Desert Camp

To the south of Djebel Sagho, east of Ouarzazate, the great open spaces leading to the heart of the Moroccan desert begin. Here the dunes are backed up against plateaux charred by the sun or mark out the wadi courses as far as the eye can see. Villages of bare brick cluster around their palm groves in the wadi hollows.

It is in this Moroccan Sahara that witnessed the first thrills experienced by last century's desert discoverers that we have installed Desert Camp, on the site of an ancient nomadic encampment in the hollow of a valley, amidst a mystical, awe-inspiring landscape that invites contemplation.
Here the comfort eschews ostentatious luxury so that the desert itself remains the supreme experience during your stay. Far off the beaten tourist tracks, this holiday accommodation will surprise novices and "desert addicts" alike and turn your holiday in southern Morocco into a unique, magical experience.

Life at Desert Camp

The camp is surrounded on all side by the Moroccan desert and its tremendously varied landscapes. An erg a few hundred metres away is a perpetual enticement to explore and immerse yourself in the dunes. Here the sand takes on varying hues as the day advances, interacting with the wind and playing with contours to create amazing changeable landscapes. Short excursions by 4x4 allow you to discover small oases, villages and the sites of rock carvings. But above all else this is a haven of peace where watching time pass is a real pleasure. Green tea, silence and big horizons are served up without restriction!

Facilities

The camp comprises 10 caïdal tents, all beautifully fitted out, in predominant shades of beige, white and black to harmonise with the natural surroundings. The tents all have two beds with full bedding, a mirror and a small toilet stand holding a bowl and a jug of water.

Meals are taken in a caïdal tent. Lighting in the individual tents is provided by candles and lanterns. There are 4 shower tents on duckboards with water tanks and washbasins plus toilet tents (chemical toilets).

Around the camp

Desert Camp is the ideal starting point for numerous excursions on camelback, on foot or by 4x4.
Excursions on foot or by 4x4, for a few hours or an entire day, are unforgettable ways of experiencing the desert: take the crest track to admire the view over the Saghro then return through the dunes, wander through the mineral world of the great plateaux where a magical silence reigns, climb the Jebel Serdrar mountain to find fossils, admire Neolithic rock carvings, stroll around the oases, enjoy the cool gardens dotted along the wadi.
And of course we particularly recommend you take a camel ride with our local guides for a genuine immersion in the nomads' way of life (book through your agent).

Activities

• Cookery classes with our local team: making bread, traditional cakes, …
• Berber language classes for beginners, cards and other games, quizzes, …
• Outings and Discoveries: orientation in the surrounding area, seeking out markers with our mountain guide, the camp leader.
• Camel ride: 400 dirhams, leaving from the camp (reservation essential at least 48hr in advance).


Pictures credits: © Véronique Mati - Ludovic Maisant
Drawings: Alain Bouldouyre