Erg Zahar camel trekking
4-day & 3-night tour
- Price: from €320 per person
- Start - Desert Camp Chraika
- Begins 10 am on Day 1
- Ends 4-5 pm on Day 4
Highlights
- Experience night camping in the desert
- Ride a camel & walk in the dunes
- Visit Marabou Sidi Naji, a local place of power
- Enjoy wilderness of the Erg Zahar National Park
- Savour sunsets in wilderness
- Try Saharan bread freshly baked in hot sand
- Enjoy the taste of tajines cooked on the fire
- Try a “Berber omellette”
Sample itinerary
Day 1 – dunes and ancient town Sidi Naji
The excursion begins around 10 am, departing from Desert Camp Chraika. The distance of this day’s trek is 14 kilometres, which can be divided in two by a lunch break in a shade of a tamarist tree. Otherwise, it can be done at one time (about 4 hours of good march), in which case guides set up a camp and prepare the lunch already at the place of the night camping.
In the afternoon there will be time to visit ancient village of Sidi Naji, a historical site named after a respected healer who lived here in the 14th century. His tomb has become an important place for local communities: people come here to pray for prosperity and health for themselves, as well as their families.
As darkness falls, our nomadic guides will prepare delicious dinner on the camp fire: harira soup, tajines and a fruity dessert, as well as lots of Moroccan tea. You will spend the night in a comfortable nomadic tent, close to nature with all the magic of wild camping.
Day 2 – Erg Zahar National Park
We start this day with a delicious, hearty breakfast served in the full morning sun. After packing the camp, you will begin to walk again – towards majestic dunes of Erg Zahar. The goal is to arrive before the sunset to enjoy the views. Since this day’s distance is longer – about 16 k, and there is a nice hike to the top of the highest dune ahead, we recommend a lunch break and taking rest on the way.
This night will be spent in the Erg Zahar National Park, at the feet of its highest dune. Since it is forbidden to built any permanent camps or buildings here, and it is not easy to get here by jeep, the whole area of Zahar dunes is very quiet, almost untouched. You can experience the wilderness and solitude of the desert, with your guides and travel companions being being the only persons in sight. Sunsets and sunrises in this place are unforgettable.
Day 3 – dunes of Dweb
In the morning, after a wholesome breakfast, the guides pack the camels and you begin your return journey to M’hamid. You will take another way, staying for the night in the dunes of Dweb. On this day, you will walk about 15 k, with a lunch break on the way.
Day 4 – return to Desert Camp Chraika
On this day, again you will walk about 15 k with a break for lunch on the way. You will arrive at Desert Camp Chraika in the late afternoon, and you will be welcomed with a glass of tea. Now it is the time to take rest and enjoy the memories of breathtaking desert views.
Includes
- All gear needed for a night camping in the desert
- 3 wholesome meals a day
- Water, hot and cold beverages, snacks (fruits, cookies)
- Camels that will carry all the luggage and camping gear
- Good company of our desert guide, local chef and camelmen
Things to know
Here is the list of essentials for the desert trekking:
- A refillable bottle to always keep water handy
- Long-sleeved and long-legged, comfortable clothes
- A long scarf or a turban
- Sandals or light trekking shoes
- Sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses
- A travel towel
- Power bank
- Headlight
Since camels will carry all your luggage, to safe them unnecessary effort, pack only what’s essential. You may sort things out and leave the remaining luggage at our camp. It can be safely kept there until your return from the trip.
All supplies like water, beverages and food will be provided, as well as all camping gear: tents, mattresses, toilet paper and blankets.
Best months for desert tours in Morocco are October, November, March and April, when you can expect mild temperatures – around 25-30°C in the daytime, and 10-15°C at night.
February and December are a bit cooler, but with good preparation also very good for a desert trip.
On the other hand, May and September are good for those enjoying temperatures above 35°C, allowing the sand hammam rituals in the daytime and sleeping under open sky at night.
Traditional desert cuisine is very simple, yet wholesome and diverse. Exemplary dishes served on a desert tour are: tajines made on fire, bread baked in hot sand, lentils in tomatoes, beans, various salads with both cooked and raw vegetables, “Berber omelette”. Also, refreshing and energising Moroccan mint tea is an every day treat on a desert tour.
You should be ready to walk for about 5-6 hours daily on an uneven terrain, with shorter breaks and a longer one for lunch and siesta. Part, or even the entire way can be ridden on a camel. If you need a camel for riding for the entire tour, please let us know beforehand and we will take an extra one.
You must also be ready to use the “wild bathroom” in the dunes and to sleep on a 4-centimetre thin mattress in a tent.
You should be ready to relax while seated on the ground, as all meals are served on a carpet covered with a table cloth.
In order to meet your physiological needs during camping wild in the desert you must be ready to return to the roots and use a wild bathroom, i.e. find a secluded place. Since usually there is nobody in the radius of kilometres, it should be quite easy.
To keep the desert clean, put the toilet paper in a dug whole, and cover thoroughly with sand. The paper can be also burned. Remember not to put any sanitary products other toilet paper into the sand.
The proper toilet paper which is easily dissolved, is provided during the tour.
Yes, of course! From our experience, children enjoy being in the desert. Running in its vast spaces, playing with the sand, learning how to make fire, collecting the wood – all these activities are not only playful, but also educational.
From the age of 5, kids are usually ready for this kind of adventure.
It is good that you have your own sleeping bag with you, but it is not necessary – we provide blankets.
Let's create your best travel story
Salam, friends! If you have any questions regarding your journey, or wish to create your own plan, simply let us know – we will be happy to help.
