Sep 27, 2024
Recommended - I had an amazing experience on the Sahara excursion. From the beginning, everything was organized flawlessly, allowing us to enjoy the adventure to the fullest. The scenery is breathtaking, with sand dunes that seem endless, and the desert atmosphere is truly magical, especially at sunset.
The driver, Mohammed, was exceptional throughout the journey. He not only took us safely, but also proved to be a very friendly and knowledgeable person from the region. He shared stories and details about local culture and customs, which greatly enriched the trip. In addition, he made several strategic stops so that we could enjoy the best views and take photos.
The camel tour of the dunes was certainly one of the highlights. The feeling of being immersed in the desert is something I will never forget. Arriving at the camp, the atmosphere was very welcoming. We enjoyed a delicious traditional dinner under the stars and local music around the bonfire.
I recommend this tour to anyone looking for an authentic and unique experience in the Sahara. It was an unforgettable adventure, and I thank Mohammed very much for making it even more special with his excellent driving and hospitality.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 22, 2024
Long, long days travelling, but worth it! - Warning: long (and hopefully useful) review.
If you're planning to take a trip to the desert, it will make your experience much more enjoyable if you know what to expect, especially the cons of it, if you will, so let's start with that:
- It is a long, LONG trip for a two-day adventure. The drive itself from Fez to the campsite is about 7 hours, plus stops (monkey-watching, sightseeing, lunch, loo breaks), so if you're not happy to sit and enjoy the landscape for hours on end, enjoying people's company, reading, listening to music or something like that, you're probably not going to be happy.
- The vehicle's A/C might not work properly. At least, it didn't in our case, and we had no windows we could roll down, so we were a bit hot and sweaty both days. Having said that, we both had a cold, so if the A/C had been working it would have probably been worse for us!
- The food will be far from the most memorable in Morocco. It's just fuel, so treat it as such and your life will be better. This is a trip to enjoy for the experience of the surroundings, the camel riding and so on, not for the gastronomy, I'm afraid.
- Expect to be asked for money or to buy stuff everywhere you go, which is standard for Morocco as a tourist, so nothing new there. Just don't let it get to you. When we stopped to see the monkeys, the guy that gave us peanuts was asking me for 200 dirham afterwards. I thought it was ridiculous, so luckily I asked the driver before giving him any money, and the driver said I should give him 1, 5 or 10 dirham if I was feeling generous. So there's your tip, when in doubt, ask your driver.
- It will not be a private experience. The campsite is surrounded by other places just like it, so there is actually a fair amount of people around. It feels touristy, and chances are there will be a very loud group somewhere, because there always is, which detracts from the experience. But hey, if you want a private tour, expect to pay a fair bit more!
- The time riding camels is not enough. If you're expecting a one-hour ride (as we did), you're going to be disappointed. We got to ride the camels twice, but in total I would say it was about 35 minutes.
Now the good stuff:
- Monkeys were great, and we got to see cheeky baby monkeys and have them eat crackers off our heads, which was super fun.
- The expansive landscapes were amazing. We saw canyons, rivers, an oasis, lots of donkeys and sheep, mountains... it was beautiful.
- The Sahara, man! I mean, it is THE desert, right? Granted, we were at the very edge of it, but it still counts. When you reach the campsite, you get on that camel and head to the dunes to watch the sunset, and in that direction, there's nothing but dunes, and it is incredible!
- On that note, CAMELS! They are lovely and fun to ride, and the fact that you're riding one in the desert (albeit short rides) is such a unique experience that you kind of overlook lots of other stuff. Now, there is a limited amount of camels, so not enough for the number of people there, which means they come and go to bring people to the dunes and take them back to camp, so you might have to wait for a bit. I wish I had known that, because I left my bottle of water in the camel's saddle when we reached the dunes, never to be seen again. Since we were the last ones to arrive before sunset, we were the last ones to be returned to camp, which resulted in some very cool photos of us with the moon in the background, so that was a nice touch from our camel wrangler, who was lovely. (Also, at the end of the ride, the camel guy will ask you to look at stuff his family allegedly makes and to buy stuff. We did buy a couple of things because we actually liked them and they were reasonably priced. We had the same thing in the morning, where a guide tagged along, even though we were walking and didn't ask him to, and when we returned he tried to sell us stuff like all the others do, but we had to say no. Basically, whenever anyone joins you for any reason, they're trying to sell you something. That applies everywhere in Morocco.) We were supposed to ride camels in the morning to watch the sunrise again, but there were none available when we got there, so we had to walk, which wasn't an issue per se, we just wanted the camels.
- The tents where you sleep are great! They're more like little huts, with a private shower and toilet, so it is glamping in the desert. They even have A/C (not that we used it). Don't expect the softest beds in history, but to be honest, I had a perfectly good night's sleep.
- The setup of the campsite is great, and the evening entertainment was fun. The people working there know how to entertain a crowd.
In conclusion, great tour for a great price, as long as you know what to expect. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a taste of the desert.
Review provided by Tripadvisor