Sample Itineraries for Tours in Morocco
New Year Eve Desert Tour
Celebrate New Year in the Sahara - Marrakech 5 Day Desert Trip
Celebrate New Year Eve on an Atlas Sahara five day trip from Marrakech to the Erg Chigaga sand dunes at Mhamid. Our New Year Desert Tour starts on 30 December in Marrakech.
Journey across the Tizi-n-Tichka, the High Atlas road pass, and along the Draa River Valley to the desert frontier town of Mhamid. Cross the protected desert wilderness, via the Sacred Heart Oasis, to the dunes of Erg Chigaga and celebrate New Year’s Eve under a star-filled African night sky. Ride a camel in the Sahara and sleep under the stars in a desert camp. Also included in the trip are the World Heritage Site of Kasbah Ait Benhaddou and the Kasbah of el Glaoui at Telouet.
Quick Links for our 08/09 5 Day New Year Desert Tour
- New Year Eve 2009 – Tour Dates
- Marrakech New Year Eve Desert Tour - 5 Day Tour Itinerary
- Photographs from Erg Chigaga, New Year Tour 2008
- Simon Satori Hendley's Article on the 2008 New Year Tour
- Feedback from the New Year 2008 Tour
New Year Desert Tour 08/09 – Tour Dates
- 30.12.08 - 8am Marrakech to Zagora. Hotel
- 31.12.08 - Mhamid to Erg Chigaga. Desert Camp
- 01.01.08 - Camel Trek, Erg Chigaga. Desert Camp
- 02.01.09 - Erg Chigaga to Ouarzazate. Hotel
- 03.01.09 - Ouarzazate to Marrakech
Marrakech New Year Eve Desert Tour - 5 Day Itinerary
Day 1 - Marrakech to Zagora via the Atlas and Draa River Valley
8am transfer from Marrakech across the Tizi-n-Tichka High Atlas pass to Ouarzazate. Continue, from Ouarzazate, past the lush palmeries and crumbling Kasbahs of the Draa Valley that, until modern times, formed part of the lucrative trans-Saharan trade route. In those days, caravans of thousands of camels would make the hazardous journey to the souks of Marrakech; a journey that will take us less than one day in a 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser, with a stop for lunch at Adgz en route. Overnight hotel with evening meal and breakfast included.
Day 2 - Zagora to Erg Chigaga
After breakfast transfer to Mhamid and then across a desert wilderness, via the Sacred Heart Oasis, to the sand dunes of Erg Chigaga. Welcome in the New Year at our desert camp as we dance to the rhythms of the Sahara under a star-filled night sky. Overnight desert camp with evening meal and breakfast included.
Day 3 – Erg Chigaga Desert Camp
A relaxing morning followed by lunch and an afternoon to explore in the dunes on foot or in the Toyota Land Cruisers. Sunset camel trek in Erg Chigaga with local desert guides. Camel trekking in Morocco is usually the highlight of the trip and a memorable start to the New Year. Overnight desert camp with evening meal and breakfast included.
Day 4 - Erg Chigaga to Ouarzazate via Foum Zguid and Taznakht
Transfer from Erg Chagaga, across the dry salt lake of Iriqui, to the desert oasis of Foum Zguid and then, via Taznakht, to Ouarzazate. Overnight hotel with evening meal and breakfast included.
Day 5 - Ouarzazate to Marrakech via Ait Benhaddou & Telouet
After breakfast transfer to Marrakech via Ait Benhaddou and the Berber village of Telouet. Visit the World Heritage Site of Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, one of Morocco’s most spectacular ksour that once guarded the lucrative caravan route through the Atlas mountains, and the Berber village of Telouet with the abandoned Kasbah of el Glaoui, former Pasha of Marrakech. Lunch in Telouet and continue to Marrakech. End of Tour
Photographs from Erg Chigaga, New Year Tour '08
This link will take you to photographs taken on the New Year Tour to celebrate New Year's Eve 2008: 'Photographs taken on the New Year Tour 2008'
Simon Satori Hendley's Article on the 07/08 Tour
This link will take you to Simon's write up for the 2008 New Year Tour: 'Simon's Article'
Feedback from New Year 07/08 Tour
”All safely home (and I trust you are too) from a truly wonderful experience. Morocco is a stunningly beautiful country, but it was the people and their attitude that touched me most. Some of them as you said have absolutely nothing, yet they are seem happy, friendly and apparently content with what they have. I felt quite humbled by them and also by your relationship and love for them. If there is anything I could do to help I would be happy to do so, please let me know. The trip exceeded my expectations in every way, I can't thank you enough.” Dave
”We all really enjoyed the trip and exceeded our expectations.Highlights of the trip were the desert and the camel ride for Jules. We also enjoyed Talouet and Ait Ben Haddou. In fact, all in all a very good trip and a reasonable price.” Philip
”I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and would definitely recommend it to my friends who are interested in seeing Morrocco.” Kristin
”A big thank you. I really enjoyed the places we visited especially because some of them were really out of the usual touristic route. I loved that we went to Erg Chigaga; it is absolutely unspoiled and it came as a pleasant surprise to me to have such a lovely camp - the tents and beds were very comfortable and clean. The highlight within the experience of Erg Chigaga was the time I spent alone in the dunes (I really wish I could have been there more - maybe next time). Apart from enjoying the peace, the vastness, the silence and the wind I was privileged to encounter an old Berber who appeared out of nowhere. I suddenly heard a noise behind my back, which of couse frightened me, and turned to see him only 3 meters from me saying "samoha, samoha" to announce his presence. He stayed for a while looking around with binoculars (maybe he had lost a dromedary) and then, signaling goodbye, set off. He looked like somebody who lives there and I found it very special that he ended up on the top of my chosen dune to look for what he had lost! I also loved the music, dancing and singing performed by the Gnawa Group. It2s not very clear to me what they were representing, but it looked like the dance had a lot to do with people held in chains e.g. slaves. And then there was the camel trek which has to be done - 30 camels together was quite a sight and I enjoyed my ride more thanks to your tip about the camel walk, which we both do in oriental dance, and how to just relax into it. I would surely reccomend a trip with Authentic Morocco." Monica
"I again wanted to thank you for putting together such an amazing trip. I can't seem to get the desert out of my head and find myself daydreaming about walking barefoot in the Sahara on New Year's day. It would be hard to choose a highpoint for me since everyday held its own surprises - driving through the hairpin turns of the Atlas Mountains with Omar showing us pictures of his many children on his cell phone, tea in the Sahara (made famous by song and story), the nomad children in the desert, ringing in the New Year under the most amazing star filled sky and dancing to a nomad band, again walking barefoot in the cake flour sand of the Sahara, the nomads plaintive singing while they guided us along side our camels, the camels (and people) watching the sunset, racing the SUVs across the salt flats, the beautiful mosaic tile work inside the Kasbah at Ait ben Haddou, the visit to the Berber chemist for the rash on my hand, the guides, especially Abdoullah and Khalid, who were so generous of their time and patient with their explanations both during the trip and after in Marrakech. I've come home with a better appreciation for what I have and a renewed desire to finding ways to giving back, even in small ways. I believe it was the best trip of my life and cannot wait to go back." Lisa
"Thank you for a wonderful trip in the High Atlas and the Sahara. Daniel and I enjoyed ourselves very much and are truely impressed my the Moroccan hospitality and friendliness. Abdul and Muhammed and their drivers, cooks, musicians and everyone else were absolutely wonderful. They worked so hard for us and made sure we were all happy. Daniel and I just got back from Morocco last Saturday as we continued out travels from Marrakech to Fes, Chefchaoen (great place!) and Casablanca. We have a ton of photos and I will select our best photos from the desert trip and send them to you hopefully next week. Thank you very much for a wonderful trip” Vanessa and Daniel
/em>