Recommended Excursions into the Sahara and the Deep South
Erfoud/Merzouga
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Camel treks and overnight excursions under the stars
" Meharee Dromedary Trek to Morocco's Erg Chebbi "
2 DAYS / 1 NIGHT - ref. ITCLAS03m
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, we set out half an hour later for a 1½ hours’ drive in our 4WD towards the south, crossing the Oued Ziz, first along a tarmacadam 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.
We shall see, in a dramatic line almost perfectly from north to south, the incredible panorama of the sea of sand dunes of the Erg Chebbi. Once we’ve arrived at Merzouga, we alight to enjoy a traditional welcoming glass, or two, of mint tea at the Auberge du Sud whilst your baggage is being loaded onto the pack animals.
At around 4pm winter (5pm summer) we 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. We stop in the middle of 'nowhere' to witness, from the high dunes, nature’s incredible light show of sunset over ever-changing colours of dunes, to continue on under the star-filled heavens to our bivouac site of a carpeted Berber tent in a small oasis. First things first, a glass of mint tea once our packs are being unloaded. Our tagine dinner is prepared and, after dessert, tea or coffee seated around our camp fire - it can get cold at night! – we sing and chat to our heart’s content.
DAY 2: ERG CHEBBI – MERZOUGA - ERFOUD.
Our last brilliant sunrise, equal almost to last night’s unforgettable sunset, a Bedouin breakfast of tea, bread, jam and cheese tucked away, our dromedaries having been saddled up for the return stage, we set off back across the dunes around 8:30 for our final Meharée of some 2½ hours to the Auberge Du Sud, where you are free to freshen up (i.e. take a shower) before boarding our 4WD and an 1½ hour drive back to Erfoud and the original starting point at the Hotel Tizimi.
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NB: Prices are based on the number of people in your group; each desert trip is an individual reservation.
STANDARD PROGRAMME PRICES PER PERSON IN UK £ ** |
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PRICES FOR THE STANDARD VERSION INCLUDE: Experienced licensed bi-lingual desert guide and cook throughout; meals* and tented accommodation (maximum 4 persons per tent) as detailed; trained dromedary & drover; transfer by 4WD Erfoud-Merzouga-Erfoud.
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* Those vegetarians or vegans amongst us need to pre-advise at time of reservation.
** 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.
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WHY NOT UPGRADE TO THE DELUXE VERSION
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PRICES FOR THE DELUXE VERSION INCLUDE:
Experienced licensed bi-lingual desert guide and cook throughout, tented accommodation (maximum 4 persons per tent); ‘Portaloo’; trained dromedary & drover; transfer by 4WD Erfoud-Merzouga-Erfoud. Folklore music & dancing around camp fire; mini shampoo & shower gel, bath towels, lanterns and candles; dinner includes hors d’oeuvres, 2 main courses of tagine and couscous or kebabs *, fruit basket, mint tea, Moroccan pastries, 1 bottle of wine. |
PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE:
Medical or accident insurance outside of the vehicles. Gratuity to guide/drover. Any expenditure of a personal nature. Bottled or gaseous water, nor anything not specifically mentioned in the itinerary.
* Meals consist of vegetables, eggs and fruits, except the first day which has meat (please advise if you wish vegetarian meals throughout).
IT IS RECOMMENDED YOU BRING:
Day pack (for camera, water bottle,hat, etc.); windcheater (seasonal), broad-brimmed hat (or you may purchase a ‘Chèche’ before you set out from Erfoud; personal toiletries and towel; hygienic ‘wipes’; small First Aid kit; torch with batteries (non-essential); filled water bottle(s); sunscreen, sunglasses; nibbles and/or dried fruit. Drinking chocolate if preferred. Camera, film and plastic bags for lenses; 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.
Customer comments:
"Our camel excursion was very memorable: Youssef who was our guide, was fantastic and had a great sense of humour - he may deal with tour groups every day but he certainly made us feel special."
Holiday Prices
- please call or email for a full quote - all our holidays are tailor-made.
Tel: + 44 (0) 1989 730 552 (UK)