Caravanserai Desert Tours

A visit to the Sahara desert is definitely an experience everyone should have at least once in a lifetime. It is a journey well worth the effort and you will have fond memories to last you forever.

Imagine yourself on top a camel, trekking through the Sahara desert. There is nothing around you and all you can hear are the footsteps of the camel on the soft sand. The sky is vast and clear in the day and filled with billions of bright stars at night. It’s a very peaceful experience, one rarely known to most of the Western World.

The dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga is 30 miles (50km) south east of Erfoud are the highest and most spectacular sand dunes in Morocco. These golden dunes soar dramatically 50m from the desert floor. They run in a line almost perfectly north/south to the village of Merzouga and beyond, and mark the western fringe of the Sahara Desert, dividing Morocco from Algeria.

There is nothing to compare with traversing the remote Sahara desert of Erg Chebbi sand dunes astride a camel. Our camel trekking allows you to become far more than a casual tourist. Whether for an hour or a longer trek of up to 11 days, trekking enables you to experience a way of life that has endured for a thousand years.

You may choose to take a short camel ride and spend a night in the heart of the dunes or to explore more deeply on treks that traces of Youssef’s ancestral routes, when the nomads traded as far away as Timbuktu. The length of the visit can be customized to suit the desires of the individual trekker, but either way, a camel trek offers a portal into a different world.

If you choose to trek for longer time, you will discover rich desert oasis and watch the rare birds such as desert-sparrow and the Houbara buzzard in the vast Sahara desert. Trek within the magnificent moon-like landscape of Kem-Kem Hamada (flat stony desert). At night you might have a chance to see stars or meteorites falling as if you were watching a movie. It is Youssef’s wish to welcome you and show you as much as possible about his area and culture

If you are planning to go to Merzouga Sahara Desert by yourself – either in a rental car or on the bus to Merzouga – you could call Youssef then he will pick you up from the bus station in Merzouga, or if you are driving meet him at the famous “Arch of Merzouga”, which you will pass through when driving into Merzouga. Contact details are on the Contact Us page

Arrival will be at Casablanca International airport. To start our tour in Casablanca, we will visit Hassan II Mosque, the biggest mosque outside Mecca and the Cornish coast before departing for Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Overnight in our Hotel/Riad. Bed and Breakfast. BB.

After breakfast at our Riad, we will leave for the Hassan Tower and the Oudaya Kasbah before continuing to Fes via Meknes and Volubilis. In Meknes, another significant imperial city in Morocco, known as the Ismaili capital of Morocco, we will see the famous gate Bab Mansour, the Sahrij Souani Bassin, and the Mulay Ismail Mausoleum. After lunch, our journey continues to Volubilis, the Roman ruins, dating to 25BC where some of the original mosaics are very well preserved. After exploring the site we will continue to Fes via the foothills of the Rif Mountains arriving in the late afternoon checking in to our Riad at the heat of the Medina. Overnight in our Hotel/Riad. BB.

After breakfast in our Riad, we will start exploring the cultural capital of Morocco. We will be walking in its alleys and small streets sensing its exotic smells century’s old houses. Our visit starts by the Royal Palace and the Jewish headquarter: the first Mullah ever built in Morocco. We will ensure that we visit all sites with cultural and historical interest including the famous Al Qaraouine University, one of the oldest in the world, and the Tanneries. After lunch, we will visit the ceramic factory and take in a panoramic view of the whole Medina of Fes. In the afternoon, we will visit the new city for a drink. Overnight accommodation is in our Riad. Overnight in our Hotel/Riad. BB

Once we take breakfast in our Riad, we will leave Fes travelling towards Merzouga via Midlet and the Ziz valley. Will travel via the village of Ifrane, a beautiful mountain village. This mountain city is referred to as “the Switzerland of Morocco”. Here we will also stop at the cedar forest on the middle Atlas Mountains. During this journey we will experience glimpses of the Middle Atlas and Higher Atlas mountains. Then Azrou, a Berber village in the middle of the famous cedar forest – the largest in Morocco and a home of Barbary apes. After exploring the nearby forest, our journey continues to Midelt along the magnificent hills and mountains of the Atlas. We will be travelling through the fascinating Tizzy Ntalghamt pass and the Ziz Gorge taking in views of the High Atlas scenery. We will see how the scenery changes to reveal hints of the desert as we approach the city of Er-Rachidia. In Er-Rachidia where we will lunch and enjoy the Berber hospitality. Afterwards, we will travel along the luxuriant Ziz Valley and stop for panoramic views along the way to Erfoud and Rissani. In Merzouga in the afternoon we will be welcomed with a glass of mint tea before checking into our Riad. Overnight at Kasbah Hotel Yasmina. (DBB)

We will take breakfast in the hotel and then we will start our explorative journey of the area, visiting the ‘Village of the Blacks’, originally slaves from Sudan to experience their music and lifestyle. The lake of Merzouga is not far away with its bird populations, including flamingos. We may also like to visit the nomad wire house. On the afternoon, we will ride our camel guided by an experienced Camel man, to explore inside the mysterious sand-sea of the Erg-Chebbi. Here we will spend our first night under the stars or in a traditional Berber nomad tent. Dinner will be served in the tent where we will spend the night (DBB). (The camp in equipped with flush-toilets).

Early morning we will experience a fascinating view of a desert sunrise. Then we will camel trek back to take breakfast in our Riad in Merzouga. Then, we will travel to Er-Rachidia via the towns of Rissani and Erfoud. In Rissani we will have the opportunity to walk within the authentic Souk, an assortment of vegetables, spices and dates. In this souk we will witness a sea of conversations a traditional scenery of hooded men and veiled women negotiating prices. Then Tinghir and Todra gorges, we will discover the highest, narrowest gorges in Morocco. After lunch in the heart of the gorge we will drive through the Dades Valley, where we will see the majestic sand castles and the amazing rock formations known as “monkey toes”. Overnight accommodation will be in a fancy hotel overlooking the Dades valley. Hotel Xalucadades. DBB.

After breakfast in the hotel, we will travel through the Dades Valley towards Kalaa M’gouna and Ouarzazate. The route through Dades Valley is the way of the thousand Kasbahs – providing numerous opportunities to take some of our best photographic shots of the trip. Today we will have the opportunity to meet Berber Nomads in their caves and then we will enjoy the fertile Rose valley and the rock formations along the way. We will stop at Kalaat M’gouna, “the rose city”, to purchase the rosewater, which will make our linen smell good a long time after our trip is over. Continuing on to Skoura and the Birds valley, we will visit the Kasbah Ameridil, a well-preserved Kasbah in this area followed by some light hiking in the valley and a stop for lunch at a restaurant, overlooking the whole valley. After lunch it’s on to Ouarzazate, “the Hollywood of Africa”, whose geography and beautiful landscapes has attracted many world class movie producers. Here we may choose to visit the studios, containing props used in movies, we may have already seen, such as The Mummy, Gladiator and the Last temptation of Christ. Overnight in our Hotel/Riad. DBB.

After breakfast in the Hotel (Ksar), we will travel to Asni and Imlil via the dramatic Tizi Ntichka Pass. We will stop at the famous Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou. The largest Kasbah in Morocco, was built by T-hami El Glaoui, one of the last Berber chieftains, at the end of the 19th century to be one of his stops during his long trading routes to Timbuctu in Mali. Now the Kasbah houses many of the Glaoui family members. After a short visit to the Kasbah, our journey will continue through the majestic Tizi Ntichka Pass to Asni and Imlil villages at the heart of the High Atlas Mountains. Overnight in our Hotel/Riad. BB.

After breakfast at the Kasbah, we will have a chance to explore the area and enjoy the Berber culture with the choice to hike for a few hours within the valley. We will see the fascinating views over the highest peak in North Africa. We will also walk to the village of Arumd, a small Berber settlement with a proud culture. In the afternoon, we may like to stay at the Kasbah and admire breathtaking views over the Atlas Mountains. Overnight in our Hotel/Riad. BB.

After a warm Breakfast at the Kasbah, we will start travelling to Marrakech via the Berber village of Tahnaout and the fascinating gorge of Moulay Brahim. After several stops to take photographs, we will continue our journey to Marrakech. In this city we will visit the Majorelle gardens before checking in to our Riad. After dinner we will enjoy walking within the famous square of Jemaa El Fna, entertained with magicians, story tellers, musicians and snake charmers. Overnight in our Hotel/Riad. Bed and Breakfast. BB.

After breakfast in the Riad, we can start exploring Marrakech “the red city of Morocco”. We will ensure that we see the most important sites of historical and cultural interest, including the Saadian tombs, the Palace of El Bahia and the Ben Wessel Coranique School as well as the souks. Lunch is at a restaurant near the square before we will continue exploring the souks and Medina. Again in the afternoon, we will have some free time to wander by ourselves. Overnight in our Hotel/Riad. BB.

Breakfast well be in our Riad, followed by a chance to start exploring the city. We will visit the Skala Fortress, the port, the souks and see Thuya wood carved by artisans. We walk through the alleys of the medina and past the hundreds of handicrafts. Essaouira is known for its strong winds most of the year so it is known as the “City of the wind” thus it attracts surfers from all over the world. Essaouira was and still a home of many civilizations – including the Portuguese occupation, which affects much of its architecture. However, it remains a small village with a big history. Because of its size and its characteristic blue doors and washed walls, it’s also regarded as Morocco’s “Jewel of the Atlantics. Our visit includes the Mullah – the Jewish headquarter as well as the wide expansive and sandy golden beach. There is also an annual festival of “Gnawa music”, where many musical groups come from different parts of Africa and the world held in late June. In the afternoon we will travel back to Marrakech and our overnight accommodation will be in our Hotel/Riad. BB.

Today we will have a free day on our own, to perhaps take a Hammam and spa, enjoying Marrakech by ourselves. Overnight will be in our Hotel/Riad. BB.

After Breakfast in our Riad, we will be driven to our chosen airport. And then our Tour ends. Tour ends at the airport.