The Sahara, Morocco Desert

 
Morocco desert road trip was epic!

I saw a new side of this Western Sahara wonder, it’s beautiful! Glad I got there and watched the Sahara sunset. It’s nothing can describe with words. My tears just naturally came out.

The nomad camp was awesome! When you laid on the sand in complete darkness, the wind, the sand blowing on your body, on your hands, your face and counting shooting stars over your heads with wonderful people camping with.. wowww I wanted to stay longer in the desert. I cannot describe how awesome it was! This journey gives an unforgettable flavour of the Sahara.

 

 

Part 1: In the desert

(To continue from my last post..) the second day around 4 o’clock in the afternoon, we finally arrived in Merzouga.

From Marrakesh, across the magnificence of the Atlas Mountains to the gate of the Sahara desert where we stopped and took an hour break in a pleasant hotel and had some great fun in the swimming pool before we hit the desert.

 

pool in the middle of desert

 

 

 

little shady house on the side of the road for people convenience

 

 

 

power v natural

 

 

 

natural v power

 

 

 

sandy landscape

 

 

 

the gate to the dunes, sun setting

 

 

Part 2: Camel Trekking

Well, camel trekking may not be the most comfortable means of travelling for some, but it is undoubtedly a ‘must’ for every traveller as a way to experience the mode of transport of the Berber nomads of the Sahara.

Around 5 o’clock, just two hours before sunset we ride camel with a desert guide at sunset for approx. one and a half hours into the dunes, to the nomad camp. The weather was perfect, the sun was setting, we made it in time to watch the amazing sunset over the huge sand.

 

nice to meet you my mover buddy

 

 

 

on the move with Zju Zju

 

 

 

eyes the colour of the sands

 

 

 

we are fantastic four

 

 

 

so much bigger than it’s possible to capture in a photo

 

 

 

watching the sunset from behind

 

 

Part 3: Meet The Nomads

We arrive to the nomad camp around 6 o’clock where we stayed at the camp for the night.

We first had a welcome mint tea with the nomads in the camp. After dinner the nomads played Berber music for us around the campfire.

We spent the evening around a campfire, slept under nomads tents uncovered around the campfire simply under an amazing, majestic sky I have ever seen in my life. It is one of the perfect place to set up your camera, capture shooting stars and evening shy in complete darkness without light pollution at all.

 

you are cool!!

 

 

 

light up our life

 

 

 

warm me up

 

 

 

moment of romantic (with a group)

 

 

 

nomads played Berber music around the campfire

 

 

 

goodnight fellows

 

 

Part 4: The Third Day

The next morning we woke up at 6 o’clock and we ride camels back to the hotel in Merzouga.

It was another beautiful sunny day, and I was in pure awe at the richness of color in this land. Once we got back to the hotel in Merzouga, we had a shower and breakfast there. After breakfast we got into the vans drove back to Marrakesh.

I did not take much picture on the third day. The tiredness emerged naturally after 3 days constant moving on the road.

Below are few highlights of the Sahara desert on Moroccan land. I have to say that it was an awesome trip. Glad I made it to Sahara – travel halfway around the world to experience the wonder.

 

 

berber leading camel in the desert

 

 

 

close your eyes feel the wonder moment, just awesome!

 

 

 

enjoying Berber play African drum 

 

But also my awesome group I met in the bus, and a beautiful experience. I cannot describe how awesome it was!

 

inside the bus

 

 

 

Pictures of the desert: Sahara, its landscapes, its men, and Zju Zju.

 

 

Wrap up

The beautiful landscape and the nature were the highlights of the desert camp. And look, I felt so little, the desert is just huge.

Travelling with stranger is odd at first. We were a small group. After 2 days with new friends I met in the bus, they surely had contributed a big part in my awesome experience!

I met lots of fabulous people on the road. Not say hi and bye. I mean spending time travelling together, sharing joy, happiness and experience. I would have to say I was so glad that they were encountered into my life of travel.

To say goodbye to a bunch of wanderers was not fun. At the end of the trip I joined three Dutches to Casablanca instead of the original planned destination Fez.

Have you been on a road trip and had a fabulous experience with stranger you met on the road or next to you while travelling? You never know who you’ll sit next to or meet, that’s one way to add excitement to your travel.

 
Related Post:
Epic Road Trip To Morocco Desert (Part 1)
Camel trekking in Sahara
World Map on Moroccan wall
Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, Morocco
24 hours in Marrakech Morocco
A stroll in a local Marrakech

 
See you in Lisbon, Portugal

Epic Road Trip To Morocco Desert

Two days in Marrakech town had some great experiences and fun with other travellers. My second wish was to hit the desert.

Before getting to Morocco I knew that if I was visiting it I would be visiting the Sahara Desert as well. I mean I normally do not schedule a definite travel route while backpacking just in case I like a place so much and would like to stay longer and explore a bit more. But really who could visit Morocco and not visit the desert? It’s funny though I didn’t prepare or do any research about it. I simply joined the 3 Days 2 Nights Atlas to Sahara road trip to the desert.

The following day I went on to the minivan, I was kind of sad to leave the hostel and other lovely travellers who I just met.

Three Dutch, a Melburnian couple, our Moroccan tour guide and navigator, they were my new friends we all met in the bus. It was odd at first as I was the only one travel alone. By the end of the trip, I would have to say it was painful to say goodbye to them!! I cannot describe the awesomeness experience it was with strangers!

Let The Roadtrip Begin!

 

 

Day 1

Part 1: Atlas to Desert

Leaving from Marrakesh at 7am we travel towards Ouarzazate, driving across the Atlas Mountains. The Atlas Mountains provide a route between the coast and the Sahara Desert.

 

cobalt blue a very signature color all over Morocco

 

 

 

across the magnificence of the Atlas Mountains

 

 

 

driving through some 200km mountains

 

 

The sun was hot in early morning, and I shifted uncomfortably through driving and turnings. After 2 hours drive and turn, I had motion sickness. Yeah! I was only at the start of the 3 days trip.

A short stop for breakfast didn’t help get rid of my dizziness and nausea. I changed to the front seat sitting next to Mr Guide. To counter the rays of sun that pour in through the windows, I opened the side window. Breath of fresh air helps all.

 

 

 

Part 2: Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah

After 4 hours drive, our first big stop was in Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah. In my older post, it is a 16th century fortified village and a UNESCO world heritage site. You can really feel like you have travelled to the past, no wonder this place is the top film shooting location.

 

a striking example of southern Moroccan architecture

 

 

 

beautiful character

 

 

 

the pattern

 

 

 

earthy yellow colour

 

 

To reach the fortified village, it is necessary to cross the river using the stepping stones.

 

the river is dry in dry season

 

 

 

stepping stone

 

 

 

earth and clay brick buildings climbing up the hill

 

 

 

climbing up and getting down hill

 

 

It kind of reminded me of that series on Grand Design that one of the owner applied Moroccan earth and clay brick technique designed for his new home. The new house was gorgeously built and very eco-environmental.

 

now and then

 

 

 

Part 3: On the road – Through the window

On the road to Dades Gorges, I saw beautiful landscapes and many authentic and modern Berber villages. Though the dry climate making people difficult to live, the high and middle atlas slopes have dense forests containing pine and oak trees. There are many fertile valleys where livestock can feed. 

 

Hollywood in Arabic writing? Could someone tell me what does it mean ? 😉

 

 

 

busy on something dudes?

 

 

 

Mr Navigator

 

 

 

endless

 

 
I couldn’t stop taking pictures through the window.

 

the desert is so huge

 

 

 

water streams from underground

 

 

Driving through mountains where I saw beautiful landscapes and many authentic Berber villages. I have the best visual view in the front seat. By this point I’ve forgotten the unpleasant beats on my head.

 

rocky landscapes : 1

 

 

 

passing by a small town through Merzouga

 

 

 

walking to work ladies ?

 

 

 

just walking the camels

 

 

 

where are you going fellows ?

 

 

 

bye now

 

 

 

Part 4: Still on the road – Dades Gorges

 

the human creation

 

 

 

beautiful oasis surrounding the town

 

 

 

glistening green fields

 

 

 

dense forests in the atlas slopes

 

 

 

rich vegetation 

 

 

 

rocky landscapes : 2

 

 

 

little Mohammad with grandma

 

 

 

spending the night in a delightful hotel near the gorges

 

 

 

lovely lighting

 

 

 

Day 2

Part 5: Todgha valley and gores

Second day after breakfast, we visited Todgha valleys.

 

driving through the valley

 

 

 

stunning rocky landscape : 3

 

 

 

don’t be shy Mr Guide, we know you want a swim

 

 

 

cosy hotel in the valley

 

 

 

hello babe you are such a cutie

 

 

 

what a beautiful day crossing the valley

 

 

 

yellow earth the protection colour

 

 

 

Part 6: Towards Merzouga, the gate to the dunes

 

aromatic moroccan food: Tagine for lunch

 

 

 

a road in the desert

 

 

 

waiting…camel crossing……

 

 

 

no fun without few drinks for sure – the liquor shop in the last post World Map

 

 

 

which hotel ? well none of the above..

 

 
The multi day road trip into the Sahara from Marrakech was authentic. After one and a half day drive, we finally arrived the gate to the dunes Merzouga in Day 2 afternoon. The epic journey ends in the Merzouga desert but it didn’t mean the entire sahara journey ended here.

 
~~~
 

As I have mentioned at the beginning of the post, I got pretty bad motion sickness on the bus. It’s not nice to get sick while travelling. How to get rid of motion sickness and without any medicine with you? One of the best things, which you can do to get rid of motion sickness, is to look far and horizon level outside the car, plane, train, bus, boat, or get fresh air until you feel better and comfortable. If you feel like you’re going to throw up, do so, rather than keep into it.

 

I’ll see you on my second half of the epic journey Desert sunset in the next post. 😉

 

World Map on Moroccan wall

A world map – taken in the liquor shop at Sahara

 
I was in a liquor shop in the middle of nowhere (desert) with other travellers and I was just starring at the world map taking up the entire wall of the far side of the counter and it’s colourful. Not just because it was kind of graffitied it with Arabic writing (I think) and named the countries I can’t read, but because the map itself is…colourful and ..interesting. I starred at the world map and it’s multicoloured, China for example is green. I am not sure why China is green, perhaps it is just a random printing. Well, at least the sea is Blue. I do not have a world map framed on the wall in my room. I do remember I have a Atlas from Geography at school. To travel alone, I bought a little world map book 10 years ago. Whenever I travelled, I brought it with me to make instant travel plans while on the roads……Do you have a world map mounted or framed on the wall in your room?

 

Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, Morocco

Taken in Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, Morocco

 
Leaving Marrakesh travel towards Ouarzazate through the Atlas Mountains, I was able to enjoy an ample variety of beautiful landscapes and many authentic Berber villages through the window, and after 4 hours drive the first big stop of the Sahara desert camp was in ‘Ait Benhaddou Kasbah’ a 16th century well known fortified village in the Province of Ouarzazate. It is a UNESCO world heritage site, a striking example of southern Moroccan architecture. Many big movies have been shot here, The Mummy, Gladiator, Prince of Persia etc. The town itself is the main attraction, with earth and clay brick buildings climbing up the hill. Admiring a decoration here and a view there, you can really feel like you have travelled to the past.