Hiking in the Morocco desert provides trekkers the ultimate desert hiking experience as the Morocco desert has a vast wavy sandy landscape with enormous dunes, hardy flora in the region and a great gleaming oasis for viewing pleasure. The Morocco desert is full of vibrant colors, a mixture of sounds, wonderful aromas of spices from the spice markets and lots of visually appealing exotics sights.
Places to visit in the Moroccan desert
When hiking the Moroccan desert the two most popular areas for travelers are the Zagora and Merzouga areas of the desert. As Zagora and Merzouga are popular and common for tourists, they are nice treks to take with modest trails. With a knowledgeable desert local you can probably hire the local to be your guide and venture out to take longer treks through the desert and cover more desert hiking terrain by doing so. Often times it is best to take the longer treks to see more of what the Moroccan desert has to offer and how the locals live there.
Moroccan desert activities
In the Moroccan desert, there are many things to do with camping being a top activity. Trekking through the desert you can also camel ride, ATV, go sandboarding and even hike the dunes. Camel riding and ATV riding will definitely allow you to cover more hiking area while in the desert. The Moroccan desert has activities for travelers that are willing to make the trek, but keep in mind, the activities that can be done in the desert are limited to the desert because of the terrain.
Culture and decorum of the Moroccan desert
Vastly throughout the Moroccan desert, trekkers will find modestly dressed Berber inhabitants. The locals of the Moroccan desert are genuinely kind people, willing to offer their hospitality to travelers. The Berber people are very giving when it comes to food and other nourishment to visitors of the Moroccan desert. The use of the right hand when eating the cuisine is a part of the culture when eating communal dishes. Also, it is best to get permission from the Berber people before you start taking their photos or photos of their homes. The Morocco desert is an exciting and interesting travel destination with unique blends of tradition as well as the local ethnicity.
The people of the Morocco desert have a vibrant heritage and very flavorful and distinct cuisine to the area. The diversity of culture within the Morocco desert is a very rich culture shaped by the impact of various regimes that have inhabited the civilizations prior to the modern day. The Morocco desert attracts millions of trekkers each year. The dialect spoken by the Berbers of the desert is Darija, with some Berber people being fluent in Spanish and French as well as communicating daily with both alternative languages in the region.
Things to pack for the Moroccan desert hike
Before taking the desert hike it is essential to pack light for trekking through the Moroccan desert. Even if you’re not carrying your own bags you should be considerate of the porter that has to carry them for you. In the day time, it can become very hot in the desert and temperatures drop drastically after the sunsets depending on the months of your travel. If you are prone to sunburn, you should bring sunblock, a lightweight scarf for covering the head and/or face and wear a light long sleeve shirt and light pants to avoid being burned by the sun.
Hiking boots or shoes are essential for comfort while wearing thick breathable socks. You’ll want to bring your own personal hygiene products like toothpaste, toothbrush, soap and other necessary hygiene products. Other essential things to take for desert hiking is a refillable water bottle, small torch, small medical kit, baby wipes, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer because you’ll be in the desert. If you’re bringing electronics, they should be the necessary electronics that you need like your phone, camera, chargers/adapters, and any spare batteries to keep your packing light.
When to visit the Moroccan desert
Spring(Mid-March to May) and Autumn(September to October) are the best times to visit the Moroccan desert. The temperatures are very pleasant for trekking through the desert in the Spring and Autumn months. Summer months (June to August) can give sweltering temperatures throughout the desert, that may make it uncomfortable for trekking, especially, if you’re not used to the heat of the desert. The Winter months (December to Mid-March) temperatures can drastically drop in the desert, especially at night. It is best to keep in mind that there are a lot of sand storms that occur between January and May, that’s why it is best to keep a light scarf on you at all times to cover your face when hiking from January through May in the Moroccan desert.