Morocco desert tour Camel Trekking:

The first and maybe most important thing you will experience during a Morocco desert tour is the camel trekking ride. Nothing screams “pure Moroccan culture” more than riding a camel caravan leading you through the golden sand dunes of the great Sahara. The camels have been wandering through these dunes for many years, therefore they know them like the back of their hand (feet in this case.. I guess?). The ride will be for the most part comfortable, however we do recommend that you wear pants which will be able to protect your skin from rubbing against the camel’s harsh fur. Camel trekking is the perfect activity to let you enjoy the captivating desert landscapes, as well as leave you with some unforgettable moments.

Sleeping in a desert camp:

During your Morocco desert tour, there has to be inevitably at least one night spent in the great open air, at a desert camp hidden deep inside the dunes. Since the desert is fairly far away from the city lights, star gazing in there is a must do in order to enjoy sparkling views of the starlit night sky. In addition to that, the ambience in these camps is unmatchable, since you usually have dinner with traditional music playing on the background by Berber locals. Last but not least, you should also expect to witness a tea serving ceremony, so you’ll get to try out the famous traditional Moroccan mint tea.

Nomadic life:

The nomads of Morocco are those people who live a life of constant movement throughout the Sahara desert, following their cattle to locations that provide plentiful food and water. These people lead simple lives, in fact so simple that sometimes the most basic things for us seem so rare and unusual to them.

However, most of the families in nomad settlements are hospitable, and will welcome you for lunch or for a cup of tea in their humble residences. This will allow you to learn more about these people, their culture, their language, their customs, and most importantly their pride and their freedom. Most (if not all) Morocco desert tours include a visit to one of the nomad sites with the local guide and your driver, so make sure to enjoy it to the fullest.

Morocco Desert Tour activities:

If you’re thinking to yourself: There’s nothing fun or interesting to do in the desert because it’s all just sand and dust, do I have some news for you my friend! There are actually many things you can do during you Morocco desert tour (other than camel trekking!) to get the best out of your experience, including: visiting neighboring villages, sandboarding, quad biking, watching the wildlife, sunrise and sunset watching, and bathing in the desert sand (this is said to have amazing healing properties). If you’re traveling with kids, it would be a great idea to bring your favorite board games (or the ones in the camp) to have fun.

Desert towns:

Depending on which part of the desert your tour takes place in, there will be many interesting desert village worth visiting. For instance, Erfoud village is not very far from Erg Chebbi and it is famous for being a capital of fossil production. There’s also Rissani town, known for being home to the spiritual mausoleum of Moulay Ali Cherif. In there also lay the ruins of an ancient caravan route that used to be a trading spot for merchants.

If you’re visiting the Zagora desert, you definitely need to spend some time exploring Zagora village first. It’s this little magical town that looks like it’s still stuck in the past due to all the Kasbahs and other mud buildings. Those were only some suggestions, the list of villages you can visit during your Morocco desert tour goes on! You can always ask your local tour guide about the nearest villages for you to visit if possible.

Khamlia village:

We could have totally just talked briefly about the Khamlia village in the previous paragraph but that wouldn’t have served it justice at all, for Khamlia deserves a paragraph of its own. This village is the hometown of Gnaoua people (the direct descendants of slaves brought to Morocco during the worldwide slave trade) who have their own indigenous type of music, we know it as the Gnaoua music. During your visit, you will get to hear to listen to this spiritual music, which was a way for the Gnaoua people to console their worries, and thank god for their freedom. No words will be enough to describe the Gnaoua experience, all what’s left now is for you to go witness it for yourself.