16/03/2018
BOOK NOW your 4 day trip to attend the ‘International Nomads Festival’ in the Grand SAHARA DESERT!!
Tour Overview
Dazzling green palm groves, crumbling abode houses, vast and quiet skies: M’hamid el ghizlan (M’hamid of the Gazelles) fulfils every picture book dream of a desert oasis.
Our tour to M'hamid el ghizlan is organized in small groups not exceeding 13 tourists. M'hamid el ghizlan is one of the most charming sites in Morocco. This is an opportunity to experience nomadic life in desert tents, ride camels across the Erg of jews and spend a whole night in the desert attending the festival of nomads.
The Sahara trip includes the High Atlas Mountains, Berber Villages, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, the valley of one thousand Kasbahs, Draa Valley, Agdez, Zagora and M’hamid el ghizlan. The tour is animated and economically advantageous because the costs are shared.
Tour Information
Start/Finish: Your Riad or Hostel In Marrakech
Destination: M'Hamid el ghizlan
Availability: 22 March 2018
Pickup time: 7:00 am
Return time: 8:30 pm
Duration: 4 Days 3 Nights
Category: Shared Tour
Price: 1500Dh / 150 Euros
Tour Highlights
*Discover a fantastic road passing through the High Atlas via the pass Tichka located at 2260m altitude
*Discover the charm of Ouarzazate city
*Visit to Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, UNESCO fortified village
*Pass the Berber town of Agdez and palmeraie of Zagora
*Discover the Bedouin life in the Sahara
*Enjoy camel riding
*Spend a magical night in the desert
*Free time at the Annual Nomad Festival
*Drive through the Draa Valley, past palm trees, Kasbahs and desert oasis’
*music with the nomads
Day1: Marrakech-Ait Ben Haddou-Ouarzazate–Zagora
Pick-up is early from your hostel or riad in Marrakech by an air-conditioned and comfortable mini-van. You’ll be crossing the High Atlas Mountains and traveling along the Tizi n’Tichka pass. First visit will be at the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou one of the sites recognized by UNESCO World Heritage. Discover the fortified Kasbah used to shoot many Hollywood films, such as ‘Gladiator’, ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and other famous movies. Have lunch in the Kasbah before driving to Ouarzazate, known as the ‘Gate of the Sahara’.
After lunch, you will travel to the south and cross the second pass which is Tizi N'Tnifift at 1710m and Ait Saoun village, the former route of caravans for Sahara traders coming from ‘Tombouktou’. You will reach the first administrative centre called ‘Agdez Village’ that marks the source of the Draa Valley. You will then continue through spectacular landscapes in the biggest palmeraie in the world.
Taking the pre-Sahara routes until you get to Zagora which is a small town, we spend overnight in Zagora at a comfortable guest house with private rooms with showers. Enjoy a traditional Moroccan evening meal and breakfast.
Day2: Zagora-M'Hamid el ghizlan
Departure to M'hamid (last village before the desert) through Tamegroute. Visit the underground Kasbah and Coranic library (very old manuscripts).
Upon arrival in M'Hamid, you will meet your camel guides, just in time for a 45 minute camel ride to the dunes. The bivouac is located in the erg of jews dunes where we will enjoy overnight in the desert staying in nomadic tents, having dinner together and enjoying the atmosphere of the Sahara.
Day3: M'Hamid el ghizlan
After breakfast in the camp, we will walk through the desert to the town, where we will attend the activities.
* Attend the day activities:
An open-air event in harmony with nature and the nomad’s world. The International Nomads Festival is a forum to freely express and exchange ideas in a friendly environment, showcasing a civilisation of children, women and men with a strong cultural identity with values and wisdom that are the legacy of their ancestors.
Various cultural activities highlight the tangible and intangible heritage of the nomadic tribes, thus contributing to preserve their cultural identity. Economic and social solutions are presented during the conferences and workshops to encourage collective and associative initiatives and open new opportunities for local development.
Set in a colorful and exotic setting, the 15th Nomads Festival will be once again a great meeting of nomadic cultures, an exploration for the visitors and a model for the younger generations, who have an opportunity to open up new frontiers while preserving their traditions.
· Demonstration of traditional Nomad activities: Desert Hockey (Mok’hach), Dromedary Race (Ellaz)
· Preparation of Sand bread (Mella), setting up traditional Nomad tents etc
· Nomadic Forum: Conferences, Debates and Workshops
· Exhibition Area
* Attend the night concert:
After dinner we walk 15 minutes to the festival, enjoying the warmth of the people, the music from the desert and from all over the world. The simple shared pleasures of daily life and the joy of many cultures, tradition and people meeting together in the ancient town of M'Hamid, playing music for peace and change. Overnight stay is in the desert camp.
· Acoustic Stage surrounded by the sand dunes of M’Hamid
· Sound System Stage in the center of M’Hamid
· Music and Dance; an eclectic selection of artists including Tamikrest, Kader Tarhanin, EtnoRom Band, Alhousseini Anivolla and the list goes on.
Day4: M'hamid Marrakech
After breakfast, we begin our journey back to Marrakech, passing the Nesrate Dunes at the foot of Jbel Tadrart. We will also visit Tagounit, a village that is on the route of the famous Marathon de Sables. Marathon de Sables, established in 1986 is a six-day race covering 229km and is known to be the ‘toughest foot race in the world’. Arriving in Ouarzazate there will be a chance to enjoy an optional lunch on the way. Then hop back aboard your minibus back to Marrakech via the High Atlas Mountains.
Your 4 days trip from Marrakech to M'hamid el ghizlan will end back to your hostel or riad.
The goal of this event is to incorporate discovery, diversity and quality. We aim to reach a diverse audience, create connections and strengthen the togetherness of our community.
Come spend time with friends and make new ones!!!
What is included;
- Transportation Insurance
- Modern air conditioned Minibus
- Breakfasts and evening meals
- Riding camels
- Accommodation
- Guides
Call us or email for additional information or to reserve your place on the tour.
Tel :::: +212 634561681
