New Year's Eve in Morocco... under the stars of the desert.

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Flight to Ouarzazate or Marrakech, depending on flight availability.

  

  Welcome at Ouarzazate airport (or Marrakech) by our team, then transfer and check-in at the hotel. Meals not included. Transfer: private vehicle, about 10 minutes. Accommodation: riad or hotel (depending on availability at the time of your registration). Meals not included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.

• day 2

  Ouarzazate (or Marrakech) - Small dunes of Blida

  

  Superb transfer to the desert via the Aït Saoun pass; the road runs along the magnificent palm groves of the Draa Valley, where the ramparts and crenellated towers of fortified kasbahs emerge. Arrival at the village of Aït Issfoul with its typical Draa Valley architecture. Departure on foot to cross the palm grove and discover the ingenious irrigation system that supplies water to the henna, barley, wheat, and alfalfa crops, as well as the many date palms. Arrival in the small dunes of Blida, with their yellow and orange hues, dotted here and there with palm trees… First contact with the desert and the oasis population. Transfer: private vehicle, about 3 hours from Ouarzazate, about 6 to 7 hours from Marrakech. Walking time: about 2 hours. Accommodation: camp set up by our team. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.

• day 3

  Blida - Oasis of Tiraf

  

  Crossing the superb dunes of Bougayoirn, with their pink and orange hues that contrast wonderfully with the dark green of the palm trees, planted here and there on the slopes of the dunes… Magnificent landscapes! The hike continues across a vast mineral plateau that gives access, in the middle of the desert, to a fortified village (Ksar) whose typical rammed earth architecture allows the kasbahs and marabouts (tombs of holy men where pilgrims come to meditate) to rise, which line the route up to the Zaouïat of Sidi el Madani, now abandoned, but whose ruins are still sacred. The Zaouïat were a kind of asylum where people possessed by djinns came to be treated. Walking time: about 4 hours. Accommodation: camp set up by our team. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.

• day 4

  Oasis of Tiraf - Erg Sahel

  

  Climb to the highest dunes to admire the sunrise over the vast palm groves, from which the minarets of the villages emerge. Then depart towards a rocky promontory to discover the rock engravings dating from the Neolithic era, spared by time and sand... Further on appears, like a mirage, a small lake always supplied with salty water! Swimming possible depending on the year. Between dunes and reg (stony plateau), enter the magnificent Sahel erg... Lunch break in the shade of the tamarisks, then set off into the fabulous scenery of this region where the dunes, with their gentle curves, impose their colors, shifting from the palest yellow to the brightest orange. A superb day of discovery that ends with a camp set up in the middle of the dunes, in dreamlike landscapes. Sunset not to be missed under any circumstances. Walking time: about 5 hours. Accommodation: camp set up by our team. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.

• day 5

  Erg Sahel - Erg L'Aanitie - New Year's Eve party

  Departure on a mineral plateau dotted with tamarisks and acacias; in the distance, the oases of Bounou, Oulad Driss, and Mhamid appear, like mirages... After crossing the rocky ridge of Rrich, strewn with numerous fossils, head towards the immense dunes of the erg l'Âanitie where our camp awaits us. Preparation for the New Year's Eve celebration... An unforgettable transition to the new year in the company of the camel drivers and our local team; tasting of traditional Moroccan dishes such as méchoui and Moroccan pastries, accompanied by the famous "Boulaouane" wine. Walking time: about 5 hours. Accommodation: camp set up by our team. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.

• day 6

  Erg L'Âanitie - Oasis of Oulad Driss

  

  Always between sand and oasis, crossing the old fortified village of Bounou and then arriving at the magnificent oasis of Oulad Driss, renowned for the quality of its dates but also for its fantastic landscapes between small sand dunes, palm trees, and irrigation canals feeding the henna gardens and fruit trees... An oasis like in a dream! Accommodation in a camp set up with traditional nomad tents (kaïmas), showers, toilets, tables, and chairs... Optional short walk in the afternoon to discover this superb oasis as well as that of Bounou. Walking time: about 5 hours. Accommodation: traditional camp set up with showers, toilets, tables, and chairs. Meals included: breakfast - lunch - dinner.

• day 7

  Oulad Driss - Ouarzazate (or Marrakech)

  

  Departure by vehicle along the Draa Valley; stop at Tamgrout to visit the Quranic library and the village pottery; lunch around the village of Agdz, then arrival in Ouarzazate or continuation to Marrakech depending on the arrival airport. Transfer: private vehicle, about 4 hours to Ouarzazate, about 6 hours to Marrakech. Accommodation: riad or hotel (depending on availability at the time of your registration). Meals included: breakfast, lunch. Meals not included: dinner.

• day 8

  Ouarzazate (or Marrakech) - France

  

  Free time in Ouarzazate (or Marrakech) if flight schedules allow. Flight to France. Transfer: private vehicle, about 10 minutes. Meals included: breakfast. Meals not included: lunch, dinner.