Getting to the desert in Morocco might take a bit of effort. You can take a tour (join a group) from say Marrakech, but it will no doubt cost more than if you arrange it yourself. Making an overnight camel trip to the dunes requires quite some travelling first. The nearest dunes are those at M'Hamid. There are no trains south of Marrakech so the only option is either bus or taxi. A bus takes some 11 -13 (!) hours to M'Hamid, but only costs 120 dh (about 12 €). It's easy to arrange camel treks to the dunes once in M'Hamid. A one-night (2 days) camel ride will start from 350 dh. It depends on your negotiating skills how much you will actually pay. However absurd this may sound, adding a day to your trip will more than double this price.A 3-days organised tour from Marrakech costs about 130 € (unless you are lucky and try at Hotel Ali, then you can get with even 50 € for a 3 day trip). In a way it is better though more expensive, because you get to the dunes faster without crowding in a local bus.
If you're going on your own and you don't want to return to Marrakech after the trip, you can take a ride to Er-Rachidia via Zagora (all together some 10 hours or so) and from there to Fes (9 hours).
The dunes at Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) are said to be nicer, but it will still take about the same amount of driving.
Other companies offering camel trekking:
Anyway, we have still not settled our mind about going or not to the desert. We want to, but it depends on many thing if we will actually go. I really do want to celebrate Mitja's 25th birthday up on the dunes and listening to the drums in a berber tent or just watching the sunset and the starry sky! :)
5 comments:
She is more excited about celebrating my birthday in the desert then I am. For me it's just another day :)
PS: Desert stil sounds nice though :D
Maybe because my 24th birthday (the exact day) was so dull :))
I was in Morroco last year as well and we did a trip through Zagora to M'Hamid - I tell you one thing, it's a LONG journey :) In M'Hamid we stayed in a camp for the night and it was so hot, that the water in shower was nearly boiling :) I didn't use my towel, went out of the shower and 5 minutes later I was completely dry. But I think it was still worth it since the valley to Zagora is really something special! And we got some great pictures of the dunes as well :)
So in general (and despite all) do you recommend going to desert? :)
It would be great to visit Morocco! And especially desert! Morocco offers a rich diversity of landscapes. Here you will gaze at snow-capped mountains, empty deserts and coastal plains that stretch to the horizon. Each city is a facet of an incredibly different and unique culture: Fez tipically Arab, Marrakesh completely Berber, Casablanca with European and Tangier plainly cosmopolitan.
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