Treks in Morocco | The great caravane of the South

General description

An unforgettable journey across impressive rocky mountains, vast desert plateaus and magnificent dunes of fine golden sand at the southern border between Morocco and Algeria. A unique experience in the silence and harmony of the great Sahara, through wild and extreme landscapes, following the rhythm of nomadic trade caravans who passed here to get to Mauritania and Mali. During the trek, we’ll admire the traces of these ancient passages in the ruins of old Saharan villages, vestiges of a traditional way of life today almost disappeared. A healthy physical condition and a good technical preparation are recommended to take part in the trek, due to moderately difficult trails, walks on medium-long distances and the variety of rocky and sandy terrains. Average walking time of 6 hours per day.

Included services:

Transfers by 4x4 or minibus from/to the arrival/departure point - 1 professional nature guide throughout the duration of the trip – 8 nights in bivouac, with accommodation on full board basis - 3 nights in hotel / riad/ guest house, with accommodation on full board basis - 3 liters of water per day and per person during the trek - Cook and equipment for the bivouac: restaurant and kitchen tent, igloo tents and mattresses - Muleteers and mules for carrying luggages, equipment and supplies - Hammam and massages at the end of the trekking - 24h24 assistance.

Extra services not included:

Airplane tickets - Drinks - Tips for staff – Optional activities – Travel health and cancellation insurance (upon request, Direction Sud will help you identify the most suitable for your needs). Direction Sud guarantees no hidden costs or other extra fees.

Stages of the trip

12 days / 11 nights

Ait Ben Haddou - Zagora (Lfaija) - Tighrghirin - Amda Noumssafi - Erg Labidlia - Khert lgrzam - Erg Smar - Erg Zehar – Sidi Naji - M'hamid - Ouarzazate

Starting from Marrakech, we’ll cross the central High Atlas at the Tizi n’ Tichka pass (2260 m), travelling along the valley of Telouet and the steep canyons formed by the Ounila river to reach the majstic Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou, magnificent fortress of earth and straw at the gates of the desert, where we’ll spend our first night. After an unmissable guided visit of the ancient Ksar, symbol of the history and traditions of Berber local tribes, our journey will continue south through the Draa valley, across a vast and lush oasis down to the city of Zagora, where we’ll stop to spend the night and prepare for the trekking. Our caravan will start early in the morning accompanied by our guide and expert camel drivers. Over the first two days, we’ll hike across a lunar landscape, with endless desert mountains dotted with small oasis. Starting from the third day of the trek, the landscape will progressively open on the majestic golden sand dunes of Erg Labidlia, Erg Smar and Erg Zehar, up to 300 meters high, where we’ll camp at night admiring the beauty and the silence of the desert, experiencing the true life of nomadic desert tribes. The rhythm of traditional music will accompany our evenings around a bonfire, in a friendly atmosphere, enjoying the quality of the food and the harmony of these infinite spaces. The trek offers an amazing variety of terrains for hikers to test their skills, from the arid and rocky plateaus of Tighrghirin and Amda Noumssafi to the sand dunes of Ch'gaga, with their steep and imposing profiles. The trek ends at M'hamid, where the 4x4 will wait to bring us back to Ouarzazate for a last day of relax, with hammams and massages, before leaving for Marrakech.

Duration: 12 days