SAHARA DESERT TREK
itinerary
8 Days
ITINERARY
5 Days
TREKKING
78km
DISTANCE
Dates
2025 & 2026
Take on the rolling Dunes of the world's largest Desert
This all-inclusive 8-day Moroccan challenge takes you into the heart of the Sahara Desert. Over 5 days of trekking, you will follow dried riverbeds from oasis to oasis, climb shifting sand dunes and camp in Bedouin tents underneath a blanket of stars. Expect hot sands, cool nights, and a brilliant celebration dinner in exotic Marrakech on your final night.
Day 1 Arrive Morocco
- Hotel
- Dinner
The team will meet at the airport, at the check in zone, 3 hours before departure. Please look out for our trip Leader & Medic in a red ‘Action Challenge’ t-shirt. Upon arrival at the airport in Morocco, we will then transfer approx. 4 hours to our hotel in Ouarzazate for the evening. Here, we will enjoy an evening meal and briefing from our Action Challenge leader.
Day 2 Trekking Day 1
- OUARZAZATE - MHAMID - RAS NKHAL
- Camp
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- 3hrs
- 8km
After an early breakfast, we will head east to the mountains, crossing narrow passes between the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. We drive through the bustling town of Ouarzazate and Zagora, the original starting
point for camel trains bound for Timbuktu. This will take approximately 5 hours. At a suitable point of the day, we will stop for a lunch break before continuing with our journey into the afternoon. We will arrive into Ouled Driss where we will load our camels and begin our trek to our first camp, set amongst the rolling dunes of Rad Nkhal. Upon arrival at camp, we will work together to put up our tents. As the sun sets, and we settle in, we will enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner by a campfire under huge African skies. The perfect first evening after a challenging day trekking! We will then all get some much needed rest.
Day 3 Trekking Day 2
- RAS NKHAL - AÏT OUNIR
- Camp
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- 8 - 9 hrs
- 26km
After breakfast, we will start trekking early, making the most of the morning’s cooler temperature. Together with our guides and camels, we will climb the first dunes of Ait Ouinir and walk through dried up river beds before a picnic lunch in the shade. In the afternoon, we will continue on to our camp for a well-deserved mint tea before dinner. Here, we will work together once again to get our tents set up for the night. We will then enjoy a group dinner before getting some much needed sleep.
Day 4 Trekking Day 3
- AÏT OUNIR-ERG SMAR - BOUGERM - TEL ATTIN
- Camp
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- 4 -5 hrs
- 13km
After breakfast we will head north towards Djbel Bani, trekking over dried out river beds which snake through the emptiness of the desert. There is more sand than yesterday and we pass many of the beautiful and desert savaged Tamarisk trees. We will continue to Erg Smar and Bougerm close to the wells of Tel Attin where we set up our camp and enjoy some lunch. We will then have a few hours free to rest in the camp.
As it starts to get dark, we will settle into this tranquil oasis and enjoy a group evening meal together before we return to our tents for another nights sleep.
Day 5 Trekking Day 4
- TEL ATTIN - DJEBEL BANI FOOTHILLS/OUED NAAM
- Camp
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- 5 - 6 hrs
- 19km
After another fuelling breakfast, our adventures continue across flat sun-baked desert rock as we head for Mzouaria. Here we pause for a relaxing lunch under the shade of the ubiquitous Tamarisk trees. A slow growing tree, increasing only an inch per year and taking close to 400 years to grow to full height. After lunch, we will continue our hike on the impressive rocky plateau known as the Djbel Bani foothills, which form the southern tail of the Anti-Atlas mountains. As the sun sets, we will set up camp for the evening in the camp North of Oued Naam at the foot of Djebel Bani . We will then enjoy a warming dinner before another nights rest. Tonight will be a night to remember with an exciting evening celebration with the crew at the camp.
Day 6 Trekking Day 5
- DJEBEL BANI FOOTHILLS/OUED NAAM - ERG LIHOUDI - OUARZAZATE
- Hotel
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- 4 - 5 hrs
- 12 km
Today, after another group breakfast, our final day of trekking will commence. We will have a half day trek back towards the lush palmeraies of Oulad Driss via the Erg Lihoudi dunes. At the end of the trek, a wonderful lunch will be provided. We will then transfer back to Ouarzazate to settle into our hotel for the night. We will then enjoy a group dinner before getting an early night to prepare for our time in Marrakech.
Day 7 Ouarzazate - Marrakech
- Hotel
- Breakfast
This morning after breakfast, we will transfer to Marrakech and spend half of the day in one of Morocco’s most exciting cities, exploring the famous souks, bustling medina and Djemaa el-Fna square. The evening will conclude with a momentous celebration to mark our incredible achievements. There will be lots to be proud of!
Day 8 Arrive UK
- Breakfast
This morning, we will enjoy our final breakfast in the hotel before checking out. We will then transfer as a group to the airport for our return flight to London.
