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Morocco Short Break: Marrakech to the Sahara





Take a quick trip to the Sahara, stuffed with local flavour
If you only have days to spare and the sand and stars of the Sahara are calling, then this three-day adventure is for you. Take a round-trip journey from Marrakech into the desert and over the dunes. Watch the sun set from the back of a camel, the sun rise over the Erg Chebbi dunes and camp under the North African stars. Along the way, visit the ancient ksar of Ait Benhaddou and the lush Todra Valley, sipping tea and breaking bread with members of special women’s associations in both spots. A locally based leader will accompany you in comfortable transport the whole way, offering insights into local culture, history and geography at every step.
4.9
242 reviewsStart: Marrakech, Morocco
End: Marrakech, Morocco
- Duration
- 3 days
- Group size
- 1 to 16
- Minimum age
- 12 years old
- Style
- Original
- Theme
Our themes categorize trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Short breaks
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Why you'll love this trip
- Camp under the desert skies of the Sahara and travel by camel for incredible sunset views over the Erg Chebbi dunes.
- Travel with an expert local leader and ride in comfort in a private vehicle from the bustle of Marrakech to the serenity of the Sahara.
- Visit the women of the Tawesna Association and a Todra women’s association to learn about the work they’re doing to support local Moroccan women.
- Make stops in the ancient ksar of Ait Benhaddou and the lush Todra Valley and get a feel for local life.
- Enjoy iconic Moroccan and Amazigh dishes each day and feel the warmth of local Moroccan hospitality.
- By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, Amal. Donations support them to provide women in Morocco with culinary skills training to help improve livelihoods. Intrepid will double your impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
Itinerary
Salaam Alaikum! Welcome to Morocco. You’ll kick off your Short Break Adventure at 8 am in Marrakech this morning. Meet at your joining point before setting off in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle with the rest of your group, your driver and your local leader. Head out of the city towards Todra Valley in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Along the way, stop at Ait Benhaddou – this UNESCO World Heritage site was once an important stop for salt caravans crossing the Sahara. Take a walk through the winding streets of the Old Town and visit the Tawesna Teahouse on the river – a community-run establishment that provides local women with an income to support themselves and their children. Using ingredients sourced from local cooperatives, the women prepare delicious tea and pastries while sharing their stories. After, carry on to the Todra area, where you might want to take a refreshing dip in the hotel pool.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Lunch
- Kasbah Ait Benhaddou visit
- Tawesna association visit and lunch
Please refer to this trip’s Essential Trip Information to confirm the location of this morning’s joining point. Please come prepared with your insurance and emergency contact details, which will be collected before setting off. Today’s driving time is approximately 8 hours in total.
After breakfast, join your leader for a walk through the valley’s farmland to the Todra Gorges – towering red-hued sandstone canyons up to 400 m high. Cap off your hike with a brunch picnic in the valley, featuring stuffed bread, mint tea and olive oil prepared by members of a local Amazigh women’s association. Next, it’s on to the Sahara! Drive through the barren mountainsides and watch the scenery change to fertile valleys until you reach Merzouga. Drop your bags at your overnight camp and hop aboard your desert-ready transport – your own camel. Head out on a 1-hour ride across the Erg Chebbi sand dunes as the sun sets around you and the surrounding sea of sand morphs through shades of red and orange. Back at camp, your hosts will prepare a hearty Moroccan feast. Then, you’ll spend the night in a simple but comfortable tent under the stars.
- Camping (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Todra Gorges visit
- Local Amazigh Brunch in the valley
- Sunset camel ride
- Dinner at camp
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
You’ll want to rise early this morning and get yourself to the nearest dune for a spectacular sunrise over the Sahara. Once you’ve greeted the day, fuel up with a traditional breakfast at camp and begin your return journey to Marrakech, where you’ll be dropped off and your adventure will come to an end.
- Breakfast
- Breakfast at camp
- Sunrise dune walk
Your travel time today will be approximately 10 hours. This long journey time will be broken by a variety of stops on the way to give you the chance to stretch your legs and unwind a bit.
Inclusions and activities
Destinations
MoroccoMeals
2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner
Transport
Camel, Private Bus
Accommodation
Camp site (1 night), Hotel (1 night)
Included activities
- Kasbah Ait Benhaddou visit
- Tawesna association visit and lunch
- Todra Gorges visit
- Local Amazigh Brunch in the valley
- Sunset camel ride
- Dinner at camp
- Breakfast at camp
- Sunrise dune walk
When you travel with us, The Intrepid Foundation gives you more opportunities to support important causes in destinations you visit.
Why choose us
We’re adventure travel experts with decades of experience and proud to run trips in over 100 countries.
We keep our group sizes small and our experiences big, so you can get more out of your travels.
Leaders don’t just show off a destination, they’re the heart and soul of our trips.
The Intrepid Foundation gives back globally and our B Corp status is proof that we're dedicated to creating a positive impact.
Before you book you should know
- Don’t let the heat keep you from exploring the world! Summer temperatures can be extremely high in Morocco (over 40°C), so it’s important to pack light, use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat and drink plenty of water.
- As Morocco has a tipping culture, travellers are expected to tip small amounts for most services, so please be prepared. Your trip leader and the 'Money Matters' section of our Essential Trip Information will help to provide you with some suggestions as to what amounts are appropriate.
- Although you shouldn’t expect any aggressive selling techniques in Morocco, please be aware that you may be approached by shop owners and street vendors offering their goods to you on regular occasions.
- We've sourced our accommodation very carefully and picked the best possible hotels in line with the Intrepid style of travel, but please note that service and accommodation in Morocco may differ from Western standards.
- As accommodation on this trip is twin-share, solo travellers will share a room with another traveller of the same gender. This trip is a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded people, so embrace it! Please note that a single supplement is not available on this trip.
1.The bus will depart at 8 am sharp. Please arrive at the meeting place at least 15 min prior to departures to be able to finalize boarding.
2. Your desert camp is a simple affair, with bedding and basic toilet facilities provided. The blankets provided are usually sufficient for most travellers between April and October, but you may like to bring your own sleeping bag for extra warmth, especially between November and March.
3. There’s no electricity at the campsite, so it’s important to come prepared with fully charged phones, cameras and everything else you may need.
4. On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage, we strongly recommend keeping the weight around 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter while carrying your luggage. We also recommend a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc.
5. Your arrival back in Marrakech will be, depending on traffic, between 8 or 9 pm on your last day. If you have to fly out on this day please don't book a flight earlier than midnight.
Visa information is provided by Sherpa, a third-party. The "Add connection" feature shows transit visa requirements only and does not include full entry visa needs. Please note, additional service fees apply if you choose to purchase a visa through Sherpa.
Travel and visa requirements
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
We've sourced our accommodation very carefully and picked the best possible hotels in line with the Intrepid style of travel, but please note that service and accommodation in Morocco may be different from standards you are used to at home.
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multi-share basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite (even if you paid for single room supplement) and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.
HEATING
Some of our guesthouses/hotels are unable to supply heating as this would be a major financial and environmental strain. It's also a case of energy supply and timing provisions, which is limited in some places. Please be prepared for cold showers, which are a pleasure for most of the year. Air-conditioning systems (if available) don't always function.
CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip, we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
Cafe de France
J2G7+G2G Jamaa El-Fnna, Rue des Banques
Marrakech
40000
MOROCCO
Description
Café de France is a classic spot, located right on Jamaa El-Fnna square. Opened in 1912 it is one of the oldest and most famous cafes in Marrakech, and it is still a very popular spot, both among tourists and locals.
Instructions
Cafe de France is right in the Jamaa El-Fnna square. For this trip the bus will be waiting in front of it and will depart at 8 am sharp. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to departure.
Intrepid offers a pre-arranged arrival transfer service from Marrakech International Airport [RAK] at an additional fee. If you have pre-booked this service, please ensure you provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel so the transfer can be organized.
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