One thing that must be done when going to Morocco is ride a camel.
Doing a Desert Tour
8am marked our trip into the desert.http://www.cameltrekking.com/Desert-Tours/marrakech-erg-chebbi.html
Our group and an awesome Canadian couple were put in a four-wheel-drive and driven through Morocco’s amazing scenery over 2 days to get to the Sahara.
Rocking the Kasbah
We drove over the High Atlas Mountains and through huge landscapes until we arrive 4-5 hours later at Ait Benhaddou. An old famous kasbah which has been featured in over 20 films and I believe has been in my favourite show of all time – Game of Thrones! It’s has to be from Khaleesi scenes. (swoon!)
Here, we learnt the art of the head wrap, as we watched a guy get about 6 metres of wrap onto his head in the space of about 60 seconds! What a head scarf PRO! He then guided us through the Kasbah to the very top for some epic views.
Gorgeous Gorge
Our destination for the evening of our first day was a hotel carved into the mountain gorge! It was great to have a big hotel room and shower since we were covered in layers of our own sweat and dust…blerg!
After a couple of beers on the balcony, we headed to bed with nothing but the sound of the gushing river. I thought to myself that I’d never had a more peaceful night in my life..
In the morning of day 2, the day we would be riding camels in the desert, we spent time preparing ourselves for the heat of the Sahara by teaching ourselves how to wrap the head scarf, a trick I now love to whip out for my friends.
Todra Gorge
Places like this make you feel really small. The Todra Gorge is another Canyon that has a stream running through. It’s a fault rising to 300 metres from the valley and is used the way Aussies us a beach. It’s essentially a vacation/day trip destination for locals to get out of the heat and into the shallow stream.
I loved the Todra Gorge. Definitely a sight I wont forget!
Sunset Camel Riding, baby
We drove for a number of hours, racing against the clock to make it to Erg Chebbi in time for a sunset camel ride, into the Sahara. This drive was great fun, but I found it difficult because I was SO excited to ride a camel that I couldn’t contain myself! This was the moment. We were finally going into the desert. Why was everyone not bouncing off the walls of the 4WD like me?!
Upon our arrival to Erg Chebbi (the Sahara Desert), I jumped out of the car without a care and cuddled the first camel I could lay my hands on. The camels are actually pretty gross and look like they have a permanent nose cold, with snot drooling out of their nostrils and down onto their lips… it’s certainly a sight…
We were designated a camel and the mounting began. Mounting a camel is actually hilarious and must be filmed. You sit on it when it’s on the ground, but then it pushes up with it’s hind legs first so you fall forward, then the camel stands up on it’s front legs and you fly backwards! It’s a job just to stay on it!
So, me and Daryl the camel rode off into the sunset, one wonky footstep at a time. After the initial ‘I’m on a camel in the Sahara desert’ photos and videos were done, there was still another 40 minutes of riding.
This started to get a little bit painful. Then a lot painful. Finally, we arrived at our camp-site in the middle of a dune and we got to get off the bloody camel!
Camping in the Sahara
The first activity once we got to the camp site was to run up the top of the highest dune we could see to watch sunset. It was at this point my asthma kicked into full swing and I had an asthma attack at the top of the dune! I guess it’s probably the most picturesque place I’ve ever had an asthma attack!
We stayed with gorgeous Berber men who cooked us a lovely tagine dinner, followed by a camp fire and drum party! During the party we danced around the fire without a care in the world. Then we all made a performance on the bongos.. (I killed R Kelly’s Ignition Remix), before having the most peaceful night of my life sleeping under the stars. Yes – THIS was the most peaceful night of my life.
Before falling asleep in the desert, I took time to take it in. The black of the night sky, the twinkle of a million diamonds, the sound of nothing, Peace.
Hell in the Sahara
Woken for sunrise, atop a dune. A pretty good way to start your day.
After the most magical morning of my life, we then were lucky enough to have to ride our camel the hour trek back to Erg Chebbi. By this stage – I never wanted to see a camel again!
The previous days ride had taken its toll on my inner thighs, bum and front bum, and I could not bear one more moment on a camel, let alone another hour’s ride! What was meant to be an enjoyable experience was a completely torturous pain lasting from the moment I sat on the camel to the moment I dove off it! Katy Perry felt the same way as I and so we found ourselves laughing deliriously for most of the journey because really, we wanted to cry. Ouchies!
Back to the land of noise
After the camel torture – we sat in the car most of the day to get back to Marrakesh for dinner time. My inner legs hurt the whole way. Ice cream was the only way to cure the pain.
I miss you Morocco!
The 3 days going through the landscapes in Morocco and into the Sahara Desert was an absolute blast! Shooting the shit in the 4WD, seeing amazing places and scenery in Morocco, sleeping under the stars n the Sahara – I’ll never forget it. And I got to experience it with my best friend:)
One thing I can say though is, I will do it all again… except, instead of a camel…a dune buggy. I have ridden my last camel.
Morocco Video
I created a video of my time in Morocco with the Magisto App, see it here: My Morocco Video
Pin it for later!
Australian expat, married to a Dutch guy, living in Amsterdam. Previously lived in London for 3 years, too! Lover of travel, coffee, brunch, beaches, fresh flowers, and family. Now a new mum, navigating life with a baby!
0 thoughts on “Sahara Desert Camel Riding, Morocco”
I’m sorry to hear you suffered on the camel but at the same time, it reassures me that I’m not the only one who was completely sore after riding those camels.