovering one of the most beautiful ergs in Morocco.
The highlights
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Ascent of the Singing Dune (Erg Zahar) and 360° panorama
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Sahrawi guides & Bedouin team, 100% local
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Varied landscapes: tamarisk trees, dune ridges, lunar landscape
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Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
For those wishing to hike for 4 to 5 hours a day, covering an elevation gain of around 600m on trails. You hike occasionally and are in good physical condition.
The expert's opinion
The walk takes place in the morning. Then the nomadic bivouac is set up for an afternoon in the heart of the dunes and an evening by the fire.
There isn't really any elevation change in the desert; we travel between the dunes. Most of the time, the sand has a slightly crusty texture, and your feet don't sink into it like on the beach, making the stay easily accessible.
The bags are carried by camels.
At the level of the large dune, real sand dunes form and if you want to go to their summits, it's a bit more intense! But it is possible to skip the climb of the large dune if you are tired.
If you're not confident about walking, you can add the "riding camel" option to this trek. This option is not included in the price and must be booked separately. (The other camels in the caravan are reserved for carrying camping equipment and luggage).
In figures
Trekking
- Average duration/day: 3h30
- Average distance/day: 11 km
Management
During this stay, a supervisor will be present to guide and assist you.
Band :
1 supervisor for 2 to 4 people
Languages spoken:
🇦🇪
Arabic
🇫🇷
French
🇬🇧
English
Mourad
Mourad
Mourad was born in the desert. His family later settled in M'Hamid el Ghizlane, at the gateway to the vast expanses of the Sahara.
For several years, he has accompanied travelers in this region which he knows intimately. His family history remains closely linked to caravans and life in the desert, a knowledge he enjoys sharing during his travels.
Through the trips he organizes, Mourad primarily wants to showcase a territory he has known since childhood, but also the people, customs and know-how that give it its character.
A way to discover the desert through the eyes of someone who is deeply attached to it.
We work exclusively with local guides native to the Moroccan desert. They know the Sahara intimately and ensure safety, attentive listening, and support throughout the journey.
The advantage of traveling with locals is that it makes the trip authentic: as desert dwellers, they naturally share their history and nomadic way of life. This allows for a privileged approach to a deeply rooted Saharan culture.
The guides all speak Darija, the Moroccan dialect of Arabic. However, there is always at least one French-speaking nomadic guide with whom you can communicate in French.
Program
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Transport to the desert. Festive and comfortable evening at the starting camp in the dunes.
- Transportation Car - 07h30 - 448km
- Accommodation Glamping
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Departure at 8am from Marrakech. Lunch on the way is included, drinks not included.
You'll travel through beautiful landscapes on the road as you descend the Draa Valley, with several stops to fully appreciate them. The route promises to lead you through unspoiled desert areas; it will take you to the very edge of the desert.
In the late afternoon, you arrive in M'Hamid el Ghizlane, the last village before the desert. The nomads meet you there and take you in a 4x4 to discover their camp in the Moroccan desert. Saharan hospitality will always include a cup of tea as a welcome. A delicious meal, with the spiced (but not spicy!) flavors of the Maghreb, and a restful, comfortable night in real beds will gently ease you into the wild Sahara of Morocco.
Day 1 -
Introduction to the desert, walking in the Sahara dunes and mobile camping.
- Activity Trekking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 12 km
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
The trek begins on foot from the fixed camp. Accompanied by the camel caravan and the Bedouin team, you head towards Sidi Naji, a place steeped in history which owes its name to a marabout who lived in the region.
As you walk, the landscapes of dunes and tamarisk trees herald the vast open spaces of the Sahara. You discover the first steps of nomadic life: setting up camp, gathering firewood and preparing for the night, before admiring a magnificent sunset over the desert.
In the evening, the group gathers around a campfire for a moment of sharing and conviviality. The first night is spent in a nomadic tent or under the stars, in the heart of the desert.
Day 2 -
Trek to discover the great Erg Zahar sand dune and sleep in the desert
- Activity Trekking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 12 km
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
At daybreak, the camp is dismantled before setting off again, keeping pace with the camel caravan. The march takes place in the cool of the morning, heading towards Erg Zahar, one of the most beautiful dunes in the Moroccan Sahara.
As the journey progresses, the landscape gradually changes. The tamarisk trees slowly disappear, giving way to a mineral world dominated by sand. Erg Zahar then comes into view on the horizon. Its summit offers an exceptional panorama of the desert, stretching as far as the Algerian mountains on a clear day.
At the end of the day, you'll enjoy a sunset over the dunes before heading to a sheltered bivouac. The evening will continue around the campfire in a friendly atmosphere, perfect for chatting with the nomadic team.
Day 3 -
Wake up in the heart of the great dunes and return via the Aït Ounir erg
- Activity Trekking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 15 km
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
The first rays of dawn offer an unforgettable spectacle at the summit of Erg Zahar. To fully enjoy this unique atmosphere, we recommend spending the night under the stars, near your tent, and getting up before sunrise.
The caravan then resumes its journey across the desert, following the tracks of the Drâa. Guided by the experience of the nomads, passed down from generation to generation, it progresses naturally through the dunes and the vast Saharan spaces.
For this last night in the bivouac, you choose to sleep in the nomad tent or under the stars, under the immensity of the desert sky.
Day 4 -
Breakfast in the Sahara and return transport.
- Transportation Car - 07h30 - 418km
- Activity Trekking
- Duration of the activity 1h
- Distance 4 km
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
After a final night in the desert, a short walk of about an hour leads back to the permanent camp, the starting point of your trek. This is a last chance to enjoy the company of the nomadic guides and the camel caravan.
The return journey then crosses the Drâa valley to Ouarzazate, before reaching Marrakech in the evening, around 8:30 pm.
Day 5
Note
This program may be modified at the guide's discretion if conditions, weather, or the physical condition of the participants require it.
Accommodation
During this stay, you will sleep in several different accommodations.
🏠 Glamping - Day 1
The permanent camp is set up in the heart of nature, amidst the dunes of the Moroccan Sahara, far from any inhabited area. From the village, you reach the camp in about fifteen minutes by 4x4, accompanied by a nomadic guide.
This deliberately isolated location allows you to experience a true night in the Moroccan desert, in a preserved, silent environment far from any tourist bustle.
The entire camp is organized around a central hearth, the true heart of nomadic life, where meals, evening gatherings and moments of sharing take place.
- There is a shared space for toilets and showers.
- There is hot water, which comes from a dug well. Water is a precious resource and must, of course, be used sparingly in the desert.
- There is a restaurant area where dinner is offered on the first evening.
The accommodations are small, traditional earthen buildings, inspired by local architecture.
Accommodation is in shared rooms for 3 to 5 people. The bedding is comfortable and sheets/blankets and towels are provided.
Thanks to solar panels, there is electricity at the permanent camp.
⛺️ Bivouac / Tent - Days 2 to 4
One or more tents are brought along for sleeping and resting time for participants during the bivouac portion.
Tents for the nomadic team and the kitchen setup are also brought along; the guides do not sleep with the participants.
For the night, sleeping mattresses are provided and warm blankets are brought along that you can borrow to put over your sleeping bag.
A few small Quechua tents can also be anticipated for people who have difficulty with the community or to be able to respect a separation of genders during the nights.
Note that one of the recommended experiences during the trek is to take your sleeping bag, borrow a blanket and a sleeping mat to put it on a nearby dune and sleep under the stars.
Access
Departure
Marrakech-Médina, Maroc
Day 1
: 08h00
End of stay
Marrakech-Médina, Maroc
Day 5
- 20h30
Marrakech is approximately a 7.5-hour drive from the starting village of the treks, M'Hamid el Ghizlane. Our private transport will meet you at 8:00 AM on the morning of departure in Jemaa el Fna square in Marrakech. The drive is scenic, and breaks are planned, including a lunch break included in the price (drinks not included). Arrival in the village is in the late afternoon.
For the return journey, the estimated arrival time at Jemaa el Fna square in Marrakech is around 20/2030.
Go to the starting point
The nearest airport isMarrakech
Travel to the place of stay
with parking
available
In the village, it is possible to leave your car in a secure parking lot for €2/day.
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Price details
The price includes
- Return transport from Marrakech. Meals included on the route (excluding drinks).
- One night at a fixed camp in the desert with dinner and breakfast included.
- Full board throughout the nomadic camp trek. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- The trek is supervised by a team of nomadic guides throughout its duration.
- A camel caravan and camping equipment for the duration of the trek. Carry the bags and all the camp logistics.
The price does not include
- International flights
- Drinks and personal expenses on transport.
- Tips and personal expenses. It is customary to tip the accompanying nomadic team, at each person's discretion. (Generally, everyone gives around €40. There is no obligation, but it's a real boost for the nomads).
- Option “Sleeping bag rental” at €25.
- “Riding camel” option at €80.
Options
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Equipment
Decathlon Travel Partner
The Mourad team
• 6 stays
Our local expert, based in southeastern Morocco, specializes in Saharan treks for everyone (families, friends, solo travelers). He offers authentic journeys, far from mass tourism, led by native guides and their camels. His trips emphasize immersion in nomadic culture, respect for the environment, animal welfare, and high-quality local organization, thus guaranteeing a human, responsible, and safe experience.
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