Trek the Sahara Desert

Included

• Guides
• Luggage transfer
• Airport transfers
• Food
• Cooks
• Accommodation
• Purified water
• Camping equipment

Excluded

• Flights
• Travel insurance
• Visa (if applicable)
• Tips for guides

This trip is aimed at beginners, with a moderate to a good level of fitness. Expect to be hiking in the desert for up to 6 hours with rests. 

You'll stay in hotels with twin sharing, or triple sharing rooms in Marrakech. If attending the trip between May - September, then you can expect a hotel with a swimming pool in Marrakech.

Whilst in the desert, you stay in camps. 1 or 2 person tents are available.

If travelling between Nov – Feb, then the weather can be colder. Ensure you bring warmer clothes if travelling then. Temperatures can vary in different regions.

Documents

• Passport

• Visa if applicable

• Travel insurance details

• Boarding passes for flights

• Wallet

• Pen for filling in arrivals form

Conservative Dress

• Long pants 

• Long skirts

• Shirts that cover the shoulders

• Scarf or Shawl for mosque or temple visits

Other Dress

• Underwear & socks

• Sweater or fleece

• Long trousers/Jeans

• Shirts/T-Shirts

• Sleepwear

• Windproof rain jacket

• Shorts

• Swimwear

• Sun hut

Footwear

• Flip flops/sandals

• Relevant footwear (Optional for short hikes)

Bags

• Day bag – For carrying things during the day

• Larger rucksack – For carry all other luggage

Other

• Cash (Moroccan Dirhams)

• Credit/Debit card

• Sleeping bag (Optional but recommended for the winter months)

• Camera (Battery packs and storage)

• Ear plugs

• First aid kit (Optional for personal medication)

• Sunscreen and lip balm

• Headtorch or flashlight

• Padlock/lock for bags

• Money belt

• Plugs and chargers

• Reusable water bottle

• Book/MP3

• Travel towel

• Watch with alarm (You can use the alarm on your phone)

• Sunglasses

• Toiletries 

Day 1: Not included

Day 2: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Day 4: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Day 5: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Day 6: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Day 7: Not included

While visiting mosques and other religious areas of interest, you should ensure that you cover up your shoulders and dress modestly. Avoid wearing short shorts and skirts. Men and women are recommended to wear loose-fitting clothing with your shoulders covered.

A luggage transfer will be provided whilst you are in the desert. 

Start: Your guide will collect you from Marrakech Menara airport at any time on day 1 of your itinerary. You can also meet your guide at 8 pm at Hotel Ali in the Old Medina of Marrakech. 

End: You'll be dropped back at Marrakech Menara airport by 10 am on day 7 of the itinerary. If you prefer, the guide can drop you off at 7 pm on day 6 of the itinerary. 

Maximum group sizes are 12.

The guide will provide you with purified water from natural springs. You are welcome to bring your own filter or purification tablets if you prefer. 

Between May - September, you can expect temperatures of around +30 to +35 degrees Celsius during the day. At night, the temperatures can drop as cold as +8 degrees Celsius. 

Between October - April, the temperatures during the day can be around +20 to +25 degrees Celsius. At night, the temperatures can drop to +5 degrees Celsius.  

The minimum age for this trip is 12.

Morocco has a strong tipping culture – It is customary and even expected to tip in places such as bars and restaurants. At the end of your trip, if you feel that your guides did an outstanding job, then tipping is also expected and appreciated. A good rule of thumb is around 30-50 Euros in total (per customer rather than per guide).

If you are travelling by yourself and still would like a single room, you can pay £50 (in total) to have a single room for the nights in Marrakech and a tent to yourself in the desert. If you would like this you just need to specify it on your trip form (you'll be sent this to fill in before the trip), and then you can pay on arrival.

Basic accommodation includes: Hotel Ali, Riad Omar, Hotel Imilchil 

Luxury accommodation includes: Riad Africa, Riad Anya  

We recommend bringing some spending money for souvenirs and any tips for the guides. Most people bring around €30-50 EUR for tips, and €50-150 EUR of spending money, giving a total of €80 - €200 EUR (800-2000 Dirham). You can take money out using the ATMs in the airport.

Absolutely! We get lots of solo travellers on the trips. Once you sign up you'll also be added to a private Facebook group, where you can meet all the other people before you go. 

Yes, here is a list of what is available:

Sleeping bag: 3EUR per night

Walking poles: 2.50EUR per day

Rain jacket: 1.50EUR per day

Rain trousers: 1.50EUR per day

All countries require a valid passport, with a minimum of 6 months validity.

To date, UK and USA nationals do not require a visa to enter Morocco for the purpose of tourism, up to a 3-month period.

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

Please contact your local embassy to check the visa requirements for your nationality, as the above information could have changed from the time of writing this. 

If there is anything that you do not need whilst on your trip, you can leave it at the luggage storage on day 2 of your itinerary. 

The currency used in Morocco is Moroccan Dirham (MAD).

You can take out cash at ATMs in the airport, as well as various locations on the trip. Please check with your bank that your card is accepted in Morocco before travel, and we highly recommend bringing two cards in case you have any issues. 

Please note: your bank may charge transaction fees when you use your card in Morocco.

Arabic is the official language of Morocco. Just under half of the population speak Berber (mainly in the rural areas), but there are several dialects. The second most spoken language in Morocco is French, as they are taught this language in school and university. English is also widely spoken in Morocco.

Islam is the official religion with much of the population being Muslim.