Morocco Desert Tours – Discovering the Magic of Sahara

Morocco Desert Tours are breathtaking! At least once in your lifetime it is necessary to consider something special and a bit extravagant for your family’s vacation. The world is an amazing and diverse place with so much to see and experience. One place stands out among the rest – the Moroccan Sahara Desert.

At first thought, you might consider a desert to be boring and like a sandy beach without the ocean breezes and waves lapping at its shores. The reality, however, is that there is much beauty and history to be found. For that once-in-a-lifetime vacation that might just be one you return to year after year, consider Morocco desert tours.

Morocco Desert Tours

Discover the Sahara Desert in Morocco

Morocco desert tours are the best way to experience all that the Sahara Desert has to offer. The unexpected diversity will amaze you as you enjoy the moderate climate inland and the subtropical splendor of the coastal region. While it can be rather hot during the peak summer months of July and August in Marrakech, when you get just outside of there and get into the Atlas Mountains the temperatures are more comfortable.

Take a trip from Marrakech to the coastal community of Agadir or go through the mountains to Ouarzazate to experience the various climates that Morocco has to offer. What might actually surprise you is that in the mountains and even sometimes in northern Morocco they experience snow in the winter. As in most countries that sport desert, oceanfront and mountains, you can enjoy great diversity in Morocco.

This geographical diversity also lends itself to differences in the ecosystem and thus animals and plants. Morocco enjoys over 24,000 different animal species and about 7,000 vegetal species. They rank quite high for fish diversity as well. It comes as no surprise with over 40 different ecosystems that during your Morocco desert tour, you could see things such as dolphins and sea birds on the coastline to camels, hyenas, foxes and gazelle in the desert, and wild boars, primates and the nearly extinct Barbary lion in the mountains.

The guide for your Morocco desert tours will be happy to point out the various animals of Morocco. Some, like the Mall Fennec Fox that tunnel in the sand dunes during the day will be quite elusive, but you may catch a glimpse when it comes out at night to feed on rodents if you participate in one of the camping excursions.

Plant life is also diverse. You’ll see eucalyptus, acacia, loquat and casuarina on the coast, cork oak, juniper, cedar, fir, pine and more in the mountains, desert grasses and bushes in the desert, and argan-thorny trees, scrub brush, olive trees and more on the plains of Morocco. It is easy to locate the diverse plant life during a desert tour in Morocco, and your guide will be happy to point out the more intriguing species.

It is not just the plant and animal life that is diverse, which you will notice as you enjoy your Morocco desert tour. You will find everything from the nomads portrayed in movies to agriculturalists and merchants. Because Marrakech is a popular tourist destination, you’ll find plenty of commerce there.

If you think of Morocco as minimally occupied by some camel merchants and such, you will be surprised to learn that about 35 million people of Arab and Berber descent call this country home. Just under half of the workforce is involved in agriculture, with crops such as almonds, olives, cotton, sugar cane, sugar beets, grapes, dates and citrus. Fishing along the coastline is also common.

Your desert tour in Morocco will afford you the ability to meet and interact with a diverse group of people, as well as enjoy the landscape and all the animals and plants this amazing place has to offer. You’ll go from the hubbub of Marrakech with its vibrant colors and energetic people to the Erg of Chagaga which is far from civilization. Enjoy sweet dates in Zagora and a traditional multi-course dinner in style in Marrakech. See life as it is today, yet step back in time and see the historic landmarks such as the Koutoubia mosque and the well-preserved Aït Benhaddou Kasbah.

From the grand sand dunes of Tinfou, to the beautiful waterfalls near Agadir, you will be in awe of a place you may have thought was far less diverse. Morocco desert tours will make a believer out of you that this is one of the most beautiful places on the planet.

Morocco Desert Travel Information

It goes without saying that planning a desert tour in Morocco involves different things than other vacations do. You will need to choose the best time to visit as you would with any vacation, but there may be various items to bring that would need careful consideration. It is also a good idea to acquaint yourself a little with the laws and culture prior to embarking on your Morocco desert tour.

The first thing to do is consider when the best time is to participate in Morocco desert tours. Since the climate varies quite a bit during the year, you will want to choose a time of year that considers your tolerance to hot and cold.

Your choice will also depend on where you plan to go. Although not the peak time, often tourists choose between October and April for visits to the Marrakech area to avoid the hot summer months. July and August are very hot with temperatures well over 100°F so they should be avoided unless you can tolerate the heat. The peak time of July to September is ideal for coastal vacations or if plan to take excursions to the Atlas Mountains while you are there. Also, if you plan to enjoy camping or other outdoor nighttime activities, keep in mind it will be much cooler at night.

This variety of temperatures can make packing a bit more challenging, particularly if you plan to get the most of your Morocco desert tours by experiencing many different ecosystems. Layering is a common way to manage varying temperatures. Bring lightweight clothing and then sweaters and perhaps a jacket.

Do keep in mind that Morocco is an Islamic country, so modest apparel, particularly for women travelers, is recommended. Since you will likely be doing a fair amount of walking, be sure to bring comfortable shoes. Quality sunglasses are also recommended due to desert glare and intense sunlight.

One thing you will not have to concern yourself about is obtaining a visa if you are traveling from the United States, Canada, the UK or a number of other countries. If you are from another country, you can check with the Moroccan Embassy to find out if you need to apply for a tourist visa.

There are a few other things that you should do during the planning stages for your Morocco desert tour. One thing is to consider health and safety. You won’t have to worry about malaria in most areas of Morocco, but you should still avoid drinking tap water. You will have no problem locating bottled water. While no vaccinations are required by law, it is highly encouraged that you have a Typhoid and Hepatitis A vaccine.

As with any international travel, it is a good idea to learn a bit about the customs and laws prior to visiting. Do not assume that the laws will be the same as in your country or that you will not be held to them. For example, you will find the penalties quite strict for purchasing or using the local marijuana called “kif.” It is commonly used by the male Moroccan population but you should avoid getting involved.

Also, note that homosexuality is considered a criminal offence so be cautious about displaying public affection. Your Morocco desert tours guide will be glad to answer any questions you may have and will be diligent about helping you enjoy a trouble-free vacation.

With a bit of planning and paying attention to travel information, Morocco desert tours are the once-in-a-lifetime experience that will provide you with memories and stories for back home that will last forever.

Morocco Desert Tours – Lifetime Memories Guaranteed

 

Explore the Best of Egypt and Morocco – And Beyond

 

Luxury Middle East Tour
Morocco and Egypt vacation

Last Updated on June 12, 2022