Silence and Stars in the Unexplored Sahara

Explore parts of the desert where the nomadic way of life remains largely unchanged

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Silence and Stars in the Unexplored Sahara

Duration: 5 Days
Start: Marrakech
End: Marrakech
From: £475 P/P

Overview

This trip will take you to the Sahara that you have not seen before, away from the touristic routes and camps, to explore parts of the desert where the nomadic way of life remains largely unchanged.

The highlight of the trip will be spending the night under the stars in a completely secluded spot, away from any camp or tourist areas, where you will enjoy a dinner and the silence of the desert.

You will be accompanied by a guide who grew up in a semi nomadic family herding animals across this region of the desert, who will share with you stories of this way of life.

This tour is perfect if you have visited the Moroccan desert before, and wish to go off the beaten track.

All of our tour plans are only guides. We don’t take a one size fits all approach and one thing we love about offering private trips is that every trip is unique – once you get in touch with us, we will work with you to plan the perfect itinerary, activities and accommodation for a truly memorable experience!

What's Included

Airport pickup and drop off
Air-conditioned private transport and driver/guide
Accommodation
All breakfasts and dinners
Camel trekking in the desert
All listed activities and guided tours
Lunches (purchased locally)
Additional beverages
Optional guide tips

Extra activities

We can organize additional activities for you before, during and after your trip.

Options include:

Trip to Essaouira
Hot air balloon ride in Marrakech
Car hire following the trip to continue exploring at your own pace

Highlights

Explore parts of the desert far away from tourist routes
Spend the night under the stars with a candlelit dinner
Hammam experience in Agdz

Itinerary

This itinerary gives you a flavor of the trip, however all our trips are custom designed, so once you get in touch with us, we can make any additions or adjustments based on your dream itinerary!

Departing from Marrakech, we will travel over the stunning Tizi n’Tichka pass through the Ounila Valley, dotted with ancient villages and kasbahs. Along the road we will visit Kasbah Telouet, the former palace of El Glaoui, the Pasha of Marrakesh from 1912 to 1956.

Driving through the Rose Valley and the Skoura Palm Grove, we will reach the Dades Gorges, a spectacular series of gorges carved out by the Draa River. This section of the road is considered one of the most scenic drives in the world. You will have some time to explore the gorge, before spending the night in a beautiful ancient kasbah, hidden in a lush green valley.

This morning we will leave Dades and make our first stop in Nkob, the capital of the Ait Atta tribe, also known as ‘the village of 45 kasbahs.’

Beautiful gardens with high-quality henna, numerous date palms, and a range of aromatic plants can be found in the village. Nkob is also known for its organically cultivated almonds and charming oasis.

After a stop in Nkob, we will pass through Alnif, a paradise for fossil hunters who have discovered many prehistoric creatures, including dinosaurs, marine reptiles, and other ancient animals. We will stop for lunch in a kasbah in Alnif, before heading into the desert to arrive to Sidi Ali.

You will spend the evening in a desert auberge with swimming pool.

Today we have a full day in the desert, where we will explore and discover more about the life of nomadic families still living in this area. We will take a picnic lunch before continuing our exploration of the surrounding settlements.

In the evening, we have a very special experience planned for you. You will spend the night in the sand in a tent surrounded by nothing but the desert. Unlike other camps, there are no other tents – this is a truly authentic desert experience.

You will learn how to make a tagine over a wood fire and cook bread like a nomad under the sand using hot coal embers.

You will enjoy dinner, before spending the rest of the evening relaxing under the stars and soaking up the silence of the desert.

After waking up to catch the splendid sunrise over the Sahara dunes, we will head to Agdz off road via the famous moto-rally road connecting Paris to Dakar.

In the afternoon we will arrive to Agdz. With endless palm groves and beautiful earthen clay architecture, the fortified ksour village of Agdz is located on the old caravan route connecting Marrakech to Timbuktu and played an important role for merchants carrying goods across the Sahara.

We will take a drive to visit the Tizgui Pools, a magnificent natural pool surrounded by palm and fig trees, where you can take a dip if you are feeling brave. We will return to spend the evening in a beautiful lodge nestled in the palm groves, where you will enjoy dinner.

Option to add a private hammam at the lodge tonight.

On our final day, we will make our way back to Marrakech through the stunning mountains. You have the option to stop in Ouarzazate if you would like to visit the cinema studio, or do some final shopping in the sleepy old medina.

We will stop for a late lunch in Ighrem n’Ougdal, a spot high up in the mountains with stunning panoramic views. Your trip will end in Marrakech late afternoon/early evening, where we will drop you to a spot of your choice.

Route

FAQS

What type of accommodation will I be staying in?

We focus on authentic, locally owned accommodation for all of our trips, both to offer you a truly ‘Moroccan’ experience but also to support sustainable tourism and the local economy. On this tour you will stay in a mix of hotels and a desert camp. Once you contact us to book your trip, we will work with you to select the perfect accommodation for your budget and needs.

Is there a minimum or maximum number of guests to book a tour with you?

We work with solo travelers, couples, families – all the way to large groups – and have a range of transport options to suit groups of all sizes.

Is there an option to do this as a shared group tour, joining other people?

We believe the magic of the Moroccan desert is best experienced away from large tour groups and rigid schedules. A private tour allows you to travel at your own pace, stop whenever you like for photos or breaks, and enjoy a much more authentic and comfortable journey.

Unlike many shared group tours, there are no forced shopping stops, crowded vehicles, or rushed itineraries. You’ll have your own private driver, personalized service, and carefully selected accommodations to ensure a more relaxed and memorable experience.

For families or groups travelling together, private tours also offer excellent value, as the cost per person can often be similar to a shared tour — but with a far higher quality experience.

How does payment work?

To confirm your trip, we require a 20% deposit, which can be securely paid online using a debit or credit card.

We are a UK registered company and accept all major international cards, including American Express, with no additional payment fees.

The remaining balance is due 14 days before your arrival date.

What happens if we need to cancel?

We understand that travel plans can sometimes change, and we always try to be as flexible and helpful as possible wherever we can.

You can read our full cancellation policy and terms & conditions on our website. If you do need to cancel or amend your trip, please contact us as soon as possible and we’ll do our best to assist you.

Accommodation

We focus on authentic, locally owned accommodation for all of our trips, both to offer you a truly ‘Moroccan’ experience but also to support sustainable tourism and the local economy. On this tour you will stay in a mix of hotels and a desert camp. Once you contact us to book your trip, we will work with you to select the perfect accommodation for your budget and needs.

Pricing

The starting price for this trip is £475 per person, based on a family of 4 travelling. Please note that the price per person varies dependent on group size, choice of accommodation and time of year. The larger the group the more cost effective the per-person rate.

Make an Enquiry

Please use the below form to email us and we will get back to you as soon as possible. If you do not hear back from us within 24 hours, please send us a WhatsApp message at +212675321420. We look forward to hearing from you. 

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