I would like to start by stating that our driver was patient, kind and very helpful, but the tour did nit quite live up to our expectations. We were picked up from our hotel in Marrakesh and drove through the atlas mountains, stopping a few times for pictures at vantage points. We stopped at Aït Ben Haddou for lunch and had a personal and rather informative tour. Sadly this is where we started to notice the lack of authenticity. We continued driving, visiting the film city and a few other sights and arrived late at the hotel. The hotel was acceptable, the food was served to all simultaneously (and of mediocre quality), and because the hotel was filled with travel groups all doing the same tour, it felt more like a hostel. The next day we saw the gorges which were anticlimactic due to the street running through them filled with tourists and oasis’s which more impressive. Due to Ramadan, lunch, and generally everything, was frequently closed which meant we were always in very touristy cafés by the roadside. The climax of the sahara tour, Erg Chebbi, was also a tourist attraction with hundreds of camels waiting to take tourists out to see the sunset. The camels were distressed and we chose not to take them, choosing to walk alongside, which is a shock to the (shockingly multilingual) guides but easily doable. The dessert camp consists many tents… with lights, sockets, a toilet, shower, comfortable beds and an extraordinarily large dinner. The evening entertainment with drums, dancing and singing around a fire is very memorable, but judging by the fact that after the same song three times, it is not an authentic insight into berber traditions…
We rose early in the morning to see the sunrise, had breakfast and began the day by driving around Erg Chebbi in search of nomads to have tea with. Personally this was what I was most looking forward to, interacting and documenting the life of native Moroccans. When we found the “Nomads” they had multiple tents set up for tourists to serve them tea in. By now you’ve definitely caught on to my message, there is little authenticity left if that is what you are looking for. A quad bike tour across some dunes does not help convey that feeling. Honestly, the last day was the most authentic because we went to souqs in diverse towns and a wholesale farmers market, which gave a more honest impression of local life. The drive to Fes was characterised by the increase in vegetation as we drove north, and the cedar forest was interesting, but not a place to really stop in, not that you had time because the last day is the longest.

Final summary: for your first time in a dessert this itinerary is very comfortable and impressive, but I need to convey that it is not “authentic”. At least not for me.

This is a MUST DO tour if you plan to visit Morocco and a highlight of our trip!

Our private guide Abubakar helped make an exceptional experience even more magical. Before we even arrived to Morocco, my best friend was not able to board our flight to Fez and had to get a last minute flight to Marrakech. Abubakar was able to pick her up very late and drive her all the way to Fez in the middle of the night safely. A day later he was also our driver from Fez to Marrakech with many amazing stops along the way including Ifrane, several stops in the Atlas Mountains, and Ouarzazate.

I was worried about the long drive before we departed Fez but it was very fun and adventurous. We had so many stops with opportunities to take pictures, eat and take restroom breaks, that it was very pleasurable and not to mention BEAUTIFUL.

I was not aware of all that Morocco has to offer. It's one of the most dynamic and beautiful countries I've ever visited with medinas, beach, desert, mountains (snow), greenery all in one place!

The desert stay was INCREDIBLE. I'm so happy we got to experience it. Once we made it to Marrakech we were sad to leave Abubakar as we feel we made a lifelong friend. I can't wait to return to Morocco and experience this all over again.