Morocco: The Great Sahara

tilos
33 places

Worth visiting!

The first time I went to this place

I just got back from a month long trip around Morroco. I spend 3 days in Merzouga, and did a great overnight trip into the Sahara. We wanted to do a 2-day trip, but because of the sandstorms and the summer heat, the auberge (Chez Julia) recommended just a 1-day trip. We joined up with 2 other travelers. The camel ride was about 2 hours each way, and left me incredibly sore. There was time in the evening for climbing up the dunes to watch the sunset, though the wind was so strong that I didn’t make it to the top.

We had a fantastic chicken tagine dinner and watched the 20 someodd feral cats that lived at the camp site. After dinner, we climbed up a dune to watch the starts and drum with some of the Berbers from the campsite. The star watching is amazing, there is only a small amount of light visible at the horizon that gets in the way. You could sleep either at the campsite or under the stars.

Comments:

wheelo
Sydney

I disagree about the overnight trip to erg chebbi

I do not recommend the overnight camel trip from Chez Julia to Erg Chebbi. After 90 minute camel ride we arrived at the “camp” to find the caretaker dragging the bedding through the sand and dumping it into various berber tents exposed to the wind and sand. Our tent was an inch deep in sand as no attempt is made to prevent sand intrusion. I also cut my foot on a submerged beer can and the domesticated cats brought into the camp by the staff kept people up all night with their noise. Sandstorms are common and the tents are no escape from sandblasting in the middle of the night. The camp adjacent appeared to be better set up with solar power and more trees.

Also be aware that Chez Julia charge 10% tax on all accom, food and beverage as a tax that is not quoted as part of the advertised costs. I’m not sure if other hotels in Merzouga do this, but we did not encounter this anywhere else in Morocco


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