Our next New Year Tour celebrate New Years Eve 2011 on a 4 days or 5 days Desert Tour and welcome in the new year around a camp fire in the Erg Chebbi sand dunes. Our New Year desert excursion leaves Marrakech on the morning of the 30th of December and returns late afternoon on the 2nd January (4 days tour) or 3rd January (5 days tour). On request, we can meet you at the airport and book your accommodation before and after the trip.

Travel across the Tizi-n-Tichka, the highest Atlas road pass, and along the Draa Valley to the desert frontier town of Mhamid. Cross a desert wilderness, via the Sacred Heart Oasis, to the sand dunes of the Erg Chigaga sand sea and celebrate New Year Eve around a camp fire as you dance to the rhythms of Gnawa musicians.

4x4 Morocco excursions are suitable for all ages - couples, friends and families with children. The New Year trip includes a camel ride in the dunes and two nights at a desert camp (5 days) or one night in the desert (4 days). Other highlights include the World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou, one of Morocco’s most spectacular fortified villages, and Kasbah of el Glaoui at Telouet.

Quick Links - New Years Desert Tour and Sahara Camel Trek

• New Year Desert Tours in Morocco - Dates
• 5 days New Year Tours in Morocco – Marrakech to Erg Chigaga
• 4 days New Year Tours in Morocco – Marrakech to Erg Chigaga
• Morocco New Year Tours – Why we choose Erg Chigaga
• Photographs from New Year Desert Tours to Erg Chigaga
• Simon Satori Hendley's Article on the New Year Tour he joined
• Testimonials

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New Year 2010 Desert Tours in Morocco - Dates

• 30.12.09 - 8am Marrakech to Zagora. Hotel
• 31.12.09 - Zagora to Erg Chigaga. Desert Camp
• 01.01.10 - Day to relax and explore. Erg Chigaga Camel Trek. Desert Camp
• 02.01.10 - Erg Chigaga to Ouarzazate. Hotel
• 03.01.10 - Ouarzazate to Marrakech

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5 days New Year Tours in Morocco – Marrakech to Erg Chigaga

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 and Sahara Camel trek

A relaxing morning followed by lunch and an afternoon to explore in the dunes on foot or in the Toyota Land Cruisers. Late afternoon Sahara camel trek, with our local desert guides, into the Erg Chigaga dunes for sunset. Morocco Camel Treks are one of the highlights of the trip and a memorable start to the New Year. Overnight desert camp with evening meal and breakfast included.

Note: the 4 days desert tour departs for Ouarzazate and then Marrakech to-day.

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 Ait Benhaddou, one of Morocco’s most spectacular ksars (fortified villages) that once lay on the route of the caravan route through the Atlas mountains, and the Berber village of Telouet with the Kasbah of el Glaoui, former Berber War Lord and Pasha of Marrakech. Lunch in Telouet and continue to Marrakech. End of Tour

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4 days New Year Tours in Morocco – Marrakech to Erg Chigaga

The 4 days New Year Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga leaves on the 30th December, at the same time as the 5 days tour. The only difference between the tours is that, on the 4 days tour, you spend New Year Eve (1 night) in the desert camp at Erg Chigaga and leave the following morning for the 2-day return trip to Marrakech.

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Morocco New Year Tours – Why we choose Erg Chigaga

We are often asked why we choose to run our New Year Desert Tour to Erg Chigaga and not to the sand dunes of the Erg Chebbi and our response is a simple one.

Erg Chebbi has been very popular with tourists for decades and there are now over 70 hotels along the dune line. The paved tarmac road runs all the way to the base of the dunes making it very accessible to tourists and rental vehicles.

In comparison, Erg Chigaga is a protected desert wilderness where only desert camps are permitted . We use a lovely private camp with hot showers and flushing loos - everyone is amazed when we arrive and it is a great surprise! This area is home to the semi-nomadic Ait Atta Berber nomads and the paved road ends in the desert town of M’hamid – from here we drive off-road across the hammada (black desert) to the dunes and our unique desert camp.

Erg Chigaga offers, in our opinion, a more authentic desert experience.

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Photographs from New Year Tours to Erg Chigaga

For photographs from New Year Tours in Morocco see: 'New Year Photos'

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Simon Hendley's Article on a New Year Tour

For Simon's write up on the New Year Tour he went on: 'Simon's Article'

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Testimonials

To read our clients’ feedback please refer to: 'Testimonials'