Last Updated on April 26, 2021 by Jim Ferri
Camel trekking in the Sahara is one of the most fun things you can do in Morocco. (video below)
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
By Jim Ferri
Camel trekking in the Sahara is one of the most fun things you can do in Morocco.
It’s even better when you overnight in one of the Bedouin camps on the desert – which range from comfortable to luxurious.
You’ll likely be shocked to learn this: all those images of great Sahara sand-dunes you see in movies and photos were all taken in Morocco. The real location is the Erg Chebbi Desert, an area of about 40 square miles (100 square kilometers) near the city of Merzouga. It’s an incredible place to go camel trekking across the vast dunes, some of which are 450+ feet tall. The rest of the huge Sahara is relatively flat hardscrabble with few, if any, dunes.
Merzouga is about a nine-hour drive from Marrakesh or Casablanca, seven hours from Fez. Because of those distances, it’s something that’s best included in a week- or two-week itinerary touring about Morocco.
To tell the truth, I had been a bit nervous about going camel trekking in Morocco, even more so about riding a camel. But I found it is much easier than riding a horse, especially mounting and dismounting, and there’s minimal sway. And it’s a lot of fun – my daughter and I found it to be the high point of our Morocco trip.
After you set out with a guide leading your camels, you’ll stop an hour or so out, and dismount to watch the (spectacular) sunset. Your camp is close by, and you’ll soon realize that glamping Bedouin style is the only way to experience the desert. And listening to Berber music around the campfire at night after dinner is an excellent way to end the day.
Camel trekking in the Sahara brings out the Lawrence in Arabia in everyone. Put it at the top of your list of places to visit in Morocco. You’ll likely never have an experience like it again.
It’s a great adventure you shouldn’t miss if you’re traveling about Morocco!
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