3 Breathtaking days in the Moroccan Sahara Desert - Drinking tea with the Berber people!

Day 1:

We awoke at 6 am, where we got ready for our adventure to the desert and waited for our pickup. Our driver finally arrived and took us to our bus which then brought us to Igomoroccos company hub where we transferred to our correct bus for our trip. We left there at about 8:30 and began the journey to the desert. There were 17 of us in the air-conditioned van and was very comfortable.

Edge of the High Atlas Mountains.

We drove for about three hours through the high Atlas Mountains. Driving on some of the sketchiest roads perched on the side of the cliff, one wrong turn a huge cliff awaited us to our deaths. Thankfully we made it alive, and it was stunning. The rocky and dry mountains were spectacular and seemed to be endless. After about 3 hours into our journey, we stopped for 20 minutes to use the restroom and take some photos at a small little stop.

Touring a Berber village in the Moroccan desert.

We then continued, after a quick stop by the police to verify our driver's tour guide card. We drove for about an hour until we stopped again at Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou where we got a quick tour of a Berber village by a local, snapped a few photos and headed back into the town to eat lunch. We were served bread, a fresh salad which tasted super good after not having veggies for a while, and then I ordered pizza. For dessert came an orange and Canary melon slices which was on of the best melons I have had.

Erich and I on our desert trip.

After, we were back on the road headed on our journey to the desert. We stopped at a small grocery store where we bought some water and then headed back out until we made it to another cafe about 3 hours later where we had another break. We then headed back out on the road yet again until we reached Ouarzazate - Ait Sedrate Jbel El Soufla canyon, about 2 hours later. We stopped to take some photos before heading to our hotel which had an amazing view from the patio overlooking rocky desert mountains.

Night one welcome mint tea.

When we arrived we got served fresh mint tea before being taken to our rooms. After settling in Erich and I headed out down the road to take some photos. I purchased a drink from a small local shop and drank them on the hotel's patio overlooking the beautiful view. It was a long day, with close to eight hours of driving in the van, but it is already well worth it, and it will get even better tomorrow.

We relaxed until dinner, which was to be served at 9 pm. Before this, I showered, changed into some new clothes, and then headed up to the colorfully decorated room, with the tables set with unique plates, cups, and utensils to take some photos. At 9:10 we were served bread at candlelight table, followed by a tomato and pepper salad, and then finally chicken skewers with French friends, rice with a veggie sauce and a fried prune with sesame seeds. Besides being a little cold it was delicious and hit the spot in my stomach.

After dinner we headed back to our room, relaxed for a bit and then headed to bed in our very own hotel room with a twin and a queen bed.

Day 2:

Day 2 breakfast at our desert hotel.

It was a little hard to sleep due to it being about 33 degrees Celsius or 92 Fahrenheit, however, I eventually fell asleep and it cools downs just a little bit, to maybe 80 degrees. We woke up at 6:30, packed our bags and headed to breakfast for 7:30. For breakfast was fresh orange juice, coffee, mint tea and then an assortment of olives, hard-boiled eggs, bread, with different types of jam and honey. We then finished packing our bags and headed back out in the road.

Drinking tea and learning about being a Berber person.

We drove for about an hour and a half until we arrived at the small town of Ouarzazate - Toudgha El Oulia in the Toudgha Valley. We had a local tour guide bring us around and explain how life works for those who live in this village. We were able to see almond trees, olive trees, pomegranate trees, and walnut trees. It was so cool to see the nuts on the tree and even then picking the almond trees as this is something we never get to see in the US and made our trip feel even more exploring. After explaining some of the farming techniques and what they grow here we were treated to fresh and hot mint tea. Some of the best tea I have had.

We then got a demonstration about how they make their famous rugs here in the village. It was so interesting to see all the different patterns, and fabrics they used to make these, including sheep, llama, camel, baby camel, and even cactus. The vast difference in all of the fabrics was stunning.

Our tour guide of the Berber village.

We then walked up a small hill to get some amazing views of the village within this huge canyon. We then were driven about 5 minutes down the road to the heart of the canyon and the beginning of the natural spring that feeds the water this village and so many others depend on. The canyon walls were incredible, reaching up to 300 meters tall, and defined one of the best sights we have seen so far. Our tour guide was super knowledgeable, knew an incredible amount of English was one of the best tours I have had. Unfortunately, Erich had gotten a little sick right before we left here, most likely due to eating or drinking something that had been contaminated with local water with bacteria our stomachs were not used to. Since both Erich and I had eaten the same thing this certainly made me worried about what my stomach might have in store, however, I was determined and excited for the desert so o let that fear get behind me.

We then headed back to the van to head to the Sahara Desert. As we got closer to the Merzouga desert, the section of the Sahara we were going to got very barren and interesting, there was nothing but a red and brown desert with small blacking hills and mountains with only a few desert trees and bushes to be seen. After two hours on a road that looked and felt like it would never end, including a stop for gas and another police checkpoint we finally arrived at a small cafe for lunch.

Our hotel at the edge of Sahara desert.

I got an ice-cold drink and spaghetti with a meat sauce. It wasn’t all that good, but it gave me some energy. We then headed off for our final 2 hours in the van. We finally arrived in Merzouga at the place our camels leave from. Unfortunately, Erich was still not feeling well so we were forced to ditch the camel trek to the desert, and spend the night in the hotel to make sure that Erich starts feeling a little better and up for the long drive back to Marrakesh. We don’t know for sure what caused him to get sick, but we are sure the almost 110 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures in the desert were certainly not helping one bit. While this isn’t quite what we had planned, what happens happens. Luckily we were right next to the Sahara desert and I was still able to see the famous dunes of the desert.

Camels for the desert trek we missed.

I then relaxed with the others that were going to the desert for a little while, and then I relaxed in the hotel which had a pool inside of a large interior patio and took some photos. I then headed back, took a dip in the pool and then relaxed in the inner patio space near the pool until dinner was to be served at 8:30.

Beef tagine with eggs, and veggies.

Dinner, was just me as Erich was not going to be able to eat and was trying to get some sleep. I went to dinner and was quickly brought one of the most delicious salads I have had, with tomatoes, cabbage, cucumber, and corn. Followed by a beef tagine with some veggies inside and served with bread. Finally, fresh watermelons and Canary melon were served which was also super delicious. It was one of the best meals I have had in my time in Morocco. So while not the trip I originally planned, still one I will remember, and not only for Erich’s illness.I then headed to bed so that I could wake up tomorrow morning to figure out if Erich was good enough to head back or if we needed another night here in the hotel.

Day 3:

Final destination: The Sahara Desert.

I woke up to a very good nights sleep, went and grabbed a few more photos of the desert and then had a quick breakfast from the hotel. Erich was then feeling better and we decided to head back to Marrakesh today. We left the hotel and began the long journey back to Marrakesh at 7:45 am. Two hours later we stopped for a quick bathroom break before heading back in the road. Yet again we got stopped for a quick police roadblock but were quickly on the road again. Two hours later we stopped for lunch, however, I wasn’t too hungry so I just got a cold drink. We then headed back out on the road, and finally arrived back in Marrakesh.

While it was a journey filled with long car rides and 110-degree temperatures in the shade, it was one with beautiful views, delicious food, and exotic architecture and landscapes. I can’t wait to make it back to the desert and complete the final leg of the journey to the middle of the desert and spend the night in a Sahara desert camp tent.

To view my photos of our desert trek, Click Here!