Sahara camp accommodation, Morocco

This is a new kind of Saharan camp accommodation, comfortable and dynamic, allowing an in-depth discovery of the Moroccan desert and the Saharan Berber Culture, offering a new way of travelling, while taking its time and participating in the protection of the Berber culture in the Saharan Desert of Morrocco.

By developing an environmentally-friendly accommodation, we act for the prosperity of the desert and provide new revenues to the local communities, through direct and indirect jobs. Our staff are employed on a local basis, and develop partnerships with local families, to offer guests the opportunity to experience the Ait Kabbhash tribes’ way of life while benefiting the social welfare in the area. The camp’s team members are from local villages and Berber Moroccan guides. A staff member is employed for the entire desert season, even if the activity of the camp may vary, which contributes to give him a stable income and encourages people to stay in the area.

Before their trips, clients are supplied with accurate information and a Traveller Code about the need to respect the local culture and adopt proper behaviours (especially in an Islamic-tradition country)

We maximize the participation of local families for the organization of activities (lunch with local families, interpretative itineraries with young local guides and visits to the local village of Remlia), and encourage them to make local crafts and goods, which they can sell at the camp. The whole concept of the camp was undertaken by local teams to promote the traditional way of living.

Guests are asked to pay 2 euros per night to support our local environmental and social projects. Part of our philosophy is "your choice can make a difference", meaning that for trips in selected countries where we are actively involved, clients are asked to participate in this action. The money collected at here will be integrally dedicated to help locals with actions to be determined with them during collective meetings. In each tent, and after their trip, clients receive information about the local actions taking place at the moment, information about long-term projects and the responsible behaviours to adopt.

An environmental programme has been implemented to minimise the impact of the camp operation. Waste is separated and recycled (organic waste is re-used to feed animals, paper and cardboard is dealt with on site, non-biodegradable waste is sent to Ouarzazate to be recycled).

Within the camp, we promote low consumption of water by promoting responsible habits. On a daily basis, we promote "low impact" means of transportation: walks, camel rides. Our promotion is mainly done through the internet; we do not have brochures.

For the operation of the camp, we maximize partnerships with locals. Food is mostly made of products bought at the local market of Remlia, although due to the location of the camp, not much food is available. The furnishing and decoration of the camp is mostly local, they work on a regular basis to renew and provide guests with opportunities to buy locally made goods.