Riad Dar Zaouia and Trip Sahara are the best combination for truly discover the Draa Valley and the desert. We offer you the perfect opportunity to experience the desert in a truly authentic way. Come along and live like a nomad by taking one of our personalized excursions in the Southern Moroccan desert, travelling either by dromedary or by 4x4.

 

Our aim is to offer travellers a warm, family welcome, to show you our beautiful desert and to share adventures with you, far from the typical touristic experience.The office of the agency is at my home, where my family also offers guest rooms and welcomes you to share our daily life.The comfort is our simplicity! The Sahara is a world of parodox, not easy to understand.. As a traveller, you will share in a group experience - There are few who know how to live in the desert alone. The Berber people have lived in the South of Morocco since immemorial times. Although some still live the life of a nomad, nowadays most of us have settled in one place to farm and cultivate the land. But we have not forgotten out past. Born as children of nomads, the Aït Atta, we still live in the valley of Draa and value the traditions of our ancestors. For your journey in the desert, we work with you to organize the perfect trip, tailored to your individual needs to create a personalized and unforgettable experience.It doesn't matter whether you're an experienced hiker or a leaisurely walker, our rhythm will be yours. We can arrange the hours of daily walking based on your preference, and do our best to make sure you don't miss out on the most beautiful places. 

"Le départ se fait depuis zagora, vous rejoignez à pied ou en voiture (selon les parcours) chameliers et dromadaires qui vous attendent à un point de rencontre dans le désert, la Caravane est au complet."

 

TREKKING IN THE DESERT

We offer you an individual guided tour in the desert that you will never forget. Discover the magnificence of the desert for yourself! We will arrange your personalized trip, taking into account all your needs and desires to give you a unique experience in the desert. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff promise to do all they can to make your dream come true! If you would like to spend more time and get deeper into the south of Morocco, you can stay with us for several days in the desert, immersed in this stunning environment and surrounded by numerous monuments which are unique in the world: the valley of Draa, the valley of roses… If you just have time for one or two days, you can also book one of our shorter tours, spending one night in a bivouac, our purpose built, authentic tents, like a real Moroccan nomad! Come alone, as a couple, with family or friends… we will cater to all your needs and organize the perfect trip for you.

 

TWO DAY TREK

We depart from Mhamid on the back of a dromedary (Arabian camel), crossing 10 km of dunes on a 2 hour trek. Under a Tamarisk tree, you will enjoy your lunch, fully provided by us. At around 3:00 pm we will cross the amazing desert landscape by 4x4, before arriving at the Sacré, an oasis full of palm trees appearing in the middle of nowhere. Water can be found all year round from desert wells, a source of water that the nomads and their animals use every day. After a refreshing break with traditional Moroccan mint tea and another 15 km, we will arrive at the largest dunes of the region, measuring more than 300 metres high and stretching out for over 40 kilometres. These are the famous dunes of CHGAGA and it is here that you will spend a night you will never forget, relaxing in our spacious tents, eating a delicious Moroccan dinner and enjoying a night of spectacular African folk music under the stars. On the following day, after a relaxing breakfast we will return to Mhamid. All in all, this program includes: one dromedary per person, trip by 4x4, one night in the tent, lunch, dinner & breakfast. (Minimum: two people).

 

THREE DAY TREK

Day 1: experience a three hour trek by dromedary (Arabian camel) covering a distance of 10 km, passing through spectacular dunes and crossing the famous wadi of Draa, the longest in Morocco. After lunch under a Tamarisk tree, we will set off for the wadi of Naam where you will visit a desert well, a meeting point and the only source of water for the real Moroccan nomads. After a delicious traditional dinner, enjoy a peaceful evening under an beautiful starry sky.

Day 2: departing at around 10:00 am, we will cross the stoney desert by 4x4, arriving finally at the Oasis Sacrée with plenty of time to relax under the palm trees over lunch. At 4:00 pm we head to the sandy desert, the famous dunes of CHGAGA, measuring 300 m high and 40 km long. It is here that we will spend the night, sleeping under the stars or in a nomad tent after enjoying a traditional Moroccan meal with spectacular folk music.

Day 3: after watching the sunrise over the desert and enjoying a relaxing breakfast, we will return by 4x4.

 

THREE DAY TREK II

Day 1: early eparture from Marrakesh by 4x4, crossing the pass of Tizi-n-Tichka, visiting the Kasbah of Ait-Benhaddou, as well as a Moroccan lunch in the Kasbah of Tamnougalte. Another 20 km and we will reach the famous valley of Draa, with a coffee break in Zagora. We will spend the night in Erg Lihoudi.

Day 2: after breakfast, we leave Erg Lihoudi on the back of a dromedary heading to Mhamid (3 hours) where we will have lunch. At 3:00 pm we depart by 4x4 to Erg CHGAGA where we will spend the night in the beautful sand dunes under the stars. Day 3: after breakfast, we depart to Foum-Zguid passing by the old track of Paris-Dakar, and the lake séh Iriqui, with lunch at Taznakht and arriving at Marrakesh at around 6:30 pm.

 

THREE NIGHTS AND FOUR DAYS

Day 1: early dparture from Marrakesh by 4x4 crossing the pass of Tizi-n-Tichka, visiting the Kasbah of Ait-Benhaddou, with lunch in the Kasbah of Tamnougalte. After another 20 km we will reach the famous valley of Draa, spending the night in a hotel in Zagora.

Day 2: after breakfast, we will head to Tamgroute to visit the Kasbah and the famous library. After lunch in Mhamid, and a two hour trek on the back of dromedaries, we will spend the night in a bivouac, the real nomad's tent. 3

Day 3: after breakfast, we will return on the back of dromedaries and head to Erg Chegaga by 4x4, 60 km on the track, with lunch at an Oasis, and spend the night in Erg Chegaga.

Day 4: we will head to Foum-Zguid via an old track of Paris-Dakar and the lake séh Iriqui, with lunch in Taznakht, arriving back in Marrakesh at around 6:30 pm.

 

3 DAYS: MOUNTAINS AND DESERT, DEPARTURE AT OUARZAZATE 

Day 1: Ouarzazate--Gorges du Dades—Gorges du Toudgha : Departing in the morning by 4x4, we will head to the Gorges du Toudgha via a beautiful lake, a palm grove and the Kasbahs of Skoura, continuing via the track and arriving in El Kelaa of M’gouna, a big village at 1450 m elevation, situated between the valleys of M’gouna and Dadés. Then we'll take the track of the valley of roses, passing Ait Saïd, Tourbist, Tamalout, and finally reaching the Bou-Tharar Valley of Roses. At the wadi M’goun, you'll have the option of taking a short walk before seeing the Kasbah of Glaoui Ait-Youl at the side of the valley of Dadés. After passing through amazing landscape and kasbahs on the way to the gorges of Dadés, we'll return by passing Boumalne and continuing to Tinghir. After a short walk in the impressive gorge of Todra, we'll spend the night relaxing at the hotel.

Day 2: les Gorges du Todgha—Merzouga : After breakfast, we'll visit the palm grove at Tinghir which is 15 km long, visiting the jewish quarter, the city of Tinghir and the villages of Tinejdad and Goulmima, and the palm grove of Jorf until Erfoud. After arriving at Merzouga, we will depart by dromedary, enjoying the view of the breath-taking sunset over the dunes. After a traditional Morcocan dinner, we will spend the night in the bivouac (nomade tent) at the base of the dunes of Erg Chebi.

Day 3: Merzouga—Ouarzazate After admiring the early morning desert sunrise and breakfast in the dunes, we will depart to Ouarzazate, crossing Tafilalt and the enormous Massif Bougafer. After lunch at Tazarine, we will arrive in Taznakht and continue by crossing the valley of Draa and taking the track of Tamnougalte, eventually reaching Agdez. Finally, we will arrive in Ouarzazate and return to the hotel.

 

4 DAYS : DADES-MASSIF OF SAGHRU—DUNES OF CHEGAGA, DEPARTURE AT OUARZAZATE 

Day 1: Ouarzazate—les Gorges du Dades et du Todgha Departing in the morning by 4x4, we will head to the Gorges du Toudgha via a beautiful lake, a palm grove and the Kasbahs of Skoura, continuing via the track and arriving in El Kelaa of M’gouna, a big village at an altitude of 1450 m, situated between of the valleys of M’gouna and Dadés. Then we'll take the track of the valley of roses, passing Ait Saïd, Tourbist, Tamalout, and finally reaching the Bou-Tharar Valley of Roses. At the wadi M’goun, you'll have the option of taking a short walk before seeing the Kasbah of Glaoui Ait-Youl at the side of the valley of Dadés. After passing through amazing landscape and kasbahs on the way to the gorges of Dadés, we'll return by passing Boumalne and continuing to Tinghir. After a short walk in the impressive gorge of Todra, we'll spend the night relaxing at the hotel.

Day 2: Todgha- Zagora via N’Kob After breakfast, we'll visit the palm grove at Tinghir which is 15 km long, visiting the jewish quarter, the city of Tinghir and the villages of Tinejdad and Goulmima, and the palm grove of Jorf until Erfoud. After arriving at Merzouga, we will depart by dromedary, enjoying the view of the breath-taking sunset over the dunes. After a traditional Morcocan dinner, we will spend the night in the bivouac (nomade tent) at the base of the dunes of Erg Chebi.

Day 3 : Zagora—Chegaga via Mhamid Departing from Zagora, we'll head to Mhamid with a stop at Tamgroute to visit then famous library and the traditional green pottery. After crossing Tagounite and the wadi Driss, we'll stop for lunch at Mhamid in a nomade tent (bivouac) and take a one hour dromedary ride. Then, continuing our trip by 4x4 over a sandy track to the great dunes of Chegaga, we'll enjoy a beautiful sunset and dinner, spending the night at the base of the dunes in a nomad tent.

Day 4: Chegaga—Ouarzazate Departing to Ouarzazate via the track between Erg Chegaga and the arid bed of Draa, we will pass by the lake Iriqui, then through Foum Zguid and continue on to Taznakht, with a stop to admire the traditional hand-made Moroccan carpets, returning finally to the hotel in Ouarzazate.

 

5 DAYS: DADÉS-MASSIF OF SAGHRO-ZAGORA-MHAMID ;DEPARTURE TO OUARZAZATE 

Day 1: Ouarzazate-Gorges du Dadés Departing in the morning by 4x4, we will head to the Gorges du Toudgha via a beautiful lake, a palm grove and the Kasbahs of Skoura, continuing via the track and arriving in El Kelaa of M’gouna, a big village at an altitude of 1450 m, situated between the valleys of M’gouna and Dadés. Then we'll take the track of the valley of roses, passing Ait Saïd, Tourbist, Tamalout, and finally reaching the Bou-Tharar Valley of Roses. At the wadi M’goun, we'll take a 2 hour walk through the gardens with a short tea break, before driving by 4x4 to the Kasbah of Glaoui Ait-Youl at the side of the valley of Dadés. After passing through amazing landscapes and kasbahs on the way to the Gorges of Dadés, we'll have dinner and spend the night at a hotel in the Gorges of Dades.

Day 2: Gorges de Dades__N’Kob : After breakfast and two hour walk along the wadi of Dadés, (close to the doigts de sing), we'll return to Boumalne and take the pass of Tizi n Tazazert, arriving in N’kob where we will enjoy a swim at the hotel pool. After dinner, we'll spend the night in a restored kasbah.

Day 3: N’Kob—Zagora : We'll take the track from N’kob to Tansikht, then track along the valley of Draa and its multitude of date palms, until we reach Zagora.

Day 4: Zagora-Mhamid : We will depart in the morning to Mhamid, with a stop in Tamgroute to visit the old library and the famous green pottery, as well as the underground alleys. Continuing via the track to the palm grove of the wadi Brahim and the Reg of Elfaija, we will arrive in Mhamid, the last palm grove of Draa and the beginning of the desert. Heading South on the back of dromedaries, we will travel to our bivouac, arriving at sunset with a local welcome and dinner under the stars.

Day 5: Mhamid—Ouarzazate : After breakfast, we will visit the old Ksar of Mhamid, enjoy tea with the locals, and return to Ouarzazate along the valley of Draa. From Zagora we will take the track of Tansikhte, arriving finally in Agdez where we will stop for lunch, and then head back to Ouarzazate.

 

6 DAYS: DADES-VALLÉE OF DRAA-MHAMID-CHEGAGA ; DEPARTURE AT OUARZAZATE

Day 1: Ouarzazate – Vallée du Dadés : Departing in the morning by 4x4, we will head to the Gorges du Toudgha, passing by a beauiful lake, a palm grove and the Kasbahs of Skoura, and continuing via the track to El Kelaa of M’gouna, a large village at an altitude of 1450 m, situated between the valleys of M’gouna and Dadés. Then we'll take the track of the valley of roses, passing Ait Saïd, Tourbist, Tamalout, and finally reaching the Bou-Tharar Valley of Roses. At the wadi M’goun, we'll take a 2 hour walk through the gardens with a short tea break, before driving by 4x4 to the Kasbah of Glaoui Ait-Youl at the side of the valley of Dadés. After passing through amazing landscapes and kasbahs on the way to the Gorges of Dadés, we'll have dinner and spend the night at a hotel in the Gorges of Dades.

Day 2: Gorges du Dadés – Nkob : fter breakfast and two hour walk along the wadi of Dadés, (close to the doigts de sing), we'll return to Boumalne and take the pass of Tizi n Tazazert, arriving in N’kob where we will enjoy a swim at the hotel pool. After dinner, we'll spend the night in a restored kasbah.

Day 3: N’kob – Zagora : We'll take the track from N’kob to Tansikht, then track along the valley of Draa and its multitude of date palms, until we reach Zagora.

Day 4: Zagora – Mhamid We will depart in the morning to Mhamid, with a stop in Tamgroute to visit the old library and the famous green pottery, as well as the underground alleys. Continuing via the track to the palm grove of the wadi Brahim and the Reg of Elfaija, we will arrive in Mhamid, the last palm grove of Draa and the beginning of the desert. Heading South on the back of dromedaries, we will travel to our bivouac, arriving at sunset with a local welcome and dinner under the stars.

Day 5: Mhamid – Chegaga: After breakfast, we will visit the old Ksar of Mhamid, enjoy tea with the locals, and return to Ouarzazate along the valley of Draa. From Zagora we will take the track of Tansikhte, arriving finally in Agdez where we will stop for lunch, and then head back to Ouarzazate.

Day 6: Chegaga – Ouarzazate After breakfast and admiring a breath-taking sun rise, we will leave the bivouac and take the track between Erg Chegaga and the arid bed of Draa, passing the lake Iriqui and Foum Zguid, stopping at Taznakht to see the traditioanl hand-made Moroccan carpets before driving back to the hotel in Ouarzazate.