Camel ride in Morocco
Some clients ask me where to do a camel ride in Morocco.
Camels are in the Desert, they are not camels, but they are Dromedaries, as they only have one hump. In other cities in Morocco, such as Tangier, Agadir, Essaouira and Marrakech there are camels to take a photo and little else, in addition to that, in Essaouira, Tangier and Agadir, the camels are on the beach and there is the possibility of hiring a route through the sand about 20/30 minutes, very nice to see the sunset in the spring or summer months.
Ride Camels in Morocco
If you really want to live a unique and special moment on your trip to Morocco. I recommend that you do a route in the desert to do an authentic ride on Camels.
Where is the desert of Morocco?
Plan your trip well, because the desert is very far from Marrakech, Tangier or Fez.
Many travelers believe that the desert is very close to Marrakech, that they can go to spend the day, doing a 1 day trip to the desert from Marrakech . I’m sorry to tell you, but to see the sand dunes you will need at least 6 to 7 hours of travel from Marrakech, to reach the desert of Zagora or Merzouga, where the dunes are.
The Ouarzazate region is an arid, desert area, but without dunes, it is a hard land, called pre-Saariana, where there are no fine sand dunes.
Look at the map with the route to the two deserts in Morocco:
Departures from Marrakech to Zagora (Map 1) and Marrakech to Merzouga (Map 2)
So if you really want to take a trip and enjoy a walk in the dunes I recommend that you do at least a route of 03 nights (4 days) it would:
- 1st day: Depart from Marrakech and spend the 1st night in the Ouarzazate region. (Below I detail the stops and what to visit day by day)
- 2nd day: From Ouarzzate to go to sleep in the Dunes in the Desert of: Merzouga or Zagora
- 3rd day : Night back to Ouarzazate (if you do not return to Marrakech you can make a route to Merzouga to Fez) .
- 4th day: Depart from Ouarzazate to Marrakech (you will arrive at the end of the day).
You will be surprised by the amount of things that can be done and visited in this area:
In Merzouga you can sleep in the Arab Jaimas with a camel route through the desert to see the sunset in the dunes.
We arrived in Erfoud and there were a lot of camels (see the video below), a boy who was there took us to do the route.
we got to the dunes and got off to watch the sunset.
AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS, WE GO BACK UP ON THE CAMELS AND FOLLOW A FEW MORE MINUTES UNTIL WE FIND THIS JAIMA IN THE DESERT:
WE SLEEP HERE:
INSIDE THE ARABIC SHOP THERE WAS:
A WIDE AREA WHERE THEY OFFERED A DINNER (I IMAGINE THAT IF THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE, THEY WOULD BE THERE WITH US)
IN THE BEDROOM AREA:
Bathrooms with hot shower and full toilet (like a bedroom suite + bathrooms) but in the middle of the desert!
We asked for separate beds we were my sister and I. And they do it like that….
Dinner with animation
The next day, we had breakfast there and went back to Erfoud.
We have organized with my Agency (Almanatour) and we slept in the Jaima Bivouac de Luxo de Xaluca.
There are many excursions of 2 days (01 night) to the desert from Marrakech, only do it if you really have no other choice. Adding a night in Ouarzazate to the round trip is essential for you to rest and really enjoy the trip.
Personally I did a private route with my sister and we went from Marrakech to Ouarzazate, we visited Ait ben Haddou, the atlas studio, we ate in front of the Kasbhas of Taourit, we slept in the Boulmane Dades (look at the hotel peazo).
The next day we made a route to Merzouga passing through the Palmerales, we visited the nomads in the middle of the desert and slept in a tent in the middle of the desert. (luxury!), with hot water and electricity) they offered us a very delicious dinner and with a nice bonfire we were enjoying the night in the middle of Saara.
The next day we made a route in the dunes with the 4X4 that brought us from Marrakech and we visited a very curious black town called Mohamia and the area of fossils of more than 360 million. We slept in a Hotel in Erfoud and the next day we went to Fez. It has been incredible.
With that, I want to tell you that it is advisable to have at least 3 nights for this area, you will see a unique landscape and you will enjoy much more than doing a quick two-day excursion where you will arrive very tired in Marrakech.
Here part of my adventure has ended, but I recommend that you also read these posts related to the Desert in Morocco:
WHAT TO VISIT IN OUARZAZATE AND THE REGION?
WHICH SHOP TO CHOOSE TO SLEEP IN THE DESERT?
WHAT TO DO IN THE DESERT OF MERZOUGA / ERFOUD? Routes in Cuads, Lunch in Oasis, Paris Dakar Rally Route, Khamilia village, Desert Fossils …
