New Year's Eve in Morocco...Under the desert stars

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1:

  Flight to Ouarzazate or Marrakech according to air availability

  

  Welcome at the airport of Ouarzazate (or Marrakech) by our team then transfert and installation in hotel. Free meals. Transfer: private vehicle, about 10 minutes. Accommodation: riad or hotel (subject to availability on the day of your registration). Meals not included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.

• day 2:

  Ouarzazate (or Marrakech) - Small dunes of Blida

  

  Superb transfer to the desert via Aït Saoun pass; the road runs along the magnificient palm groves of the Draa valley from which emerge the ramparts and the crenellated towers of the fortified kasbah. Arrival at the village of Aït Issfoul with its typical architecture of the Draa valley. Departure on foot to cross the palm grove and discover the ingenious irrigation system that supplies water to the crops of henna, barley, wheat, alfalfa, as well as the many date palms. Arrival in the small dunes of Blida with yellow and orange colours dotted here and there with palm trees… First contact with the desert and the oasis population.  Transfer: private vehicle, about 3 hours from Ouarzazate, about 6 to 7 hours from Marrakech. Walking time: about 2 hours. Accommodation: camp set up by our team. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.  

• day 3:

  Blida - Oasis of Tiraf

  

  Crossing the beautiful dunes of Bougayoirn, with their pink and orange colours, that contrast wonderfully with the dark green of the palm trees, planted here and there on the slopes of the dunes… grandiose landscapes! Continuation of the hike by an immense mineral plateau that gives access, in the desert, to a fortified village (Ksar) whose typical architecture in adobe lets appear the kasbah and the marabouts (tombs of holy men on which the pilgrims come to pray) on the route which leads to Sidi el Madani Zaouïat, and which is now abandoned but whose ruins are still sacred. Zaouïat were sorts of asylums where people habited by the djinns came to be treated. Walking time :  about 4 hours. Accommodation : camp set up by our team. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.

• day 4:

  Oasis of Tiraf - Erg Sahel

  

  Climb the highest dunes to admire the sunrise on the immense palm groves from which emerge the minarets of the villages. Departure then to a rocky promontory, to discover the rock engravings dating from the Neolithic and spared by time and sand… Further on, appears, like a mirage, a small lake always supplied with salt water! Swimming possible according to the years. Between dunes and reg (rocky plateau), entrance to the magnificent Sahel erg… midday break in the shade of the tamarisks then departure in the fabulous decors of this country where the dunes, with their curves all in smoothness, impose their colours turning from the palest yellow to the brightest orange. A superb day of discovery that ends with a camp in the middle of the dunes, in dreaming landscapes. Sunset not to be missed under any circumstances. Walking time: about 5 hours. Accommodation: camp set up by our team. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.

• day 5:

  Erg Sahel - Erg L'Aanitie - New Year's Eve party

  Departure on a mineral plateau dotted with tamarisks and acacias; far away, the oases of Bounou, Oulad Driss and Mhamid appear, like mirages… After crossing the rocky crest of Rrich, strewn with many fossils, head for the immense dunes of the erg l'Âanitie where our camp awaits us. Preparation of the New Year’s Eve party... an unforgettable passage to the New Year in the company of camel riders and our local team; tasting of traditional Moroccan dishes such as Mechoui and Moroccan pastries accompanied by the famous wine "Boulaouane". Walking time: about 5 hours. Accommodation: camp set up by our team. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.  

• day 6:

  Erg L'Aanitie - Oasis of Oulad Driss

  

  Always between sand and oasis, crossing the old fortified village of Bounou and then arriving at the magnificent oasis of Oulad Driss renowned for the quality of its dates but also for its fantastic landscapes between small sand dunes, palm trees and irrigation channels feeding henna gardens and fruit trees… An oasis as in a dream! Installation in a camp equipped with traditional nomadic tents (kaïmas), showers, toilets, tables and chairs… Small optional afternoon walk to discover this superb oasis and the oasis of Bounou. Walking time: about 5 hours. Accommodation: Traditional camp equipped with showers, toilets, tables and chairs. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.  

• day 7:

  Oulad Driss - Ouarzazate (or Marrakech)

  

  Departure by car along the Draa valley; stop in Tamgrout to visit the Koranic library and the pottery of the village; lunch around the village of Agdz then arrival in Ouarzazate or continuation to Marrakech depending on the arrival airport. Transfer: private vehicle, about 4 hours to Ouarzazate, about 6 hours to Marrakech. Accommodation: riad or hotel (depending on availability on the day of your registration). Meals included: breakfast - lunch. Meals not included: dinner.

• day 8:

  Ouarzazate (or Marrakech) - France

  

  Free time on Ouarzazate (or Marrakech) if the hours of flight allow it. Flight to France. Transfer: private vehicle, about 10 minutes. Meals included: breakfast. Meals not included: lunch - dinner.