In summary
-
Sports
-
Duration9 days
-
LevelConfirmed
-
DestinationAtlas Mountains / Ouarzazate
-
AgeFrom the age of 18
-
CO₂-Emissions110.45 kg CO2
-
Type of stayIn a group
-
Languages
French
In a few words
We're spending a week in a complete change of scenery , immersed in the largest expanse of dunes in the country. A magnificent trek in a desert where the light is intense , the colors sumptuous , and our bivouacs under the stars unforgettable . We head south towards Foum Zguid , the last village before the track and the final stop before the desert. We cross the Jbel Bani , a beautiful, long mountain range that will be our backdrop to the north for the entire crossing. After our first bivouac under the stars , we set off to walk in the dunes , which are adorned with a superb ochre color by the sun's rays. Erg Rhoul , Erg Lâalem , Erg Lâabidlya , and of course Cheggaga — sand and curves as far as the eye can see for our journey, punctuated by appetizing picnics and welcome naps in the shade of our Khaïma , the large mess tent. We live at the pace of our caravan and enjoy the company within the small group.
The highlights
-
A crossing of the largest expanse of dunes in Morocco.
-
Immersing ourselves in self-sufficiency, like nomads, at the rhythm of our Berber caravan.
-
Camping under the stars, and breathtaking panoramas.
Subscriber benefit
save 5%
by joining
our community
Decathlon Travel Benefits
Best price guaranteed:
We offer twice the difference
Free cancellation more than 30 days in advance
Payment in 2 installments
Learn more
Photos
Claire Marie - verified review - november 2024
Lydia - verified review - april 2024
Lydia - verified review - april 2024
Lydia - verified review - april 2024
Lydia - verified review - april 2024
Lydia - verified review - april 2024
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
For those wishing to hike for up to 6 hours a day and/or cover an elevation gain of 600 to 800 meters, both on and off-trail. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in a sporting activity once a week, hike regularly, and are in very good physical condition.
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 4h
- Average distance/day: 9 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 67 m
Management
During this stay, a supervisor will be present to guide and assist you.
Languages spoken:
French
French
Supervisor
Supervisor
You will be accompanied by a French-speaking Berber mountain guide. Throughout your trip, you will be joined by our adventure guides, fully committed to helping you discover unique places in the heart of nature. These are true professionals dedicated to quality and ethical practices. With unforgettable personalities, you will experience an in-depth exploration of Morocco. They are Berbers from the regions you will visit and know the High Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert intimately.
Program
-
Flight to Marrakech (custom flight not included, please contact us)
- Accommodation 4-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
You can arrive in Marrakech at your leisure, either on the day itself or a few days before, as you prefer. We can, of course, arrange your flight and airport pick-up if you wish; just contact us.Day 1 -
Marrakech - Col du Tichka - Tighza - Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou - Ouarzazate.
- Transportation Minibus - 05h - 200km
- Accommodation 4-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We depart early in the morning to cross the Atlas Mountains and head south (5 hours by minibus). Along the way, we'll stop for a pleasant lunch in the village of Tighza, which we'll reach on foot (approximately a 1.5-hour round trip). Once in the south, we'll visit the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, the setting for many renowned films. We'll check into our hotel in Ouarzazate in the late afternoon, eager to return to the dunes tomorrow.Day 2 -
Ouarzazate – Foum Zguid – Erg El Rhoul
- Transportation Minibus - 05h - 255km
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 2h
- Distance 5 km
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We depart from Ouarzazate very early in the morning, taking the road to Foum Zguid (a 3-hour minibus ride), the last stop before the desert. After about two more hours on dirt tracks in our 4x4 vehicles, we set up camp at the edge of the vast sea of sand. We meet our camel team who will accompany us for the week. A short walk precedes our first fragrant tagine.Day 3 -
Hiking in the dunes. Erg El Rhoul – Erg Lâalem
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 100 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We trek all day through an ocean of dunes. All around us, the sun reigns supreme. At midday, we meet up with our team and rest after a hearty picnic in the welcome shade of our large Berber tent.Day 4 -
Hiking in the dunes. Erg Lâalem – Erg Chintouf
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 100 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We continue our journey at the pace of our caravan, with the Jbel Bani to the north and the Hamada du Drâa to the south as a backdrop. Here and there, a few tamarisk trees dot this magnificent landscape.Day 5 -
Hiking in the dunes. Erg Chintouf – Erg Lâabidlya
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 100 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We arrive at the immense dunes of Erg Lâabidlya. In the afternoon, a superb panorama awaits us after a bit of effort climbing one of the highest sand hills. We camp at the foot of this immense dune, and waking up the next day at the first light of dawn is unforgettable.Day 6 -
Hiking in the dunes. Erg Lâabidlya – Khert El Galzim
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 100 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Our last day immersed in the dunes. If we wish, we can have a fun little experience riding a camel and learn how to bake our bread in the sand. It's delicious with honey for an afternoon snack!Day 7 -
Khert el Galzim – Draa Valley - Ouarzazate - Marrakech
- Transportation 08h - 480km
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 1h
- Distance 5 km
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
After a short walk on the plateau, we bid farewell to the team and return to our 4x4 vehicles. We drive through the Draa Valley, dotted with ksour and kasbahs. The road crosses desert plateaus and winds between palm groves and oases, with the foothills of the Atlas Mountains appearing before us. Arriving in Marrakech, the Red City, in the late afternoon, we can choose between the vibrant atmosphere of the square, the bustling souks, or the tranquility of our hotel!Day 8 -
Return flight (custom flight not included, please contact us)
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Departure after breakfast. You can choose to stay in Marrakech or take your return flight. Please feel free to contact us for various additional accommodation options in Marrakech, or to book your airport transfer and return flight.Day 9
Note
This itinerary is provided for guidance only: depending on weather and operational conditions, your guide may modify it for your safety and that of the group. This itinerary can also be followed in reverse.
Accommodation
During this stay, you will sleep in several different accommodations.
🏨 4-star hotel - Days 1 to 8
Hotel :
In Ouarzazate, you will be accommodated in a good standard 4* hotel, which we have carefully chosen based on their location, tranquility and cleanliness.
As a guide (this may change depending on availability), we often book at the Hotel Fint.
In Marrakech, you are also accommodated in a good standard 4* hotel; this trip most often stays at the Meriem.
Bivouac:
Chosen in quiet, spectacular locations, and where possible near a water source, our campsites are highlights of your trip. For your comfort:
- The tents are igloo-style, accommodating 3 people for 2. 5cm thick foam mattresses and individual fitted sheets with names are provided.
- We set up a toilet tent and a shower tent, water is provided in a basin for washing (when possible).
- Meals are served in a mess tent, a genuine Berber tent, where it's pleasant to spend the evening, especially when it's cool outside. Folding chairs and a table are provided.
⛺️ Bivouac / Tent - Days 3 to 7
Access
Departure
Marrakech
Day 1
: 18h00
End of stay
Marrakech
Day 9
Go to the starting point
The nearest airport isAéroport de Marrakech
To get to Marrakech: To give you maximum flexibility, this trip is offered without flights. Feel free to contact us by phone: one of our advisors will be happy to find the best itinerary for you. Here are the routes we recommend for traveling to Marrakech from Saturday to Saturday: From Paris Orly: Direct flights on Royal Air Maroc or Transavia. From Brussels: Flights with a layover 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: Direct flights on Ryanair and Transavia.
Would you like to travel on other dates?
Create an alert and we'll notify you by email if new departures are added.
Price details
The price includes
- Local transfers
- Accommodation
- Full board except in Marrakech
- A local team of drivers, camel drivers and a cook
- A Berber tour guide
The price does not include
- Flights
- Airport-hotel transfers (see options section)
- Personal expenses
- Drinks
- Meals in Marrakech (approximately 2 meals at €12 per meal)
- Tips for the local staff (at your discretion)
Options
- Saddle camel : CHF123.50 / reservation
- Flight booking + airport transfer : CHF86.91 / person
- Extra night before stay - Single room : CHF82.33 / unit
- Extra night before stay - Double room : CHF82.33 / unit
- Additional night after stay - Single room : CHF82.33 / unit
- Additional night after stay - Double room : CHF82.33 / unit
- 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
- Group camping equipment and both group and individual cooking equipment are provided by us.
Equipment to bring
- Earplugs or Hears, your choice
- Notepad and pen, a good book, a deck of cards...
- A small pillow, inflatable or not, for added comfort
- A laundry bag, so you can separate your dirty clothes from your clean clothes in your main bag.
- Sleeping bag: comfortable, adapted to your size, rather mummy-shaped (closer to the body and with a hood that closes) with a side zip closure for opening at your convenience.
It is necessary to adapt your sleeping bag to the temperatures encountered, determined according to your travel dates and the region visited. We advise you to choose a sleeping bag that is comfortable at 10°C below the lowest average temperature encountered (for example, if you are traveling in the South in November (see temperature chart), you need a sleeping bag that is comfortable at: 7 - 10 = -3°C).
A sleeping bag that's comfortable at 5°C will also be comfortable at 20°C; simply open it to allow air to circulate inside. Conversely, if you already have a sleeping bag that's comfortable at 10°C, for example, a fleece sleeping bag liner will make it about 5 degrees warmer.
- Cotton sleeping bag liner
- Toiletry bag and towel
- Small personal pharmacy (see dedicated section)
- Sunscreen cream and stick (face and lips)
- Headlamp with spare batteries
- Water bottle or hydration pack (1 L minimum). Tip: bring two containers of at least 1 L: while one is in use, the other can be undergoing micropurification treatment.
- A multi-purpose pocket knife is preferable (note: it must be packed in your checked luggage!).
- Toilet paper + lighter for destruction
Clothing to bring
- Low or mid-height hiking shoes, "pataugas" type
- Sneakers or sandals: whatever your trip, they're comfortable to slip on when you're passing through towns, villages, or at your campsite in the evening, but you should pack them in addition to the shoes mentioned above. Tip: sand inevitably gets into your shoes. An effective way to avoid too many stops to "dust-remove" it is to walk in hiking sandals with socks to prevent chafing. Not very glamorous, but tested by trekkers!
- Socks: light for the day and warm for the evening (depending on the season).
- Canvas trousers (or sarouel trousers if you have some) and Bermuda shorts (avoid shorts or skirts: see "Etiquette").
- Swimsuit (pool or hammam, you never know!)
- On your skin: it's your first line of defense, so take care of it. Cotton is very well suited to the desert.
- Shirts or T-shirts
- Warm sweater or fleece fur: the latter has the advantage of being resistant, warm, light, and quick-drying, with the added benefit of a soft feel.
- Windproof jacket. The most effective jackets against wind and rain are made of Gore-Tex or Micropore, "breathable" materials that allow for rapid wicking of perspiration while maintaining perfect insulation.
- A hat or cap with neck protection, and/or a shemagh: the first two offer the advantage of also protecting your face from the sun, which the shemagh (long voile scarf) does not. However, the shemagh is very useful for protecting you from the cold, the heat, the sand, and the wind. You will be able to purchase one upon arrival if you wish. Please note that you may not find them everywhere during your tour, so ask your guide.
- Category 3 sunglasses
For the coldest evenings in the heart of winter (December, January and February), you will also need:
- Warm down jacket
- Cap
- Gloves
They traveled with us
Discover the authentic experiences of our travelers
4,7/5
(30 reviews)
Reviews displayed in reverse chronological order
Decathlon Travel Partner
The Paulin team
4.4/5
(1440 reviews)
• 453 stays
For over 30 years, our local partner has been designing adventure walking trips around the world. Specializing in small-group treks, they cater to both casual hikers and seasoned trekkers seeking unspoiled natural environments and a return to the essentials. Their key strength? They own their own agencies in over 30 countries, guaranteeing complete trip creation from start to finish, without intermediaries. This direct, on-the-ground expertise ensures memorable active experiences and total freedom amidst breathtaking landscapes.
Are you satisfied with this page?
Subscriber benefit
save 5%
by joining
our community
Decathlon Travel Benefits
Best price guaranteed:
We offer twice the difference
Free cancellation more than 30 days in advance
Payment in 2 installments
Learn more
