Here is my second article on my road trip in Morocco. Today I will tell you about our journey to reach what was, the primary goal of our trip to Morocco: the sand dunes of Merzouga.
Indeed even if our trip was not only to reach the Moroccan sand desert in Merzouga, it was one of our first goals. We wanted to spend a night in the desert, admire the sunset but also the sunrise. So I will tell you how we were able to achieve this goal.
Departure from Fez, Direction Merzouga
To reach the sand dunes of Merzouga, it’s a safe bet that you will come either from Marrakech or from Fez. Having already visited Marrakech in the past, we opted for a flight to Fez, the city where we took the car rental to reach Merzouga. The road being relatively long, nearly 500 kilometers and rich in things to see, we decided to make several stopovers including one to spend the night.
Fes – Ifrane
Our first stop was shortly before arriving in Ifrane, at Lake Aoua. The reason for this stop, a magnificent panorama of Lake Aoua and the first glimpse of the diversity of Morocco’s landscapes. Lake Aoua is located a few kilometers from the main road and therefore will not waste your time.
Second stop, Ifrane. The arrival in Ifrane is truly disconcerting, an impression of no longer being in Morocco but in Switzerland or in a town in the French Alps. This town is located at more than 1700 meters above sea level, famous for its ski resort located a few kilometers from the city, Ifrane is regularly snowed, as it was a few weeks before our arrival.
In Ifrane you will surely have the chance to see storks which are there in number.
Azrou
Azrou is one of the most famous sites on the road that connects Fez to Merzouga. You will be able to discover the oldest cedar in Morocco, more than 800 years old. A majestic cedar at the entrance of a forest where you will have the chance to see and feed monkeys. Indeed, many monkeys are free on the site and they love peanuts that you can buy on the spot. Nice experience.
Midelt
Midelt is the city where we decided to spend the night. This city is located 230 kilometers south of Fez, about halfway between Fez and Merzouga. There you will find hotels, restaurants and a medina.
On the road
These 470 kilometers of road through Morocco will have allowed us to discover the diversity of the landscapes. Between rock and sand deserts, crossing the Middle Atlas, plains and plateaus, or even Oued, the landscapes that you will have the opportunity to see are very varied and breathtaking. I offer you this small photo gallery which will give you an overview.
Find all my photos on my Pinterest account.
Merzouga
The arrival in Merzouga was made at Ksar Bicha. I will tell you more about this Ksar in the rest of my article. Once arrived at Ksar, head for the sand dunes. Two hours of camel ride separate the entrance to the desert from the camp where we are going to spend the night.
Many must tell themselves that in the desert, in the middle of nowhere, there is not much to do, and think again.
Surfing in the middle of the desert
First activity, and not the least surprising, surfing in the desert. Indeed the Ksar where we stayed is located at the foot of one of the largest dunes in the region which offers an ideal setting to try sand surfing. After several tens of minutes to reach the top of the dune (the climb is very physical), you can give yourself to your heart’s content by surfing the dune. There is very little chance that you will hurtle down the slope in one go, you will surely fall several times but do not worry, it is only very fine sand that you sink quickly into.
Sunset
One of the must-sees of this excursion, the sunset. The ideal panorama is obviously from the top of this famous dune which constitutes the ideal point of view. The desert then stretches as far as the eye can see in front of you, you will see the sun gradually disappear behind the horizon. Do not start your climb too late, you risk missing this magical moment. Little advice, if you intend to surf, given the difficulty of the climb, capitalize your efforts by going up with your surfboard to watch this sunset and descend the dune with the surf.
Meal and evening
A meal in the middle of the desert is a real experience. Despite a slight apprehension about the comfort of the camp, my doubts very quickly vanished. A solar panel and a well offer you all the expected comfort, see more, when staying in the desert. We were treated to a generous couscous followed by a moment around the campfire with the people from the camp. The calm of the desert is truly surprising and the sky that you will have the chance to admire is really worth the detour.
Sunrise
The sunrise, like the sunset, is a real spectacle. This will, of course, require you to get up early, but it’s worth it. Woke up at 5 am to climb the nearby dune to record this video.
