Bivouac Sahara Relax

For us, the point of this trek was to experience nomadic life by walking through the desert with camels, and that’s exactly what we got. The Sahara is much more varied than just dunes. It isn’t a luxury trip, and you have to accept some discomfort to understand life in the desert and the bond between people and camels. It’s a huge experience we’ll carry with us forever. We booked a five-day, four-night camel trek from M’Hamid to the dunes of Erg Chigaga with Sahara Relax. Mohamed arranged the whole trip from Marrakesh: the ride to Zagora, a taxi the next day to the starting point in M’Hamid, and transport back to Zagora and then Marrakesh after the trek. There were many legs and people involved, but WhatsApp communication was always prompt and clear, and everything ran smoothly. On the trek we had three camels carrying luggage and one extra camel for riding. Ibrahim was our English-speaking guide. Mohamed owned the camels, cooked, built the camp, and took care of just about everything. He was outstanding, and you could feel how much he loves the Sahara and wants to share it. He treated his camels with care and respect, too. Each day began at sunrise with breakfast Mohamed had made himself: coffee or tea, fresh bread, cheese, jam, and omelettes. We walked or rode for 6-7 km, and I could ride whenever I wanted. Lunch was a relaxed two-to-three-hour pause, with fresh food, including a delicious dish of tangerines with onions, tomatoes, eggs, and bread. In the afternoon we covered another 6-7 km, then camped somewhere beautiful and secluded, with no other groups in sight. Mohamed put up our dome tent and laid out mattresses and three layers of heavy blankets, which kept us warm on winter nights around 4-6°C. We didn’t need sleeping bags. Dinner was filling, usually tangerine chicken or beef with vegetables, then mandarins or apples. Our trip actually started in Marrakesh, and despite all the coordination, every detail worked. Thank you to Mohamed, Ibrahim, and Sahara Relax, especially Mohamed the all-rounder, for sharing your world with us.