In Morocco and you didn't see the Sahara?

That's not possible! Naturally not everyone drives with a 4x4 to Morocco and can experience the beauty and isolation of the dunes on desert roads. But nevertheless there are possibilities of making such a trip. Tours are offered by all southern hotels. In addition, it is possible to rent a Landrover with driver or to do a tour on the back of a camel. The best is to drive first with the Landrover to a beautiful bivouac at the sand dunes and later leave with the camels, for one night in the desert or up to a whole week. I can recommend the following agencies, small private companies, which take care quite affectionately about the guests.

Zagora

Caravane du Sud, chez Ali, B.P. 13, Zagora, Tel. (00212) 0524 - 84 75 69, Fax 84 74 97, www.caravane-sud.com, caravanesud@iam.net.ma,

is at the beginning of piste to camping Montagne. Going directly there, one saves the commission of a guide. You can make excursions according to desire, one hour, one day or a whole week with 2 to 20 persons. The car or the luggage is well parked in Zagora. A ride of one hour, e.g. to the sunset, is about 50 DH. More beautiful is however the overnight tour. It starts at 4 p.m., when the great heat is already gone. The camel leader, this time really a genuine "blue man" from the desert, who still can handle the camels, loads the Dromedar with blankets, water and food, the tourists should if possible wear a Chech for protection against sun, wind and sand, if it is hot a Gandora is very nice. The ride goes into the desert, in the night a bivouac under palm trees. Such a trip is about 40 EUR including dinner and breakfast. With a longer route of three days or one week one has the opportunity to meet Nomads and to learn their life.                                             

Mhamid

Sahara Services, Abdelkhalek Benalila, Tel. (00212) 0661 – 77 67 66, Fax 0524 – 84 80 26. Email: saharacamel@hotmail.com, www.saharaservices.info

Tourists with rental cars or public transportation arriving in Mhamid cannot make a trip into the desert with their vehicle, so it might be a good idea to rent a Landrover for up to 6 passengers. A beautiful tour leads to the "Oasis Sacrée" , a nice little oasis with maybe 15 palm trees, a spring and a bivouac, and to the dunes of Chegaga. You can do this 50 km piste (see the report of such a trip) and come back the same day, but it is much nicer to start in the afternoon and sleep in the bivouac in the oasis or near the sand dunes, you even might want to go on a camel ride. The price is to be negotiated and can be between 100 and 125 EUR per day, depending upon special desires. You should make reservations with Abdou before.

Possible are also 1 or 2 week trips, the Tourists can be picked up at the airport or hotel in Agadir, Ouarzazate or Marrakech. Price on request.

Transport Touristique, Ali Mouni, Merzouga, Tel. (00212) 0661 – 56 36 11, internet: www.adventureswithali.com, email:  alimouni@hotmail.com

Also tourists who do not have a 4x4 available can discover the beauty of the Erg Chebbi. In front of many hotels Landrovers are waiting for customers, particularly at the hotel Salam on the road to Rissani. The trip starts usually in the afternoon to one of the Cafés at the dunes, in order to enjoy the sunset, which is unfortunately very often clouded however by an imposed sky. Into a Landrover fit up to 6 persons, the trip only for the sunrise or sunset costs about 45 EUR.

I recommend Ali Mouni, who does also 1 or 2 week round trips in South Morocco and pick up the tourists in Marrakech or Agadir after previous arrangement.

Since a few weeks Ali opened his beautiful Auberge Nomad Palace between Merzouga and Taouz, the only Auberge where you can still experience the calmness of the desert. If you need transportation you can arrange it through Ali.