Morocco, a North African kingdom adjoining
the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea,
where the cultural blend is renowned by
its Berber, European, African and Arabian cultural influences. Morocco most beautiful
and oldest city Marrakesh, where Markets and its Medina’s are vibrant buys
and wonderful. The capital Rabat’s Kasbah of the Udayas is very famous with the
ancient history of 12th-century royal forts.
the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea,
where the cultural blend is renowned by
its Berber, European, African and Arabian cultural influences. Morocco most beautiful
and oldest city Marrakesh, where Markets and its Medina’s are vibrant buys
and wonderful. The capital Rabat’s Kasbah of the Udayas is very famous with the
ancient history of 12th-century royal forts.
The deserts of Morocco are amazingly
warm and best for trekking. But ironically, most of the area of it are far from
the vast stretches of sand dunes where you may only discover “the golden
sand”. When one speaks of the desert, one has in mind images of immense
sand dunes, as far as the eye can see, mirages. There are only two Ergs, the famous erg Chebbi, next to Merzouga,
and erg Chigaga,
and further in south, near M’hamid.
warm and best for trekking. But ironically, most of the area of it are far from
the vast stretches of sand dunes where you may only discover “the golden
sand”. When one speaks of the desert, one has in mind images of immense
sand dunes, as far as the eye can see, mirages. There are only two Ergs, the famous erg Chebbi, next to Merzouga,
and erg Chigaga,
and further in south, near M’hamid.
If Chebbi dune is the highest and
the most extensive then also Chicaga is
more isolated, since it takes about 45 minutes of 4×4 to reach it, while
Merzouga is actually “at the edge of the road”. To go to the dunes is
to fulfill a dream whether you’re a sports enthusiast or a trekker, or a little
less athletic. While rolling in the sand to drive
on the high dunes, we replay movies and comic strips, letting ourselves go to
the pleasure of a descent fast and safe journey.
the most extensive then also Chicaga is
more isolated, since it takes about 45 minutes of 4×4 to reach it, while
Merzouga is actually “at the edge of the road”. To go to the dunes is
to fulfill a dream whether you’re a sports enthusiast or a trekker, or a little
less athletic. While rolling in the sand to drive
on the high dunes, we replay movies and comic strips, letting ourselves go to
the pleasure of a descent fast and safe journey.
But there are many more deserts
in Morocco, whether the deserts of stone surround the oases of the Drâa valley,
the high plateau of the Atlas, almost untouched by many visitors, exceeding
twenty centimeters high.
in Morocco, whether the deserts of stone surround the oases of the Drâa valley,
the high plateau of the Atlas, almost untouched by many visitors, exceeding
twenty centimeters high.
The Hamada
of the Draa:
of the Draa:
I prefer these deserts because of
the high sand dunes, their landscapes are more diverse, always bitter, dry,
often dark, like the black summits of Jebel Saghro, or our oasis, right next to
Serdar, where the fossils enshrined in
schists and black marbles are projecting. Under the devastating sun, a heavy
late-spring canard, these plains, where
hundreds of thousands of years ago skipjacks and small fish wriggled in a sea
that has disappeared now, you will get a very special experience.
the high sand dunes, their landscapes are more diverse, always bitter, dry,
often dark, like the black summits of Jebel Saghro, or our oasis, right next to
Serdar, where the fossils enshrined in
schists and black marbles are projecting. Under the devastating sun, a heavy
late-spring canard, these plains, where
hundreds of thousands of years ago skipjacks and small fish wriggled in a sea
that has disappeared now, you will get a very special experience.
Moonlight there, in the Hamada of the Draa, in the primordial times, passed
gazelles and elephants. It was perhaps not a lush jungle, but it was a green,
rich area, whose inhabitants have left evidence
in rock engravings. Today, the river Drâa
will disappear under the sand, not being able to flow freely to the Atlantic,
absorbed by a thirsty land. The oasis of
Drâa is a wealth. They dot the biggest
palm grove in the world, islands of lush green, almost aggressive, planted
along the course of the river, in a yellow and red landscape that extends to
the Atlas.
To discover the desert well, you
have to give some time. It takes more than an excursion of a few hours so that
the body begins to dry up, to feel the effects of aridity and dust so that the eye is made to the sparkling
luminosity. You have to spend a few nights, to fully enjoy a sky full of stars
as you see nowhere else. And above all, it takes a few days, so that the
“nothing” of the desert produces its effect. Little by little, the
little details that surround you, a simple grass, a little insect that whirled
a few minutes, and that you would never have noticed, takes on an unimagined
importance. This is the magic effect of the desert, to open you to the world.
have to give some time. It takes more than an excursion of a few hours so that
the body begins to dry up, to feel the effects of aridity and dust so that the eye is made to the sparkling
luminosity. You have to spend a few nights, to fully enjoy a sky full of stars
as you see nowhere else. And above all, it takes a few days, so that the
“nothing” of the desert produces its effect. Little by little, the
little details that surround you, a simple grass, a little insect that whirled
a few minutes, and that you would never have noticed, takes on an unimagined
importance. This is the magic effect of the desert, to open you to the world.
Tonight, there was a hunting in
the desert, After a few days in the desert, when we return to the oasis, what
could pass to the eyes of the tourist for a few blades of grass Dusty, muddy
trough, becomes a spring meadow, and a river.
the desert, After a few days in the desert, when we return to the oasis, what
could pass to the eyes of the tourist for a few blades of grass Dusty, muddy
trough, becomes a spring meadow, and a river.
My favorite
deserts:
deserts:
It is first “mine”,
this Hamada of the Drâa that surrounds us, and especially the natural oasis of Serdrar and the dunes of Foum Tizza.
It is also, between Tazzarine and Merzouga, the dried-up bed of the Gheris, a sandy track winding between large
acacia bushes, like a labyrinth. And finally, it is the majestic Djebel Zireg, an enormous mass of black shale, all in
length, three-quarters covered with a
sand of a sustained orange. The contrast of the colors is striking, it feels
very small face to this mess, full of respect…
this Hamada of the Drâa that surrounds us, and especially the natural oasis of Serdrar and the dunes of Foum Tizza.
It is also, between Tazzarine and Merzouga, the dried-up bed of the Gheris, a sandy track winding between large
acacia bushes, like a labyrinth. And finally, it is the majestic Djebel Zireg, an enormous mass of black shale, all in
length, three-quarters covered with a
sand of a sustained orange. The contrast of the colors is striking, it feels
very small face to this mess, full of respect…
Every year, I have the chance to
discover new places and share them with
those who can dedicate time desert.
discover new places and share them with
those who can dedicate time desert.
The
departure of excursions:
departure of excursions:
Departing from Marrakech, it
takes 4 days to really go into the desert, and that is a minimum. On the other
side of the road, one goes for two or three hours in the dunes.
takes 4 days to really go into the desert, and that is a minimum. On the other
side of the road, one goes for two or three hours in the dunes.
The summer period is rather to avoid unless we particularly like the heat. It
seems obvious, but it’s very hot in the desert, summer. So – especially if you
are traveling with children – take a lot of water, and plan small trips.
seems obvious, but it’s very hot in the desert, summer. So – especially if you
are traveling with children – take a lot of water, and plan small trips.
Some tips to
follow:
follow:
It will include sunscreen with a
very high degree of protection, which is not easily found in Morocco,
moisturizing cream for the lips, hands,
and feet, and possibly for the hair.
very high degree of protection, which is not easily found in Morocco,
moisturizing cream for the lips, hands,
and feet, and possibly for the hair.
As for clothes, light and
covering (you do not bronze in the desert … you protect yourself), and for
the evening, a good sweater, a pair of socks, because after sunset, it is cold.
covering (you do not bronze in the desert … you protect yourself), and for
the evening, a good sweater, a pair of socks, because after sunset, it is cold.
Side shoes, I prefer to avoid
flip-flops and other sandals very open, except when I am in the dunes,
precisely. But elsewhere, it’s full of small stones, thorns, it stings, and you
have to protect the feet. However, in the
evening, it is a true delight to enjoy a pair of comfortable slippers!
flip-flops and other sandals very open, except when I am in the dunes,
precisely. But elsewhere, it’s full of small stones, thorns, it stings, and you
have to protect the feet. However, in the
evening, it is a true delight to enjoy a pair of comfortable slippers!
Sunglasses and chic as I have
very sensitive eyes, I always carry two pairs of sunglasses, “in
case”.
very sensitive eyes, I always carry two pairs of sunglasses, “in
case”.
Finally, the essential accessory
is the chèque, must remember to keep it in Morocco Holidays. This long light cotton scarf will protect from everything,
and start dusting. Moistened with water, it pleasantly refreshes the head and
neck. Reached to the Tuareg, it protects effectively in the event of a sand
wind. Placed on the face, it avoids the flies during the siesta (there is
“nothing” in the desert, but there are always flies). And in the
evening she makes a cushion or a head
rest.
is the chèque, must remember to keep it in Morocco Holidays. This long light cotton scarf will protect from everything,
and start dusting. Moistened with water, it pleasantly refreshes the head and
neck. Reached to the Tuareg, it protects effectively in the event of a sand
wind. Placed on the face, it avoids the flies during the siesta (there is
“nothing” in the desert, but there are always flies). And in the
evening she makes a cushion or a head
rest.
