Draa valley: Between Mountain & Desert (Walking Holiday)

Guided – 8 Days/7 Nights 3* Hotels & Camp Full Board From Oct to Apr €442

Highlights

Puce Admire the most magnificent Arab and African cultures: incomparable food, fabrics, metal and wood carving.

Puce Experience traditional nomadic life in the desert.

Puce Climb the famous dunes of Tidri and Nesrate, and walk in the rocky desert (reg).

Puce Behold the contrast between the beautiful ever-green valley of Draa and the surrounding desert landscape.

A Walking Holiday in Morocco. Deserts of chalk, cliffs of sandstone and granite, giant dunes, green valleys, deep canyons, perched villages, an expanse of sky above the towering Atlas Mountains and archaeological sites that are testimony to North Africa’s rich historical heritage. Discover Morocco with One Foot Abroad. Morocco is a country full of contrasts, colour and culture, whose land has been inhabited for centuries by the Bedouins, Berbers and Moors.

This trip is perfect for intrepid walkers who are also interested in the traditions and culture of this fascinating country.

Caravane
Map

Our local English-speaking certified guide will show you the way, while the camel drivers cook some tasty Moroccan food for you… and their camels carry your luggage!
In Marrakech, you will stay in an en-suite room in a typical Riad 3* hotel in the medina. In the desert, our team will set up a camp every night. The camp comprises of a communal tent for dinner (with plenty of head room) where evenings will be spent contemplating the adventure and enjoying a drink. There is also a toilet tent. The team’s members will help you to pitch your own 2-man tent.

Day By Day

puce DAY 1 – Coming to Marrakech*
We will pick you up at Marrakech Airport, you will be transferred to your 3* hotel, 10 minutes away from Djemaa El Fna.

Town: All facilities, ATM, Internet, food markets, souvenirs.
Hotel: 3* Hotel, en-suite.
Meals: Marrakech is full of fantastic places to eat, so we decided not to include dinner here.

puce DAY 2 – Ourzazate & The Gate of the Desert Transfer from Marrakech to the gate of the Sahara: Zagora. We head south through the Atlas Mountain range, stopping in Ourzazate for lunch. Soon we arrive in Zagora – once the starting point for nomads on their way to Timbuktu. We meet our team of camel drivers who will accompany us during 5 days across the desert. Tonight we spend our first night in the desert!

Camp: The camp comprises of a large bedouin-style tent for dining and relaxing. You will sleep in your own personal 2-man tent.
Washing facilities: Like a real nomad, you will have to make use of the rivers! But, don’t worry – there’s also a ‘toilette tent’ in the camp. Meal: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

puce DAY 3 – To the red Draa valley [5h, 18km]
In the morning our team of camel drivers will lead the way through a red desert to the Oasis of Lalla Kbira, where we will have lunch under the palm and date trees. Then mid-afternoon, at the Oued Dra [river Draa] we stop and set up our camp.

Camp: The camp comprises of a large bedouin-style tent for dining and relaxing. You will sleep in your own personal 2-man tent.
Washing facilities: Like a real nomad, you will have to make use of the rivers! But, don’t worry – there’s also a ‘toilette tent’ in the camp.
Meal: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

puce DAY 4 – Along the River Draa [5h30h, 18km]
We follow the wild and rocky river Draa to the palm plantation of Tagounite – a market town where the nomads come to trade. We set up the camp in Nesrate on the tiny river Dades. Relax with a mint tea before dinner.

Camp: The camp comprises of a large bedouin-style tent for dining and relaxing. You will sleep in your own personal 2-man tent.
Washing facilities: Like a real nomad, you will have to make use of the rivers! But, don’t worry – there’s also a ‘toilette tent’ in the camp.
Meal: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

puce DAY 5 – The big Dunes! [5h, 15km]
Prepare for a day of excitement with massive dunes, rocky plateaus and a verdant oasis where you can stop to buy some traditional souvenirs. Tonight we will camp close to the village of Tidiri, in
the dunes!

Camp: The camp comprises of a large bedouin-style tent for dining and relaxing. You will sleep in your own personal 2-man tent.
Washing facilities: Like a real nomad, you will have to make use of the rivers! But, don’t worry – there’s also a ‘toilette tent’ in the camp.
Meal: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

puce DAY 6 – From Erg (sand desert) to Reg (rocky desert) [6h, 16km]
What wonders await us today! After a delightful breakfast of fresh fruits, bread and milk, we start walking through the Erg to the oasis of Ragabi for lunch. Here, the sandy surroundings gradually make way for a more rocky landscape in hues of red, brown and black. Later this afternoon, we set up camp amongst the tamarisk trees.

Camp: The camp comprises of a large bedouin-style tent for dining and relaxing. You will sleep in your own personal 2-man tent.
Washing facilities: Like a real nomad, you will have to make use of the rivers! But, don’t worry – there’s also a ‘toilette tent’ in the camp.
Meal: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

puce DAY 7 – Marrakech [2h30, 5km]
Short walking days: This morning we walk to Zagora to catch our minibus to Marrakech. Enjoy your last night in this vibrant city!

Town: All facilities, ATM, Internet, food markets, souvenirs.
Hotel: 3* Hotel, en-suite.
Meals: Marrakech is full of fantastic places to eat, so we decided not to include dinner here.

puce DAY 8 – Back home*
After breakfast we transfer you to the airport, and bid you farewell! Alternatively, we can arrange another night in Marrakech for you explore the city, see options below.

Meal: Breakfast

tent Riad
Camp in the desert

Accommodation in Marrakech

In Marrakech, we have selected a hotel with a high standard of quality and service. During your stay, you are welcome to avail of all the facilities the hotel has to offer; swimming pool, sauna, solarium etc.

Hotel
Hotel
Riad Hotel
About the Luggage About the Meals

Personal baggage, cooking equipment, tents and food are carried by the camels, leaving you to carry only a rucksack with whatever you need close at hand for the day.

During the trek, meals are cooked by our camel drivers. The food provided is fresh and healthy. For Breakfast: Jam, bread, cookies, fruit. For Lunch: Salad, tomatoes, carrots, seasonal fruit, and fish (sardines, tuna). For Dinner: Tajine, couscous, olives, nuts, etc.

VACCINATIONS What to bring with you during the trek

The World Health Organisation recommends that all travellers to Morocco should be covered for diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and hepatitis B.

Please visit our dedicated page here

Weather
Weather
Average temperatures (°C)
Weather
Average rain (mm)
*How to get there Included / Not Included

  • From Dublin
    - Aer Lingus to Agadir from November to March
    - Air France and BA to Casablanca (year round)
    - BA to Marrakech (October to March)
    - From
    London, Ryanair to Marrakech, BA and Air France.
    - Alternatively, you can also combine 2 non-connnecting flights, ie: Ryanair/Aer Lingus to gatwick + easyJet to Marrakech (see flights from London below)
  • From London
    - Ryanair from Luton
    - easyJet From Gatwick
    - BA to Marrakech (October to March)

  • Free pick up from Marrakech airport
  • From Agadir we can arrange a taxi to collect you (see options below). This journey is possible by bus, but takes 6 hours approx.
  • From Casablanca take a taxi (20min) to Casablanca’s train station (€30) + train to Marrakesh (3h duration, every 2hs, €10). Alternatively, we can transfer you (see options below)

  • Included
    - Mountain guide, cook, camel drivers
    - Rooms en-suite in Marrakech and tents during the trek
    - Full Board during the trek, B&B basis in Marrakesh
    - Luggage transported by us everyday. During the day you only carry your day pack!
    - Transfer from Marrakech airport
    - Transfer to/from the trek
  • Not Included
    - Flights
    - Holiday Insurance (compulsory)
    - Dinners in Marrakech
    - Crampons, sleeping bags
Prices and departures
Period Anytime from October to April (2 persons minimum)
2-3 persons 4-5 persons 6 persons or more
Oct to Apr €554 €470 €442
Options
Period Extra night
in Marrakech pps €
Transfer to Marrakech
from Casablanca or Agadir
up to 4 persons
Transfer to Marrakech
from Casablanca or Agadir
up to 12 personnes
3* hotel 4* hotel
20 double/twin
30 single room
40
double/twin
50 single room
€90, one way
€150, one Way