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Explore Moroccan Kasbahs and Camp in the Sahara

Stroll through remarkable gorges, explore ancient kasbahs and ride camels through the dunes to a Berber camp

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Trip Ref #10149

Explore Moroccan Kasbahs and Camp in the Sahara

Stroll through remarkable gorges, explore ancient kasbahs and ride camels through the dunes to a Berber camp

DURATION

5 nights

LOCATION

Morocco

ANNUAL LEAVE

4 days off work

SEASON

Year-round

GROUP SIZE

Up to 14 people

MEETING POINT

Menara Airport, Marrakech

ACCOMMODATION

Classic

Riad · Hotel · Campsite

OVERALL RATING

4.6

Based on 63 reviews
DIFFICULTY

Easy

More of a cultural adventure than a physical one. All hiking optional and the camel riding just involves holding on!

Wander the winding streets of ancient, walled kasbahs and through the pathways of dramatic deep gorges

Spend a night at a traditional Berber camp and sleep under the huge desert sky spotting shooting stars

Experience the best of Moroccan culture and nature as you soak up vast landscapes, sleep in riads and learn about ancient traditions

Day 1

Welcome to Marrakech

Driving

15 mins

Your host will meet you at the airport and take you to your traditional riad accommodation in Marrakech’s historic medina. You'll then get the chance to spend the day exploring the city’s colourful souks, wander the UNESCO-listed main square and indulge in some amazing Moroccan food.

Day 2

From Marrakech to Ait Benhaddou

Driving

4-5hrs · 190km

You will be picked up in a modern 4x4 or minibus before setting off on a journey that will take you up and over the Atlas Mountains before descending to the desert on the other side. Along the way you'll stop at a high mountain pass, a 17th Century kasbah, and an oasis where you'll learn a bit about Berber folklore and grab lunch. The day ends in Ait Benhaddou, a red clay city where films and shows like Gladiator and Game of Thrones have been filmed. Relax with dinner and sunset in this picturesque walled city.

Day 3

Draa River Valley and Camel Trekking in Merzouga

Driving

6-7hrs · 390km

Heading to the scenic Draa River Valley today you'll check out the area’s numerous kasbahs and oases. Calm water backed by the snowy Atlas Mountains makes this valley particularly beautiful. Later in the day you will arrive in Merzouga to meet your camels and gear up for a night in the desert. The 1.5-hour sunset camel trek will end at a traditional Berber camp in the dunes. Enjoy hot mint tea and fresh dinner around the fire, and sleep under the stars or in a comfortable Berber tent.

Day 4

Dades Valley and Todra Gorge

Driving

5-6hrs · 300km

After a leisurely breakfast in the camp (and a incredible sunrise if you're early enough) you’ll be picked up by your driver and taken to Todra Gorge, an impressive canyon with sheer 160m cliff walls. Hike around to check out the views, and when you’re done exploring continue the drive through the Dades Valley to your hotel. Known as the 'Valley a Thousand Kasbahs', this rose red landscape is spectacular.

Day 5

Ouarzazate to Marrakech

Driving

7-8hrs · 365km

This morning’s drive will take you along the Rose Valley to Skoura Oasis, a surprisingly verdant village in the desert. Continue onto Ouarzazate to have lunch at a kasbah, then finish the trip with a leisurely drive back over the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech for a final night in the old town.

Day 6

Goodbye Morocco

Driving

15mins

Relax over your last Moroccan breakfast, explore the town some more if you have time, then transfer to the airport to catch your flight home.

Included

Guides

Expert, English-speaking local guides

Accommodation

2 nights in a riad, 2 nights in a hotel and 1 night in a Berber camp

Meals

5 breakfasts and 3 dinners

Transfers

Airport transfers and all travel on the trip

Not Included

Flights to and from the meeting point

Travel insurance

Some meals as described

Visas where required

Day 1

Riad · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2

Hotel · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 3

Campsite · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 4

Hotel · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 5

Riad · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 6

Departure day

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

Moroccan food has a unique blend of sweet and savoury flavours. Local specialities include tajines (a stew cooked in an earthenware pot), couscous, and pastilles (flaky pastries stuffed with meat and dusted with cinnamon and sugar). Food is often spiced with cumin, turmeric and ginger.

The food is fresh and healthy. Example meals: Breakfast: Jam, bread, cookies, fruit, juice, butter, coffee, milk Lunch: Salad, tomatoes, carrots, lentils, beans, rice or pasta, fish, seasonal fruit Dinner: Soup, classic Moroccan tajine, couscous, olives, nuts, fruit

Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for - please just request on your passenger info form

What is the accommodation like?

Marrakech

In Marrakech, you'll stay in a beautiful riad - traditional Moroccan houses with an interior garden or courtyard. The exact riad you stay in will be confirmed nearer the time based on availability and group size. All are chosen for their excellent reputation, location, beautiful decor and welcoming service.

Ait Benhaddou and Dades Valley

On days 2 and 4 you'll sleep in small local hotels both featuring private rooms with unique decor and ensuite bathrooms.

Berber Camp

The Berber camp provides permanent carpeted tents with beds, or, if you prefer, blankets for sleeping under the stars.

Upgrades

For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room and tent can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).

The Area

map

Logistics

Starts

Marrakech Airport (RAK)

Arrive anytime on Day 1

Ends

Marrakech Airport (RAK)

Depart anytime on Day 6

Transfers

Private transfers between the airport and your riad are included for any time you choose to arrive on day 1 and depart on day 6, or if you have booked additional pre or post trip accommodation with your host.

If you are making your own arrangements to extend your stay in Morocco, private transfers between Marrakech airport and Marrakech city are not included but can be arranged with your host for an additional cost. Please see Optional Extras for details.

Travel options

There are daily flights to Marrakech from major airports across the UK and Europe.

Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear

In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.

What's provided?

  • Bedding for the night in the camp

What do I need to bring?

  • Good walking shoes
  • Light-weight long-sleeve shirts
  • Light-weight trousers
  • A warm jacket for the evenings
  • Clothes for sleeping in
  • Underwear
  • Personal toiletries
  • Personal first aid kit
  • Hand Sanitiser
  • Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunblock)
  • Camera
  • Universal plug adaptor
  • Electrolytes/rehydration solutions (Summer)
  • Medium sized rucksack for easy transportation and storage of your belongings

Pre/Post Trip Accommodation Double/Twin Room

Payable Before Departure

Pre/Post Trip Accommodation Double/Twin Room

Per Night

Pre/Post Trip Accommodation Single Room

Payable Before Departure

Pre/Post Trip Accommodation Single Room

Per Night

Optional Private Room Upgrade

Payable Before Departure

Optional Private Room Upgrade

Private transfer between Marrakech Airport and Marrakech City (per vehicle)

Payable Before Departure

Private transfer between Marrakech Airport and Marrakech City (per vehicle)

- Richard(June 2023)

The trip was excellent - well planned and well executed and the local staff were spot on with descriptions and explanations. Our guide Ibrahim was very knowledgeable and brought much more to the trip than merely facilitating a journey into the desert. The side trips were tailored to the ability of the group so we got to do a few more fun rambles up small ditches and down rocky banks. The riads were well chosen and the staff in all were very helpful with great suggestions of where to go in Marrakech/sh, printing out forgotten boarding plasses etc. Great trip and well executed - have been recommending it to friends since returning

- Kirstin(June 2023)

We booked this trip and we were not disappointed. In fact, it exceeded both of our expectations!! Neither of us had been on an organised trip like this before and we are so glad we decided to do it with MBA. Everything from beginning to end was spot on from booking to getting updated information about the trip before we left to the trip itself! The Riads, hotels and Berber tent (in the desert) were great! All had WIFI, ensuite facilities and aircon (except in the desert). Most of the riads had a small plunge pool and all were all exceptionally clean and comfortable. Stops and walks were always tailored to our group and our tour guide Ibrahim, and driver Hassan, were just brilliant!

We were a group of 8 and the minibus was a good size so we could spread out. The journeys are long, but bearable as there are lots of stops along the way. We were really lucky with the group we were with as we all got on well and therefore there was lots of chat and laughter during the long rides. We felt that any more than 8 people in the group would perhaps have made the minibus feel rather cramped but it may be that for bigger groups a different (or more than one) vehicle may be used (maybe something to ask when booking?)

We had two solo travellers in our group but within minutes we had all become friends and they seemed very comfortable and well integrated in the group. We both felt that, should we ever want to travel solo, this company would be ideal to go with as everything was brilliantly organised and we always felt safe and well looked after.

Some tips: bring swimwear as there are small plunge pools at most locations. For the majority of the time, we were most comfortable in long thin trousers and cotton shirts. Bring a hat as the sun is very hot at times (a small battery operated fan wouldn’t go amiss in the 40 degree heat in the desert). Trainers are good enough so you don’t need walking boots. We also brought our own head scarfs for our time in the desert (protection from sun and sand if its windy) but there’s an opportunity to buy local scarfs from around £10 to £20 on the way. We used a European adapter plug and there were plenty of opportunities to charge phones etc wherever we stayed. The minibus also had charging points by the seats.

The camel ride into the desert was fantastic - all camels very well behaved and accommodating. There is an option to camel ride, 4x4 or quad bike back out the desert after your stay. We opted to take the quad bike option which was brilliant fun! The camels and 4x4 truck are included in the holiday price but the quads was an extra cost. That said it was only 450DH each (£37 at the current exchange rate) and was well worth the money!!

You can pay by card in many places but the local restaurants in the smaller villages prefer cash so make sure you have some with you at all times. There are opportunities to visit ATMs throughout the trip and your guide is great at letting you know when you have the opportunity to do this - but do just ask anyway so they can plan this into a stop.

We took out local currency at the airport (the exchange was 1DH/0.86p when we went) and we found that 2000DH (around £160) was enough for both of us to buy lunches for the three days we were travelling outside of Marrakech. Lunch, with a drink, was about 120DH (about £10) each on average. We also each gave our guide 200DH (about £16) on arrival as he took care of buying us bottled water and also tipping at the local rest stops and cafes/restaurants. You will obviously need more cash if you are keen to buy souvenirs in the villages. That said many of the lunch stops did take card, however it is best to have cash when you are not in the main towns as this may not always be an option.

If you are partial to a glass of wine or gin and tonic with dinner, be aware that none of the places outside the main city supply alcohol. So, talk to your guide who will let you know where you can buy alcohol to take with you. The Riads and hotels we stayed in were very accepting of BYO but it is always good to check with your guide that this is the case in all places as it is a Muslim country.

Have a great trip - you wont regret it!!

Kate and Kirstin

- Teresa(May 2023)

Amazing trip which I would highly recommend. The absolute highlight was the Sahara. Houssaine and Abdul were incredible guides. Just be aware the time driving is a lot more than advertised on the website, but there are regular breaks and stops.

- Milena(May 2023)

I just came back from this trip and I had the most amazing experience. Yes, you spend a lot of time in the mini bus but there are also a lot of stops along the way. It does take 400km to get to the Sahara and 400km back to Marrakech but this is what needs to be done to take you to the camp. The scenery along the way is worth it and the Sahara experience is worth every mile on the road. Ait Benhaddou and the gorges are incredible too.

We had a really great group and the guide Hussein and the driver Abdul went out their way to accommodate everyone and make this trip the best it could be. I am really grateful. This is more of a leisure trip, or even road trip, than an active one so don’t expect much action (the most we’ve done was climb up to the fort in Ait Benhaddou, which is quite a lot of steps but you don’t need to do it - it’s super worth it if you can though).

The riads and hotels go from basics to awesome, depending on where you stay but they are all reasonably good. Camping in the desert is more like glamping - hot showers, even wifi, and proper beds. Food in the countryside can be quite disappointing - tagines in Morocco are not the same as we know as Moroccan food internationally, they can be quite bland.

As a woman, I felt like the dress code was a lot less strict than most of us expected: vests are fine, even shorts are ok if you can handle men’s attention. Having said that, Marrakech is very safe and I felt safe walking on my own. Take a scarf, which can be used for covering up when needed and as a turban in the desert.

You can find bottled spring water everywhere, so don’t worry about that. I would recommend she-wees for the ladies to be used in some road toilets (you can find them on Amazon) and headphones for the car journey. Also, remember you can’t take money out of Morocco. I exchanged £150 for the entire trip in the airport and had enough money for food, tips and a few items from the souks In Marrakech.

The countryside of Morocco is extremely poor and you will see a lot of stray animals and animals been used for transport or entertainment. I felt very sorry for them, even our camels, but remember this is the way they live, animals are currency there and they need them to get by.

Overall, Morocco is a beautiful country, the people are really nice and the views are just breathtaking. Just enjoy the ride, enjoy the views, you will have an amazing time.

- Julian(May 2023)

The trip was absolutely phenomenal and exceeded all our expectations. From the moment we booked, everything went smoothly and effortlessly. The team at Aztat Treks made us feel at home throughout our journey.

Marrakech, with its vibrant and bustling atmosphere, was an absolute delight to explore. Every corner we turned revealed something new and exciting. We stayed at Riad View Point, where the folks (and especially Assia) were super welcoming and helpful, providing us with great tips for the city, and cooking the most delicious dinner and breakfast!

On our way to the desert, our guide Houssain and our driver Ahmed were absolute stars, providing us with a wealth of knowledge and making us feel comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings. We really can't recommend them enough!

The camel ride was an unforgettable experience, filled with a surreal sense of wonder and the cutest animals you can imagine!

However, my real highlight of the trip was the awe-inspiring Todra Gorges. The sheer beauty of the place left me speechless — it was as if I was wearing sunglasses with a breathtaking picture glued on them, but it was all real!

While we were at Aït Benhaddou, I really felt the timelessness of the place. I was looking at the sheer vastness at sunset, enjoying the breeze, and imagining how people were surviving in this place where water is scarce for thousands of years.

We really enjoyed the trip itinerary, although, have in mind, there was more driving involved than we expected — prepare to wake up early and spend quite some time in the minibus. It’s definitely worth it though.

Thanks to the team, Morocco has truly captured our hearts, and we cannot wait to return for more extraordinary adventures.

- Graham(May 2023)

A great introduction to Marakesh, the desert and the huge variety inbetween. It takes quite a lot of time to get to the desert but it's worth it!

- Claire(May 2023)

A good introduction to Morocco, but the drives are much longer than shown. You are travelling for around 9-10 hours every day with only about 1.5 hours of activities, either in the evening or split over the day, for example the gorge ‘hike’ was actually a fifteen minute stroll. Highlights were the camel trek and visit to the desert film studio.

- Emma(April 2023)

This was the first MBA trip and first ever solo travelling trip I've ever taken and I couldn't fault it, it was amazing! Ibrahim our guide and Hassan our driver both looked after us all so so well throughout the entire trip. I had a very minor injury and Ibrahim cleaned and patched me up in no time, he then continued to check up on me to ensure I was ok for the remainder of the trip, I felt very safe and well catered for with them. The camel trek to the desert was an experience I won't forget, we then had the option of taking the camels, quad bikes or driving back from the desert the next day so it was great to have different options. Ibrahim took us on some stunning walks and was very knowledgeable about the areas we were in. I have recommended this trip to anyone who will listen to me as it was excellent value for money and has also given me a lot of confidence as a first time solo traveller! Much love to Ibrahim & Hassan <3

- Kerry(April 2023)

An absolutely amazing experience I’m so glad I booked this trip! Our guide Ibrahim was fantastic and he and Hassan our driver looked after us really well. There is a lot of driving on this trip BUT the experience you get when you get to the locations is well worth it. The camel trek to our camp and then watching the sun set was surreal and something I’ll never forget. The atmosphere at the camp in the evening with the traditional Berber music around the fire was amazing. Again the sunrise and quads back the next day was unreal. Not to mention all the other site seeing and staying in Marrakesh too. Amazing trip!!

- Elizabeth(April 2023)

10/10 recommended this trip. Our guides, Ibrahim and Hassan ensured everything ran smoothly and provided as much background information as needed when visiting places. Ibrahim always made sure that each stop was accessible to everyone and that everyone’s dietary needs were provided for. He even ensured that we tipped appropriately and always had bottled water/ snacks on hand. Whilst there were long rides in the van, it was well worth it to see the varied landscapes of morocco. The camel rides and optional quad biking were the highlights of the trip. I have no hesitation in recommending this trip (I’ve already given details for friends to book!)

We've crunched the numbers to work out the total carbon footprint of this trip, and plant enough trees to suck 2x as much back out the atmosphere.

What's the number?
It works out on average at 296kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.

The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal for 2023 to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.

But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:

  • Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
  • A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
  • 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.

What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. For every person booked with us since 2016 we’re planting enough trees to suck at least 2x more carbon out the atmosphere than is emitted by their trips. All native trees, as part of amazing projects that are re-foresting degraded land, tackling the biodiversity crisis and supporting local communities at the same time. We go further than that too, also funding re-wilding projects worldwide to help protect important keystone species from extinction. See the reforestation and re-wilding schemes we support. See our carbon action plan.

Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.

This is a relaxed trip that is mostly cultural exploration with a dash of activity. The camel trek, though a little uncomfortable, is easy and fun for most travellers. Any other hiking is optional and entirely up to whether you want to join or not.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

The desert can get quite hot, with daytime temperatures averaging 15 - 40°C from March to October, and 5 - 20°C from November to February. Nighttime temperatures drop significantly and can even approach freezing in the winter. As much as 10mm of rain can fall in any month, particularly from October to January, but generally the desert is dry.

In the summer (June, July, August), daytime temperatures have been known to approach 45°C on occasions in the desert and in the towns and cities on this trip, so please ensure that you come prepared with sun protection, light and airy clothing and electrolytes/rehydration solutions if travelling at this time of year. If it becomes unsafe to camp in the desert due to extreme summer temperatures, your host will accommodate you in a nearby hotel instead.

Sure can. If you would like to leave anything in Marrakech, your host will look after this for you.

We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.

https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/

For current advice about travelling in Morocco, have a read of the UK Foreign Office pages here.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco/entry-requirements

Ramadan will take place from 10th March to 8th April 2024. The national holiday of Eid ul-Fitr will follow for 2-3 days. Ramadan is an Islamic festival where the religious do not eat or drink during daylight hours. While this is a really interesting time to travel, especially to witness celebrations where the fast is broken in the evenings, you can expect some business hours will be shortened, alcohol is not permitted during daylight hours and some restaurants will be closed during this festival period. Activities for local people tend to be limited during the day and the nights are very active in cities with lots of different foods being sold and consumed. Ramadan will not affect the inclusions on your trip although you should be aware that dinners will be served after locals break their fast in the evenings.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're in good company. Our adventures are typically made up of a mix of solo travellers and small groups of two or three friends who simply love adventure, pushing themselves and meeting awesome like-minded people. See here for more info about our lovely bunch of Much Better Adventurers.

Want to book a private trip? Just tap ‘Private Group’ in the dates and prices tab.

Your trip is led by carefully curated local hosts and expert guides. See here for more info about the guides we work with.

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