Excursions from Merzouga Desert

Day 1: Merzouga – Khamlia – Taouz – Dakar Rally Track – Ouzina Desert – Lunch in a Berber family’s house – Sunset in the dunes.

After breakfast, around 09.00 a.m., the driver/guide will go with his 4×4 to your accommodation in Merzouga, to start an adventure in the desert, visiting the abandoned village (Mifis) and its Barite and Lime mine. Then we will go to the village of Khamlia, where live the Gnawa, musicians of sub-Saharan origin (Black Africa), who will delight us with music and dances, while we enjoy a mint tea (Berber whisky). Afterwards you can buy a CD of their music or give them a tip. We will continue to Taouz, from where we will take the old track of the Dakar Rally to see some marvellous rock carvings, and we will pass through the village of Jdaid until we reach Ouzina, where we will have lunch at a Berber family’s house (Berber pizza and tea), and we can also get a Henna tattoo, by a person specialised in this art. If you are interested you can go for a walk in the village of Ouzina and its oasis. In the afternoon we will go to the dunes of Ouzina to see the sunset and make an adventure excursion in Erg Ouzina.

Overnight at Riad Hotel PORTE DE SAHARA OUZINA with dinner and breakfast.

Day 2: Ouzina – Paris Dakar Rally Track – Ouzina Desert Nomads – Barite Mines – Bourika Oasis – Oubahou Abandoned Village – Ramlia Oasis – Ouzina Desert

In the morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we will go by track to see the authentic nomads of the desert, who live in the area of Ouzina. Then we will go to the baryte mines, to see the mine and how they work in a traditional way (baryte is a mineral that is extracted in the mine and taken to Europe, where they make glass). Then we will go to the Oasis and the palm grove of Bourika, where we will have a picnic lunch (Moroccan salad or similar and grilled chicken). After lunch we go to the Lost City Oubahou (Portuguese city), which are ancient Portuguese ruins. We take a walk there and in the afternoon we arrive at the Oasis of Ramlia, where we can have tea in a cafeteria and we can also take a walk around the village and its Oasis. In the afternoon we return to Ouzina desert by track where we spend the night in Riad Hotel.
Overnight at Riad Hotel PORTE DE SAHARA OUZINA with dinner and breakfast.

Day 3: Ouzina – Ramlia – Sand river – Lac Maider – Zagora desert.

In the morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we will drive along the Paris Dakar Rally track to Zagora (there is also the option of returning to Merzouga), arriving at the village of Ramlia where we will cross the sand river, Oued Ghris, which is about 4 kms of sand. Then we pass through a gorge between mountains called the Kem Kem plain, until we reach the dry lake Lac Maider, and stop in the village of Tafraoute (Sidi Ali), where we will have lunch or refreshments. In the afternoon we will arrive to Zagora city, transfer to your accommodation or to the bus station and end of our 3 days and 2 nights excursion service from Merzouga to Zagora via Ouzina desert and surroundings.

Included:

• Trip in a comfortable 4×4 vehicle with private English speaking driver/guide and fuel included.
• 2 Nights at Riad Hotel Porte de Sahara in Ouzina Desert with breakfast.
• 1 Lunch at Berber Family House (Berber pizza) in Ouzina Village.

Not included:

• Drinks
• Midday meals
• Tips and entrance fees to monuments
• Accommodation in Zagora or Merzouga (but if you are interested we can book these accommodations for you as well)