Erg Chebbi Desert Adventure

Activity code: ITCLAS03m

Duration: 2 Days

START / FINISH - Erfoud [or Merzouga].

The Sahara feels like such a distant image that it would not seem possible to get there and back in a few days from Marrakech, or even from Fez, but with Rediscover the World a visit to the real desert of Morocco's deep south is a reality. The most impressive section of the Sahara in just a little southeast of Erfoud and it is in this region that we offer this stunning experience into the dunes of Erg Chebbi. This excursion is designed to be included in one of our fly-drive holidays or popular chauffeur-driven private journeys.

What's the journey like?

All travel from Erfoud is by 4WD vehicle across the piste routes to Merzouga and then to the very edge of the dunes of Erg Chebbi.

Where will we stay?

You will spend the night out in the desert, in a Bedouin camp at the stunning dunes of Erg Chebbi. The sunsets and sunrises in the rarefied air of the desert can simply take your breath away, this night may be spent in our carpetted, nomadic tents or in a deluxe caidal tent or out in the open under an awesome canopy of the starlit heavens.

WHY NOT UPGRADE TO THE DELUXE VERSION:

The Luxury Camp at Tislite Noumzar is an isolated Sahara camp, exclusive and private situated in the North East of Erg Chebbi. It’s tucked away with high dunes enclosing you on all sides, just a couple of hours by dromedary from the starting point of the Auberge. There are typical Moroccan white tents and nomad Berber tents made from traditional dark materials, with proper mattresses, sheets and blankets as well as electricity inside providing all the comfort and privacy needed to enjoy your experience. There are also shared, flushable western toilets and hot showers.

On arrival at the bivouac a welcome cocktail will be served with Moroccan biscuits, followed by a copious Moroccan dinner in the stylish restaurant, a traditional mud-type house decorated in a Saharien style ... and in the evening, there will be plenty of music and dancing around a campfire. The following morning, before making the way back to the Auberge, an American breakfast will be served, (coffee, tea or hot chocolate and orange juice, Moroccan bread with butter, a choice of jams and olive oil, Berber pancakes, fried, boiled eggs or omelette, cheese and yoghurt). The luxury Sahara desert camp is an adventure not to be missed if you want to get the right feeling of nomadic and rural Morocco.

Why Book with Rediscover Morocco ?

All travel is by air-conditioned 4WD vehicle, there is an extended camel ride into the desert with an overnight stay in a Bedouin tent in a beautiful and peaceful setting; dinner and breakfast are also included.

NO hidden extras. NO groups. FULLY Insured.

Standard Desert Adventure includes:

• experienced licensed bi-lingual desert guide and cook throughout;
• meals and tented accommodation as detailed;
• trained dromedary & drover;
• transfer by 4WD Erfoud-Merzouga-Erfoud.

Deluxe Desert Adventure also includes:

• lanterns and candles;
• "portaloo"; shower with mini shampoo & shower gel and towels
• extra dinner includes hors d’oeuvres and wine
• Live Moroccan folklore musicians around camp fire
• Bar service.

WE RECOMMENDED YOU BRING: day pack (for camera, water bottles, hat, etc.); windcheater (seasonal), broad-brimmed hat (or you may purchase a 'Cheche' before you set out from Zagora); personal toiletries and towel; hygienic wipes (or gel); small First Aid kit; torch with batteries (non-essential); filled water bottle(s); sunscreen, sunglasses; nibbles and/or dried fruit. Drinking chocolate if preferred. Extra toilet rolls could come in handy! For those who wear contact lenses, perhaps it would be a good idea to bring along a spare pair of glasses.

CLOTHING: Comfortable clothes for travelling, loose clothing for the camel ride and warmer layers for the colder desert nights.

Contact us now to book this Desert Trip for any date.

NB. There is a reduction possible if you are able to rendezvous independently in Merzouga, e.g. self-drive holiday with a 4WD or if you have a driver/guide booked through Rediscover the World.

• DAY 1: ERFOUD - MERZOUGA - ERG CHEBBI.

  From the rendezvous point at the Hotel Tizimi in Erfoud at 2pm during the winter months, 3pm in summer, you will set out with one of our drivers for a journey of 1.5 hours in a 4WD towards the south, crossing the Oued Ziz, first along a tarmac road for some 16km, then another 35km of sandy piste trails carved out of the desert crust by motorbikes and other adventurous vehicles to the tiny desert town of Merzouga in an enormous palmeraie. From here you will see, in a dramatic line almost perfectly from north to south, the incredible panorama of the sea of sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. Once you’ve arrived at Merzouga, alight to enjoy a traditional welcoming glass, or two, of mint tea at the Auberge du Sud whilst your baggage is being loaded on to the pack animals.

  At around 4pm in winter (5pm summer) you are ready to set off, one person per dromedary, for some 2 hours across a sea of golden dunes. This is the only ‘true’ desert area of the kingdom of Morocco and an area where meteorites continue to be found, as well as crocodile teeth, shark, pterosaur and spinosaurus fossils. Your chamelier will stop in the middle of 'nowhere' for you to witness, from the high dunes, nature’s incredible light show of sunset over ever-changing colours of dunes, before continuing on under the star-filled heavens to the bivouac site of a carpeted Berber tent in a small oasis. First things first, a glass of mint tea whilst your packs are being unloaded. A tagine dinner is prepared and, after dessert, tea or coffee seated around the camp fire - it can get cold at night – you are free to sing and chat to your heart’s content.

  • Overnight at authentic Erg Chebbi Bedouin Camp
  • Meals: Dinner.

• DAY 2: ERG CHEBBI - MERZOUGA - ERFOUD.

  A last brilliant sunrise*, equal almost to last night’s unforgettable sunset, a Bedouin breakfast of tea, bread, jam and cheese tucked away whilst the dromedaries are saddled up for the return stage. Set off back across the dunes around 8:30am for a final Meharee of some 2 hours to the Auberge Du Sud, where you are free to freshen up (i.e. take a shower) before boarding the 4WD and a 1.5 hours drive back to Erfoud and the original starting point at the Hotel Tizimi.

  * Please ask if you wish to be woken for sunrise; it is likely that you will have travelled some distance prior to arriving at the desert so your guide will not automatically wake you. Alternatively, your guide will confirm the local sunrise time for you to set your alarm.

  • Meals: Breakfast.

Desert Adventure to Erg Chebbi

Fully-inclusive Sahara excursion by 4WD & camel meharee from Erfoud. Overnight at Erg Chebbi Oasis camp; all meals, sightseeing, accommodation & activities included.

Date range: , Option: Classic Desert Adventure

Date range: , Option: Deluxe Desert Adventure

All prices are per person

Desert Adventure to Erg Chebbi

Fully-inclusive Sahara excursion by 4WD & camel meharee from Erfoud. Overnight at Erg Chebbi Oasis camp; all meals, sightseeing, accommodation & activities included.

Classic Desert Adventure - available between 01/10/2015 and 31/10/2016

Deluxe Desert Adventure - available between 01/10/2015 and 31/10/2016

All prices are per person

"The holiday was great and all that we wanted and expected. The logistics worked a wonder and very efficiently. With respect to the guides both were excellent; very knowledgeable and spoke great English so overall a success. The desert camp – was brilliant…. We were expecting rudimentary and basic but it was very comfortable and exceeded our expectation. Having the different guides for the different elements of the holiday also worked well."

R Hyland, July 2016

"Good Morocco holiday, nice and interesting tours, well-arranged visit to the Sahara, excellent driver. Good hotels apart from hotel Fint, which although looked nice from a distance but was not well maintained. Good overall impression."

V Ruseckas, November 2016