Marrakech to Merzouga: A Real Look at a 3-Day Desert Adventure

Thinking about escaping the busy streets of Marrakech for the peace of the Sahara? So, too I once dreamed of trading the city’s clamor for the vast, silent dunes. Very recently, I actually booked a 3-day trip from Marrakech to Merzouga, complete with a fancy camp setup in the desert. I want to tell you what it was really like, the awesome bits and a few things that maybe caught me off guard. This, you see, is all about giving you a realistic picture if you’re considering doing something similar!

The Allure of the Sahara: Is it Worth it?

Alright, the Sahara…is that something that lives up to all the hype? Arguably, it does, but let’s manage some expectations first. The photos you’ve noticed show those endless sand dunes, that’s for sure! What they don’t always show is how long it requires getting there or, at times, the sheer scale of the operation of moving tourists around. A lot, actually a huge amount, is sitting in a vehicle. But if you are somebody that likes landscapes that keep shifting and that otherworldly feel? Well, then, yeah, it just might well be worth all the hours involved. Getting a glimpse of the Sahara, honestly, really does feel like you’ve stepped into someplace else, very far away from your everyday life.

Before you pack your bag, so, too consider what you’re seeking from this escapade. Is that it a total escape and disconnection? I want to share an authentic interaction with local cultures? Maybe getting photos of yourself in dramatic landscapes for social media? There is a certain element that will always be that it is a packaged deal that you should know ahead of booking this excursion. If that appeals to you, I find that acknowledging that piece makes you really relish all that you actually experience. Yet, keeping that stuff in mind really sets the scene for what you’re getting yourself into, for instance. Okay?

The Drive: More Than Just Getting There

Now, about the drive from Marrakech, that tends to be something of a big part of the trip! Be ready to spend a ton of hours in transit. Basically, we’re talking about a solid chunk of two days dedicated primarily to sitting in either a van or a 4×4. But, in my book, what you notice along the way actually is the highlight, is that something? That’s true. The High Atlas Mountains basically have the most amazing views, so keep your eyes open! Places, too, like Ait Benhaddou is one stop, so you can stroll around a genuine ksar (basically a fortified village) and take a trip back in time. Yet, these brief interludes in these locales, they make all the long hours sitting down pass that much easier, like your sightseeing is built right into just going from A to B. That does sound cool, honestly!

Make sure you’re prepared for a vehicle with air conditioning that’s not running very well. In my opinion, I should tell you. I recommend throwing an old-fashioned travel pillow or neck support, so, too something really, really cozy to relax into. As a matter of fact, many of these journeys, these tours, tend to stop at places designed, shall we say, more for tourists. I always tried striking up actual conversations with residents whenever that I possibly could; you sort of glean more authentic glimpses that way. Yet, keeping yourself relaxed plus open, yet it really transforms what might appear boring into a chance at experiencing something real along your drive.

Glamping in the Sahara: Luxe or Looks Like It?

Here is my big question: the fancy camp bit; very how fancy are we truly talking? “Luxury,” is that a description that might be stretched a little here and there? Absolutely, yet for me anyway, the general feeling I had out in the desert made up for anything that really wasn’t that extravagant. So, it is almost you can prepare yourself. So, just think permanent tents rather than rooms and you get close to what’s actually on offer. What really does matter, anyway, is stargazing like crazy at night and the feeling of that quiet that envelopes everything at night. This quiet can’t be described easily, only noticed!

My suggestions can possibly assist you if you want a great stay in the camp! Check, actually, that your tent’s got power if it’s very vital for charging your stuff (or just plan by bringing a power bank). It’s arguably that it becomes very cold late at night and especially during the early morning in the desert, therefore dress in layers. The camps are, arguably, fairly ecologically conscious, to that, maybe anticipate simple things being restricted, such as lots of running water; pack some baby wipes, anyway. All the small things will assist to keep yourself super content within your tent, so you may then focus on that experience outside it. In some respects, experiencing that sunset over the dunes or just sipping mint tea? Basically, that becomes quite a memory!

Camel Trekking: Is That Just a Tourist Trap?

Okay, you simply cannot go right into the Sahara and then avoid riding a camel, you know? Now, I had some initial concerns: Is that ethical, or do these camels get really cared for? Anyway, that depends greatly on where the tour operator you end up choosing is getting the camels they use. In my view, what that boils down to is researching, maybe doing that up ahead of your booking the adventure. But you could potentially always inquire about where that they are getting the camels from; it tells them you worry, actually. Then I decided that going, for me, involved supporting tourism that tries its hardest, like providing a better standard of care to such fantastic, vital creatures.

As a matter of fact, riding one, wow. This actually does feel just as iconic as you would suspect, anyway. Very expect some discomfort; if you are not acclimated to riding one, anyway, your legs can feel really weird the day following that. A lot of individuals I actually met within my party truly liked this, for instance! I’d say very wear a pair of long pants, so your legs aren’t directly rubbing, but you may then really savor experiencing the desert views go by in such a slow-paced fashion. Camel trekking, therefore, can come to feel more a cultural link plus that opportunity, so consider experiencing things with that wide open mind and the mindset of seeing what’s ahead!

The People You Meet: Guides and Fellow Travelers

These desert trips can be defined very often as by that atmosphere which the folks whom you bump into build up. First and foremost, your guides can sometimes literally become the people that either make, or can break, your entire adventure. This really tends to pay to do your diligence by carefully going through reviews and trying to get guides actually recommended, and that are regarded well! That could actually greatly change a basic excursion in something genuinely special. Interacting with actual local Berber communities honestly could feel a lot more legitimate or “showy” so, too. Okay?

Moreover, within these smaller desert tour groups a number of those in it you wind up as spending quite a lot period alongside. Basically you’ll get shared experiences and probably connections made that, just for being something or other related and maybe quick, that make everything all so much richer! A few bits about actually approaching your other travelers; remain wide open but also polite for anything other persons wish in addition! Talk; yet watch closely so they seem secure with doing so! Some of such shared moments around camp later, or the stories informed under night’s heaven do in fact simply provide the most significant memories of one’s travel which it’s arguably something special about being so apart and sharing that!

Making the Most of Your Sahara Experience

Alright, if you are doing a desert trip, a lot, arguably almost everything actually has its magic inside all these moments and bits of planning ahead for that assist it just glow somewhat extra vibrantly? Therefore, just imagine what sort would basically ensure maximum fulfillment as soon as one heads in? Packing mindfully tends to assist for certain- a scarf to shield facial features out from sand which might or would maybe then blowing to actually your hair and clothes that basically let the pores on one’s epidermis remain, so be that, is that a recommendation? I feel you’re also gonna need your cameras.

When I had that little bit of spare time and not using a camera or the view in order so. First, is something very worth getting. I feel there’s such beauty within one’s capability be, be present; or watching this night heavens without filtering it using one of all those screens there; only actually existing during this moment! Now it also, perhaps could really pay back to obtain small understanding of community customs and possibly respectful steps you may then adhere by when around communities alongside a Sahara, it tends go far in fostering legit relations when passing from various regions too often with diverse people across. Any effort you probably cause through actually taking with the folks surrounding just by asking with, very just even being genuinely really serious helps unlock more from merely existing in an isolated tourism experience right?

Is a 3-Day Desert Trip Right for You?

So, by the time you weigh out such long drives versus something such like truly remarkable adventures along ones view. I actually believe this boils, probably all the way down through that type of individual we find someone who happens truly or can very come by. Somebody can actually come upon some degree even through comfort is perhaps to, by just simply sitting along vehicles; whose soul simply craves that kind out among that total contrast to all which has always been accustomed versus or the everyday, yeah perhaps probably that just might be a wonderful. Do a ton concerning thinking towards, actually precisely how big your passion definitely holds in contrast to probably this degree with, perhaps tolerance; it then lets anyone perhaps discover that which simply simply by far the really matches their tastes well enough. The one-way you might really get to understand something? Going for something by merely taking from is which happens after such amazing Sahara that you won’t, at all, find with any other places?

And for just myself; even after all the sitting around as being such one to whom traveling represents more being concerning ones adventures instead all through pure convenience. Now it’s all because having these memories created plus witnessing things only available or existing inside these types locations made for quite just this kind experience well as such a unique choice ever made! In which situation you decide yes as far this excursion exists; I strongly, very ask do, so for this knowledge with having exactly stuff just similar for everything prepared in readiness so this vacation can just be more amazing with almost nothing being allowed get it messy when it truly commences.