Morocco desert

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Morocco means ‘the place the sun sets' in Arabic, and it really does live up to its moniker. This northwest African nation does indeed enjoy some spectacular sunsets. With the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to its north, the country is home to the most famous desert in the world: the Sahara. 

What makes the Moroccan desert landscapes unique? 

The Moroccan Sahara offers a true escape among otherworldly landscapes of golden sand dunes and precipitous mountains. There are hundreds of activities to enjoy here, from exploring palm oases to visiting the kasbahs (walled cities) that sit on the fringes of the desert. Have an adventure among the dunes on a camel, or camp overnight beneath the stars.  

The best desert tours and excursions in Morocco 

Expansive valleys and gorges, and a vast, arid desert with the occasional oasis—Morocco’s landscapes vary wildly. Here are some of the best adventures in deserts in Morocco. 

Hiking in the Dades Gorge

Formed by the Dades River, which cascades down from the Atlas mountains, this spectacular, cavernous gorge is a true highlight in Morocco. The walls of the gorge range from 600 to 1,600 feet tall, and it's dry for most of the year, making it a brilliant hiking destination. The rainy season brings raging torrents of debris-filled water, so avoid this area from November through March.

Climb the sand in Erg Chebbi

One of the largest dunes in Morocco is found in Erg Chebbi, a sea of dunes located in the pre-Saharan steppe, made from wind-blown sand. Rising almost 500 feet in some places, the Erg Chebbi dunes stretch along the entire rocky desert border with Algeria. 

Try rock-climbing in the Todgha Gorge 

Near the town of Tinerhir (also known as Tinghir), a series of limestone river canyons called the Todgha Gorges cut through the landscape, with cliffs delving 1,300 feet below. The gorges are accessible by an asphalt road and are a popular spot for rock climbers, owing to its versatile rocky sides. Come here to try climbing for the first time, or to enjoy a challenge as a seasoned pro. 

Take a camel ride into the Draa Valley of Zagora 

Known as the Moroccan gateway to the Sahara, Zagora is located at the foot of the Atlas Mountains in the southeast of Morocco. Join one of the many camel treks that leave from Zagora to get out into the vast desert. You’ll trek out to a camp where traditional Berber tents await, and a dinner of Moroccan tagine is cooked by locals. When the sun sets, look up to the skies to see millions of stars. You might even see the Milky Way.

Explore a film set at Erfoud 

In the Drâa-Tafilalet region of Morocco is the desert oasis town of Erfoud, near the Merzouga dunes of Erg Chebbi. Thanks to its natural beauty, the town is a popular filming location and was used for blockbusters like The Mummy, Prince of Persia and even James Bond films.

Tips for planning a desert tour in Morocco 

While you’ll enjoy blistering sunshine during the day in Morocco’s desert, at night it gets incredibly cold so bring a scarf and plenty of layers. In winter (November through February), temperatures are at their lowest, which makes hiking and camel-trekking far more pleasant.

When to go in Morocco?

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The best time to travel to Morocco is Spring or Autumn, when the temperatures are at their most pleasant. In the summer, temperatures can be stifling and winter does not show Morocco's charms so well, especially as it can rain in the North. If you handle heat well or if you go to the mountains, you can also travel between May and September.
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Traveller reviews of their trip to Morocco

4.731 reviews
Teddy
5
We began our trip with a few days in Marrakesh, followed by some trekking through the Atlas Mountains. We were driven to the Sahara desert, stopping to see Ait Ben Haddou, Dades and Todra Gourges...and many more delightful stops along the way. After two nights in the desert, we retraced our steps to Marrakesh before returning home. Morocco was a land that had been calling me to it - without explanation - for years. Despite the amazing natural landscapes and tremendous food experiences, my lasting impression of Morocco was how warm and kind the people were. Perhaps the best examples of which we found in our local travel agent, Nawfal and our local driver, Mohammed. Nawfal had deep knowledge of Morocco, but more importantly, a mastery of human connection and relationships. We had only a rough idea of what we hoped for on this trip, but no idea if our hopes were achievable. Nawfal treated us with utmost respect as we went back and forth together over weeks identifying options. Along the way, Nawfal discovered the way that we liked to travel, what was most important to us...even the style of accommodations that fit us personally. We went through an embarrassing number of iterations to design our dream trip. Throughout the planning process, Nawfal met every change with grace and understanding - there seemed to be no end to his patience! Our trip to Morocco validated how well Nawfal had listened to us throughout every conversation. Taking careful note of our every concern and preference. The accommodations and experiences seemed hand-tailored to fit us perfectly. My only regret is that Nawfal isn't available to plan and arrange our trips to other countries as well. I can't imagine a better ambassador than him to welcome us on our first trip to Morocco and our first trip with Evaneos. Mohammed - our driver - was brilliant at tending to our every need along the way. He always found the balance between giving us space when we needed it and engagement when we needed that. He offered us choices along the way that were too small to make a guide book, but surprised and delighted us every time! He quickly got to know us and our preferences for how we liked to travel...stopping for any reason: coffee, food, carpet shopping, taking pictures of goats along the side of the road. He had our playlists streaming from the van speakers and made sure that we ate at the best places we would have never found by ourselves. He kept a close eye on our safety and comfort, stepping in delicately before language or currency could become a problem. He provided us tips and cultural explanations that helped us navigate and understand every day. At the end of our trip, he felt like a distant friend or relative that we hope to see again one day.
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Beautiful Morocco
5
This was an amazing trip to see the many facets of Morocco! Enjoyed working with Brahim and Nalfal from the planning to execution of the trip. Appreciated the way they handled issues during the trip and would definitely recommend them highly. One day, we will come back to visit Morocco again!
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moebius
4
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. It had a rough start. The driver who picked me up in Tangier seemed lost in Chefchauen and kept asking for directions and turning around. He dropped me off at the wrong gate in Chefchauen. He told me to ask the nice people for directions to the riad. One of the locals said he didn't know where the riad is, so I asked him to call the riad for directions. It turns out that the riad is located at a different gate. So I had to take a taxi to the correct gate. I didn't have the same problem with the drivers who picked me up in Chefchauen and Fes. They made sure there was someone to help me get to the riad. The guided visits were informative, especially when it came to showing me the way back to the riad without getting lost. It was the right length, so that I have time to explore on my own. I was 2hrs late to the guided tour of Ait Ben Haddou and half an hour late to the guided tour of Marrakesh. I have no problem being late as there are extenuating circumstances that prevents from arriving on time. However I was not pleased with the fact the guides were not informed of this. I told the driver to call the hotel that I will be late. I don't know if he did or not. But what I did know is that guides were waiting at the hotel until I arrived. All the riads I stayed at were exceptional, especially the one in Chefchauen. I felt like I was living like a queen.
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