About THE sahara adventure
At a glance...
Country: Morocco
Group size: 4-20
Duration: 10 days/ 9 nights
Activity: Trekking, camping, camel riding, and sightseeing
Travel style: Guided
Difficulty grade: Moderate to strenuous
Comfort: Various (hotels, camps, refuges)
Quick itinerary
DAY 1: Arrival to Marrakesh. Welcome to Morocco!
DAY 2: City tour of Marrakesh
DAY 3: Marrakesh to Jbel Bani via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass
DAY 4: Jbel Bani Pass, Faija plateau, desert oasis
DAY 5: Dry riverbed hike, desert walking, Jebel Abbas
DAY 6: Desert hiking to Erg Chigaga
DAY 7: Hiking the Chigaga dunes
DAY 8: Transfer back to Marrakesh via Drâa Valley
DAY 9: Free day in Marrakesh
DAY 10: Final departure
Sahara Adventure Details
THE MARKET AT JEMAA EL-FNAA SQUARE
This market is often what people think of when they think of Marrakesh. Scroll down to “General Information” for more about this amazing square.
TIZI N’TICHKA PASS
This is the highest drivable pass in the High Atlas region of the Atlas Mountain Range, at 7,415 ft. From this viewpoint, it’s nothing but beautiful and mighty mountains, lush valleys, and ocher-colored Berber villages as far as the eye can see.
OUARZAZATE
The Ouarzazate area is a noted film-making location, housing Morocco’s biggest studios. Many international companies come here to film and some major pictures have been shot here, including Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Man Who Would Be King (1975), The Living Daylights (1987), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), Kundun (1997), Legionnaire (1998), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), The Hills Have Eyes (2006), Hanna (2011), and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011). Also, part of the TV series Game of Thrones was filmed here in Ouarzazate.
ERG CHIGAGA
Erg Chigaga is the largest and yet untouched of the major ergs in Morocco; the other is Erg Chebbi near Merzouga.
- Hobnail Trekking Co. long-sleeve trekking shirt and ball cap
- Custom Hobnail mobile app
- Lots of freebies
- Opportunities to get to know your fellow trekkers include an invitation to a private Facebook group for your trek, group training hikes if trekkers live in proximity to each other, and other local social gatherings
- Airport transfers
- 3 nights in a hotel riad (B&B)
- City tour in Marrakech by local, English-speaking guide
- All ground transportation from and back to Marrakech in private vehicle
- Local, English-speaking guides
- Cooks and cooking equipment for the trek
- Tents and soft mattresses, tables and chairs
- All food while on trek
- Mineral water while on trek
- Camels for luggage transport
- The company of new friends and the experience of a lifetime
- Travel insurance (see the Travel Insurance section on this page for details)
- International flights
- Entrance Visa
- Meals in Marrakech
- Soft drinks or other drinks
- Tips for leaders, guides, and porters (we’ll give you guidance on this)
- Spending money, including for souvenirs
- Personal trekking equipment (hiking boots, clothing, etc.)
- Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, room service, extra hotel nights, extra meals, etc.)
- All expenses associated with nonscheduled departure
OK, here’s where we get serious. Hobnail requires that all trekkers purchase travel/medical insurance that covers them properly for all trekking activities.
There are a lot more details you need to know about travel insurance than we want to put in this limited space — including stuff about trip cancellations and what company we recommend — so when you’re ready, pop over to our Travel Insurance page.
We consider our treks to be adventures, not vacations. We’re not Hobnail Vacation Company, after all! Don’t get us wrong; we like vacations as much as the next person, but with our treks, you need to be physically and mentally ready. Here’s what we ask of you:
- You thoroughly read all the information we send you prior to departure.
- You get yourself an accountability partner and train properly. This doesn’t mean doing a few squats two weeks before departure.
- You familiarize yourself with your gear prior to leaving. Practice adjusting your backpack, filtering water if necessary, etc.
- If you purchase new boots, they are broken in well in advance of departure.
- When on trek, you FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF YOUR GUIDE. His or her only concern is helping you achieve your goal safely and in good health, but this won’t happen unless you follow their advice. This includes – but is not limited to – food recommendations, speed of pace, when to sleep and when not to, when to walk and when to rest, when to turn around due to illness, etc.
- When on trek, you treat your guide and the locals you encounter with the utmost respect. We are guests in their country and very grateful to be there.
All of these things may seem like common sense — and they are — but we feel that we must mention them. Hobnail’s goal is to provide you with the best experience possible, and you have an important role in achieving that goal.
A few days after registering for a trek (with a deposit of at least $500), we’ll give you a quick call to say hello and answer any initial questions you may have. If you use WhatsApp, we’ll add you to a group with your fellow trekkers so that you may interact with them, and possibly your guide, before departure. You’ll be able to post questions in the group anytime you’d like, talk about the cool gear you’re planning to take with you, organize group hikes if you live near each other, and generally just get to know those who will be sharing this incredible experience with you.
Within the first weeks after your trek is confirmed, you will receive a Welcome Kit from us. It contains stuff that you can use during training as well as on the trek itself, and some other just fun things to get you (even more) excited about your trip.
You’ll also receive a login to our Hobnail app, which is full of great information including a day-by-day schedule, nearby points of interest, beautiful photography, and yet another way to contact us – through its messaging service. As your trip gets closer, we will load your flights and other more specific information into the app so you’ll feel even more secure in knowing where you’ll be staying and even how to get around the airports you’ll travel through.
The closer you get to your trek, the more you’ll hear from us — but of course, you can reach out any time you have a question.
What happens if my trek is not confirmed?
If the minimum number for the trek you booked is not reached before the 60-day booking deadline, you will be eligible for either a refund or to transfer your deposit to another trek. See details HERE.
Sahara Adventure
- Dates are subject to slight changes. These dates will proceed with groups of four or more.
December 24, 2023 — January 2, 2024
- February 10-19, 2024
- December 21-30, 2024
Must book at least 60 days prior to trek start date.
Our Mobile App
When you book, we send you the login credentials to your own, customized app. By departure, your app will contain your flight info, passport, travel insurance docs, and COVID info, as well as your full itinerary, points of interest, and other amazing stuff.
TREK ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive in Marrakesh
Today you arrive in the “red city” of Marrakesh, named for the clay from which buildings were constructed in the early 12th century and since. Plan to arrive early so you’ll have time to get lost in the city. (Literally — it’s easy to do!)
Upon arrival, a Hobnail representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your “riad,” a guesthouse-style hotel usually with a courtyard and often within a restored traditional mansion. Once you’re checked in, you’ve got the rest of the day to yourself. Meals are on your own today but we are happy to provide some suggestions.
Day 2: Sightseeing tour in Marrakesh
Today you will be treated to a grand sightseeing tour in Marrakesh, with an English-speaking guide, of course! You’ll explore historical monuments, the local traditional markets (souks), and the famous Jemaa el-Fnaa square, a sprawling open-air square and marketplace and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s promised to be a day to remember in this amazing red clay city.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3: Transfer from Marrakesh to Faija Camp via Tizi n’Tichka and Ouarzazate
You’ll enjoy an early breakfast at the riad before boarding private transportation and heading southeast towards the Atlas Mountains. The drive will take you over the Tizi n’Tichka pass, the highest drivable pass in the High Atlas region of the Atlas Mountain Range, at 7,415 ft. It’s absolutely beautiful from here, with mighty mountains, lush valleys, and ocher-colored Berber villages as far as the eye can see.
You’ll stop for lunch just after the desert town of Ouarzazate, Morocco’s answer to Hollywood with several major film studios. Movies like The Prince of Persia, Troy, and scenes from Game of Thrones have been filmed here.
The trip continues over the Ait Saoun Pass and then takes a long descent towards the famous Draa Valley, known for its date palms. You’ll finally arrive at the small town of Zagora on the edge of the great desert. Here you’ll stop to purchase a shemagh (pronounced “schmog”), the traditional headscarf worn to protect the head and neck from the desert’s sun and sand, and enjoy one last cold drink before starting the desert hike. You’ll also meet your camels and the desert guides and cooks that will become priceless friends over the next week.
Tonight you’ll camp at the foot of Mount Jbel Bani, the southernmost edge of the Anti-Atlas region of the Atlas Mountain Range that borders the Sahara Desert. That’s pretty cool.
Transport: around 6 hours by private vehicle (248.5 mi)
Lowest elevation: 1,530 ft (Marrakesh)
Highest elevation: 7,415 ft (Tizi n’Tichka Pass)
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: Faija Camp to the Jbel Bani Pass, Faija plateau, and desert oasis
You’ll wake early for breakfast and to prepare for your great desert adventure. The camp is packed up and luggage is loaded onto the camels before setting off up into the gorge on Jbel Bani.
After crossing the pass, you’ll find yourself on the rocky Faija plateau, where you can see tamarin and acacia trees in the distance. Here, you’ll stop in the shade for a delicious lunch made by your new friends.
After a nice, long break, you’ll follow the path that runs parallel to the Jbel Saghro (Saghro Mountains). It will lead you through the stone desert and continue until reaching an oasis with tall date palms – here in the middle of all of the arid surroundings, it is truly the quintessential oasis.
Here is where camp will be set up, and you can enjoy the afternoon exploring the local area. You may even help gather firewood for tonight’s bonfire. Either way, you’ll eat dinner in the “fair tent” before gathering around a sparkling fire under the incredible starry sky.
Total activity: 6-7 hours
Highest elevation: 6,235 ft (Jbel Bani Pass)
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5: Dry riverbed hike, desert walking, Jebel Abbas excursions
Once again, you’ll start your day with a delicious breakfast to fuel your hike, which starts down a dry riverbed — a fascinating sight and one that’s easy to walk. You’ll follow the valley for a while until eventually, you’ll begin to notice rock formations crop up on both sides of the trail. Until this point, you’ll have walked on rocks, stones, and gravel, but now you’ll see that the terrain is changing and there’s more and more sand.
You’ll arrive at the camp in the early afternoon where you’ll find several opportunities for excursions up the ridge of Jebel Abbas. Meanwhile, the chef will be dishing up a tasty dinner and, if you are tempted, you can sleep outside in the open air and enjoy the stars until you fall asleep. Pro tip: Sleep outside in the open air and enjoy the stars until you fall asleep, no question.
Total activity: 4-5 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 6: Desert hiking and Erg Chigaga
Get ready for an intense day. You’ll be doing a lot of hiking up and down during this leg, and at some point, might find it difficult to put one foot in front of the other. Hiking in dunes is no joke!
After a breakfast to fuel your body for this morning’s hike, you’ll leave the valley and start walking along the banks of a dry river bed before getting farther out on the plateau. You’ll then face the large dunes of the Sahara desert, beginning with a rocky plateau just after passing the El Abbes Pass.
From here, you’ll have an incredible panoramic view of the desert and the mighty Erg Chigaga. (An “erg” is essentially a dune field with no vegetation.) You will follow a path used by nomads with their camels, and – not gonna lie – it will be challenging to walk under the scorching sun. But you won’t have anything to worry about, because you’ll be dressed properly and will have plenty of water to keep you hydrated.
Finding shade under an acacia tree, you’ll eat lunch and relax a bit.
After cooling off and refueling, you’ll continue your hike from the rocky desert to the smooth, fascinating dunes. You’ll walk a bit fast faster now until you reach the amazing dunes of Chigaga. From the top of the divots, you’ll observe what must be the world’s most beautiful sunset. Simply magical!
Dinner will be enjoyed in the camp before sharing the day’s experiences by the campfire. It’s here where memories are made.
Total activity: 6 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 7: Sunrise over the dunes, tamarind tree respites, and singing around the campfire
You’ll rise just before the sun this morning so that you can catch it rising from the top of the highest dune. This view is crazy.
After breakfast, you’ll continue the hike in the beautiful Chigaga dunes and head east of Jebel Abbas in the direction of M’hamid. It’s hard to walk in the dunes, so instead you’ll hike on the plateau in the wide Drâa Valley.
Under the shade of the tamarind trees, you will enjoy lunch and refill your water bottles before continuing towards the large dunes of Bougarne.
As you hike up and down several small dunes, you’ll find respite in the shade of the tamarind tree clusters. This hike is a real challenge. Your boots will fill with sand as your feet sink into it. You are in wild and beautiful areas of the desert that are rarely visited, so consider this just part of the very cool experience.
Camp tonight is at the largest of the Bougarn dunes with the starry sky enormous above you. You’ll end the night relaxing and singing around the fire with drums beating in the background. Another day of making life-long memories is behind you.
Total activity: 7 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 8: Back to Marrakesh, free evening
Your desert adventure in the Sahara is over, and after an early breakfast, you’ll say goodbye to your camel companions and to the new friends that made this journey seem easy.
You’ll be picked up from your camp by a 4WD vehicle and driven through a plateau until you reach the asphalt road where your private transport is waiting for you. Once on the vehicle, you’ll head west through the Drâa Valley, on to exotic Ouarzazate, and back over the Tizi’n Tichka Pass in the Atlas Mountains, where you’ll again be amazed by the majestic view. “Tichka” is Arabic for “it’s difficult,” and the switchbacks on this mountain road have certainly earned their moniker.
You’ll enjoy lunch along the way and by late afternoon, you’ll arrive back at your riad in Marrakesh. Here, you’ll enjoy a well-earned hot shower. The rest of the evening is at your disposal and you can choose to relax on the roof terrace, stroll around the bazaars and do some shopping, or watch the beautiful change of scenery from day to night at Jemaa el-Fnaa Square.
Transport: around 7 hours by private vehicle
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
Day 9: Free day in Marrakesh
Today is all yours, so spend time relaxing, sightseeing, shopping, eating, or doing all of it! Make the most of your last day in this incredible place.
Lunch and dinner are on your own today, but you’ll discover many great options while enjoying the city.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 10: Ma’a al-ssalamah (pronounced like “mah sa lemma”) - Goodbye!
The only thing you have to worry about today is saying goodbye to this historical and amazing place where you’ve spent the past week and a half doing really cool, bucket-list-type things. You’ll be sad to leave but happy to get back to your own bed.
When it’s time for your flight out of Morocco, you’ll be transferred to the airport and sent on your way with a heartfelt “ma’a al-ssalamah,” which means “Goodbye, and may peace be with you.”
Meals included: Breakfast
GENERAL INFORMATION
The market at Jemaa el-Fnaa square
Located in the medina quarter of Marrakesh, Jemaa el-Fnaa is Africa’s busiest square, a bustling hub of activity and a popular destination for both tourists visiting the city as well as locals who come here to shop.
The market at Jemaa el-Fnaa Square is a lively and colorful place, filled with vendors selling a wide variety of goods such as traditional Moroccan textiles, jewelry, pottery, spices, and other handicrafts. In the evening, you can also find food vendors serving up delicious Moroccan cuisines, such as tagines, couscous, and grilled meats.
One of the unique features of the market at Jemaa el-Fnaa is the glimpse into the cultural life of Moroccans through a variety of performances, including the presence of traditional Moroccan storytellers, known as “chouafa,” who captivate their audiences with tales of adventure and magic. Other entertainment at the square includes snake charmers, Chleuh dancing boys, magicians, traditional medicine vendors, and performers showcasing traditional music and dance.
When visiting the market, expect to bargain for a fair price. Also, because it can be busy, you’ll want to keep an eye on your belongings and be aware of your surroundings. Finally, be sure to try some of the delicious food available for purchase there while soaking in the vibrant atmosphere of this unique marketplace.
ABOUT ERG CHIGAGA
The Erg Chigaga dunes present a true desert adventure. Reaching the great dunes is a two-hour off-road journey by 4×4 vehicle (or three days minimum by foot/camel), across desert terrain, from the nearest village (think, zero light pollution). Despite the fact that you will be off the beaten path, you will be traveling within Morocco’s largest protected national park, a rich desert wilderness.
Almost 40 miles from the nearest source of light pollution and not at all crowded, Erg Chigaga is one of the best places in Morocco to view and photograph the stars. Here, you are able to experience true desert nights in relative isolation.
ABOUT THE food
For people who travel for food, few destinations stir the imagination quite like Morocco. It’s home to the colorful tagine, couscous (pictured above), and a dizzying number of exotic spices and seasonings. When you think of Moroccan food, you think of flavor. It’s an assault on the senses in the best ways possible. There are many reasons to visit Morocco, and you’ve got to count the cuisine as one of them.
Sahara Adventure
- Dates are subject to slight changes. These dates will proceed with groups of four or more.
December 24, 2023 — January 2, 2024
- February 10-19, 2024
- December 21-30, 2024
Must book at least 60 days prior to trek start date.
