Sahara Desert charity trek, Morocco
| country: | Morocco |
| location: | Sahara Desert |
| trip type: | Challenging walking holidays |
| departures: | 2010: 15 May, 4 Sep 2011: 7 May, 5 Nov |
| price: | From £325 (8 days) deposit + £1950 fundraised (55% to charity) inc UK flights |
| more info: | Self funders pay £325 deposit + £978 (inc £100 to charity). Other payment options available |
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introduction to Sahara Desert charity trek, Morocco
Trek in the Sahara Desert and raise money for your favourite charity at the same time as taking part in an amazing adventure!
Highlights include:
Visit Ouarzazate, gateway to the Sahara Travel across amazing landscapes Cross the MaiderEl Kbir Climb Jebel Lamrakeb Visit nomad tents and caves
Uncover the epic views and fascinating communities of the Sahara Desert, which lie hidden from the curious gaze of Moroccan tourism.
Your challenge takes you beyond the Jebel Saghro region, a forbidding landscape punctuated by stark peaks, formidable gorges and bright oases. Situated south of the Atlas and Dades Gorge, the region was originally volcanic and the last defence before the Sahara.
This is the land of the famous Ait Atta tribe, a nation of great warriors who migrate here from the High Atlas Mountains in the winter. Led by Hassou Ba Salem, the tribe resisted French Occupation and retreated to the rocky stronghold of Jebel Bou Gafer in 1933.
Arriving in Morocco, you will be transferred by road to the start of your trek. You'll spend your first day crossing the Maider El Kbir plateau, passing rose dunes en route. The region is speckled with the tents of nomadic people, who move here once the first snows start falling on the High Atlas Mountains.
A challenging climb up Jebel Lamrakeb is rewarded with spectacular views of the multi-coloured rocky desert landscape. Walking through palm gorges, you'll join the dry Rhris River. Guided by the river, you head towards an oasis of tamarisk trees. As you make your way to the dunes of Boulaàdam, you'll have the chance to visit nomadic caves and tents.
You spend your final walking day trekking along the Tikertouachene River, until you meet the main road where you will be driven back to Ouarzazate, for a final night of celebrations.
Please note: This trip can also be booked without flights. Some of the dates are exclusive for specific charities, please contact us for details.
Highlights include:
Uncover the epic views and fascinating communities of the Sahara Desert, which lie hidden from the curious gaze of Moroccan tourism.
Your challenge takes you beyond the Jebel Saghro region, a forbidding landscape punctuated by stark peaks, formidable gorges and bright oases. Situated south of the Atlas and Dades Gorge, the region was originally volcanic and the last defence before the Sahara.
This is the land of the famous Ait Atta tribe, a nation of great warriors who migrate here from the High Atlas Mountains in the winter. Led by Hassou Ba Salem, the tribe resisted French Occupation and retreated to the rocky stronghold of Jebel Bou Gafer in 1933.
Arriving in Morocco, you will be transferred by road to the start of your trek. You'll spend your first day crossing the Maider El Kbir plateau, passing rose dunes en route. The region is speckled with the tents of nomadic people, who move here once the first snows start falling on the High Atlas Mountains.
A challenging climb up Jebel Lamrakeb is rewarded with spectacular views of the multi-coloured rocky desert landscape. Walking through palm gorges, you'll join the dry Rhris River. Guided by the river, you head towards an oasis of tamarisk trees. As you make your way to the dunes of Boulaàdam, you'll have the chance to visit nomadic caves and tents.
You spend your final walking day trekking along the Tikertouachene River, until you meet the main road where you will be driven back to Ouarzazate, for a final night of celebrations.
whats this trip includes
International flights to and from Morocco, all meals and drinking water unless otherwise stated in the itinerary, all transfers in Morocco, all accommodation whether in tents or hotel, English speaking expedition leader and full local support team & backup, a T-Shirt, US$20 to the local community project, and discount from Nomad Travellers Stores for personal equipment. We also make a contribution through Climate Care to offset the equivalent CO2 emissions of your international flight. Please note: This trip can also be booked without flights. Some of the dates are exclusive for specific charities, please contact us for details.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Depart UK to Ouarzazate, Morocco. Meet at London airport at the check-in desk for the flight to Ouarzazate. Your representative will be there to assist you with the check-in and any last minute questions. Upon arrival you will be transferred to a local hotel where you will settle in to your new surroundings and stay overnight. |
| Day 2: | Ouarzazate to Lahfira Camp. You will leave Ouarzazate by bus and transfer to Achbarou, the "Door of the Desert", via the Tizi n'Tinifift pass. You will continue along the Draa Valley – Glaoua Country – until reaching Tansikht. You will then leave the Draa Valley via the Nkob road, enjoying the panoramic views of Jebel Saghro – a volcanic massif. You will then continue for two hours until Fezou and Lahfira camp. Glaoua country is full of palm groves along the Draa River giving life to the Glaoua inhabitants living nearby. Approx. two hours walking. |
| Day 3: | Maider El Kbir Plateau. This morning you will start walking by the rose dunes and tamarisk trees, traversing the Maider El Kbir plateau. The nomadic people move here with their animals from the High Atlas to the South at the beginning of autumn when the snows begin. Lunch will be taken near the Jebel Ouchane massif. This afternoon you can enjoy a walk by Sidi Hmad Ahansal Marabout (a saint / spirit) to arrive to the Ikhefuirir dunes camp, near the village. Approx. 6 hours of walking, covering 17Kms. |
| Day 4: | Climb Jebel Lamrakeb. This morning you will climb Jebel Lamrakeb – with good views of the multi coloured rocks, black and red, and out to the desert landscape. You will then traverse down the O'Hare Gorges to camp in the Palm groves. Approx. 7 hours of walking, covering 23kms. |
| Day 5: | Rhris River. Continuing the trek, you will pass Tizi n'Iguidou to join the dry Rhris River. You will continue along the dunes of the Chris River to Anon n'Bahallou by oasis and tamarisk trees. Approx. 6 hours of walking, covering 20kms. |
| Day 6: | The dunes of Boulaàdam. You traverse the col of Bab n'Ali with a visit to the nomadic caves and tents, and then continue down to the dunes of Boulaàdam. Arrive to Anoun El Fraolia where you will camp overnight. Approx. 6 hours of walking, covering 23kms. |
| Day 7: | Return to Ouarzazate. You follow the Tikertouachene River this morning until meeting up with the main road. (Approximately 3 hours). From here you will meet up with the group bus and continue along the Tafilalet road via Tineghir and the Kasbah trail until you arrive at Ouarzazate. Here you can enjoy a final celebration in Morocco before the journey home begins. You will overnight here in a local hotel. |
| Day 8: | Depart Ouarzazate to UK. Arrive UK. You will have an early morning transfer to the airport for your return flight to London, arriving later the same day. |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Environment
As a company we have also drastically reduced the carbon footprint of our UK operations, and are making a huge effort to do so in their destination countries too. We are also investing to offset the emissions from the international flights required to take part in our challenges. We also provide travellers with a responsible tourism policy detailing ways in which you can be an ethical traveller. From packing conscientiously to advice on local customs & environmental awareness overseas to maintaining contact with your new international friends upon your return – our policy is a comprehensive document providing all the info you need to trek, climb of cycle responsibly. Community Our responsible commitment extends to helping the local communities we visit. We employ local guides, porters and other essential support staff, and use locally owned accommodation. We donate USD$500 per trek to various projects including SOS Children’s Village in Morocco. The SOS Children’s Village offer a permanent home in a family - style environment to children who have lost their parents or can no longer live with them. The basis of life in the community of an SOS Children's Village is peaceful co-existence - beyond all distinctions of ethnic, cultural or religious affiliation. In many cases SOS Children's Villages are veritable melting pots for different ethnic groups and creeds: from the blacks and whites in South Africa or the Tamils and Singhalese in Sri Lanka, to the Serbs and Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina or the Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda. In addition, SOS Children's Villages also provides active neighbourhood assistance. This includes a whole range of ancillary facilities such as kindergartens, schools, vocational training centres, counselling centres and clinics, mostly targeted at the needs of the young people and families living in the vicinity of the SOS Children's Village. In this way SOS Children's Villages help to improve the situation of what is often a large impoverished part of the local population. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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