trip details for morocco & trans saharan (MTS)

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is this trip for me?

Route: Malaga to Dakar or v.v.

Length of Section: 5 Weeks

Profile: Our journey across the Sahara commences in Morocco, soaking up the atmosphere of this fascinating desert kingdom. We'll visit the legendary medina of Fes before overlanding across the High Atlas to the Valley of the Kasbahs and the stunning Ait Benhaddou. There's time to discover the souks of Marrakech and the colourful port of Essaouira before we head south and the adventure really begins. We cross the remote Western Sahara bound for Mauritania, going across the dune fields and exploring deep into the desert. From Chinguetti we turn back towards the coast, stopping in the capital Nouakchott before heading south, making for Senegal, where we'll end our trip in the buzzing city of Dakar.

Adventure Rating: Challenging

Crew: 2 crew, local guides as necessary.

Vehicle: 4 wheel drive Dragoman truck.

Accommodation: Mainly campsites, some wildcamps, hostels/hotels. (85% camping, 15% hotels)

what's included?

Week 1: Malaga & Northern Morocco

Overnight in Malaga and cross to Morocco.
Explore the blue-rinsed streets of Chefchaouen.
3 night break to roam the backstreets of historic Rabat.
Guided visit of the ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis.

Week 2: Eastern Morocco

2 nights and guided tour to explore the ancient medina city of Fes.
Overland across the High Atlas into the Valley of the Kasbahs.
Overland to Merzouga to see the famous Erg Chebbi
2 nights to explore the vast Todra Gorge, to hike and to visit the local palmery.
Overnight at and wander through the stunning Ait Benhaddou Kasbah.

Week 3: The Moroccan South

3 nights in Marrakech to soak up the exotic atmosphere.
Time in the High Atlas Mountains to climb Mt Toukbal.
2 night stay in the beach town and colourful port of Essaouira.
Embark on a 4 day Western Sahara desert crossing to Mauritania.

Week 4: Morocco & Western Sahara

2 day recuperation in the Atlantic Port of Nouadhibou.
Time in Nouakchott to prepare for the desert.
Spend 2 nights in the ancient Mauritanian Ksour of Chinguetti.

Week 5: Saharan Exploration & the Coast

Time for Sahara Desert Exploration - a flexible itinerary allows us to explore.
Overnight camel trek in the Mauritanian deserts.
Visit the lush Terjit Oasis.
Visit to the atmospheric city of St. Louis.
Explore Dakar, Senegal's capital city.

what can I do on the way?

(Activities available at extra costs)

Camel trek into the Erg Chebbi sand dunes in the Moroccan Sahara.

notes:

General notes: Because of the nature of this tour, the itinerary may well vary from that published. This trip will involve crossing remote areas and there will be an element of discomfort. This is a tough but very rewarding trip.

Kitty does not cover food while staying in hotels and hostels. All kitties are quoted in USDs. However in North and West Africa, Euros are much easier to use. Please ensure you bring Euros and not USDs for the kitty and for personal spending. The exchange of USD to Euro for the kitty will be decided by the tour leader on Day 1 of the trip.

Desert travel is perhaps the most evocative of all adventure travel and there is no desert more evocative than the Sahara. Sahara travel is awesome and to travel overland from the Mediterranean, through the Atlas Mountains and to traverse the whole desert down into Mauritania and Mali is an overland travel must. Don't expect this to be a holiday, an adventure holiday maybe, but hardly even that. The words holiday and Sahara don't sit comfortably together, but if you are after an adventure tour to take you through stunning scenery with no tourists and no resorts or if you like to meet peoples who hospitality is legendary, then a Sahara adventure is for you.
This overland adventure is really made out of three parts. On the northern edge of the Sahara lies the kingdom of Morocco , home to the great cities of Fes and Marrakech, ancient medinas and bazaars, the Atlas Mountains and the kasbahs of the Berber warlords. Crossing the Sahara is an epic adventure. This sea of sand has been a barrier to travellers for thousands of years, yet man has devised routes to cross it. Led by Moorish guides we traverse the dune fields of Mauritania and will spend some time exploraing the desert. At the far side lies West Africa and the Sahel: music, colour, markets and villages are what make Senegal such an appealing destination.