www.walksworldwide.com Walking specialist Walks Worldwide offers a brand new 13-day tour that explores the very fringes of the Sahara desert, via the highest and most extensive dunes in Morocco. This unique desert trek departs London 26th December .
The trek starts with a Flight from Casablanca into Quarzazate and a spectacular drive through the rugged Anti-Atlas to the picturesque town of Zagora and the Route des Kasbahs passing the famous sign Tombouctou 52 Jours.
The first day’s camp is at the foot of the Tizi Djinia in the Jebel Bani Mountains hwere the first of many delicious camp meals is served under the stars, to the vocal accompaniment of growling camels and braying donkeys. The first five days of the trek focus on the rocky desert of the Jebel Bani, where craggy escarpments look down over dry wadis in the wide valley bases. Palm trees, pools and wells, nomad families and their tented encampments appear in the most unlikely places, providing relief (and entertainment) amidst the extensive wilderness.
Stoney landscapes are soon replaced by mountains of sand at Chagaga, the highest dunes in Morocco. This is the epitome of desert trekking and if the soft sand at times proves too difficult, a desert ship (camel) whose feet are designed for this terrain provides perfect transportation. After criss-crossing the Draa riverbed, civilisation arrives in the shape of M’hamid, Morocco’s last outpost before the border with Algeria. For the last few hours trek through gardens of dates to reach the delightful tented auberge of 'Chez Pacha', situated in the palmerie on the banks of the Draa River, just a few kilometres from M'hamid. After nine nights out in the desert this really is a paradise where the water (if a little salty) flows relatively freely, vegetables grow and private Bedouin style tents with real beds are a luxury treat! |