CHAS Sahara Trek 2025

5th Mar 2025 - 10th Mar 2025

6 days/Morocco /Moderate

Overview

Join CHAS on this bucket list adventure to trek across the Sahara.

This trek in the Moroccan Sahara gives you an insight into this vast and diverse landscape as well as the Berber way of life. You will spend two full days and two half days trekking across ancient dried up river beds, sand dunes and vast sun-baked plains. Camping each night gives you a chance to experience the stunning stars in the night sky (weather permitting) and the traditional Berber cuisine cooked by the team is second to none.

NB. Bookings on this trip are now subject to availability and may be subject to flight surcharges.

A moderately challenging trip. The terrain is generally flat with sand dunes representing the biggest variation in gradient; however the temperatures pose a specific challenge with temperatures historically reaching 40°C. You are advised to be of a good fitness level before departure to ensure fast recovery from each day’s exertions.

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You will be accompanied by professional English-speaking Berber guides who have an excellent knowledge of culture and hiking in the region. The guides are first aid trained and will support you throughout your journey. You will also be accompanied by a team of support staff including cooks and camel handlers and a Different Travel Company UK tour manager.

It’s not just sand! The terrain is a mixture of hard, flat sun-dried plains, dried up ancient river beds, wide sandy dune fields and hard rocky outcrops.

Temperatures tend to range from 25°C to 35°C during the day, and drop to around 0°C at night however you must be prepared for climate variations, which are out of our control. The climate will be dry and there may be some strong winds. Rain,although very rare, is not impossible.

Please note: the temperatures and conditions above are historically accurate for this time of year but climate change can impact the seasons so you may experience uncharacteristic conditions during the trip which are out of our control. Should this happen the guide will assess the situation and make decisions to ensure the best enjoyment and ultimately safety of the group as a whole.

Meals are cooked by your trek chef who will prepare hearty, delicious Moroccan meals that will keep your energy levels high for each day’s trek. Breakfast and lunch will be taken alfresco, and evening meals will be taken in a mess tent at camp. Plates, mugs, cutlery and other equipment are provided for you.

During the trek you will sleep in tents (two to a tent), or if the weather is good you can sleep outside under the stars (recommended!). You need to bring a sleeping bag but sleeping mats and tents are provided. While in Marrakech (and Ouarzazate, if applicable) you will stay in hotels with en-suite facilities.

Toilet facilities consist of a small toilet ‘tent’ covering a hole in the ground. There are no showers or bathing facilities so you must ensure you bring a pack of baby wipes (ideally biodegradable).

You must be 18+ to participate on this trek unaccompanied. It may be possible to participate if you are 16 or 17 years old but you must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. There is no upper age limit. The ideal candidate would be fit, healthy and determined, open to adventure and adaptable to unexpected changes.

The trek is rated moderately challenging for someone of a good fitness level. The terrain is generally flat with sand dunes representing the biggest variation in gradient; however the temperatures pose a specific challenge with temperatures historically reaching 40°C. You are advised to be of a good fitness level before departure to ensure fast recovery from each day’s exertions.

The kit list for this trip can be downloaded here.

Itinerary

CHAS Sahara Trek Itinerary

Day 1 (Wednesday 5 March 2025):

UK to Marrakech
We fly together to Marrakech where we are met by our guide and transfer to our hotel for the night. Depending on flight arrival times we may start the journey to the desert today and stay in Ouarzazate tonight instead (approx. 4-5 hours).
Overnight: Hotel
Meals: Dinner

Day 2 (Thursday 6 March 2025:

Marrakech to Sahara
If staying in Marrakech we set off early, crossing the Atlas Mountains and following ancient caravan routes into the arid Sahara desert, stopping for lunch in Ouarzazate on the way (journey time approx. 9 hours including stops.) If starting in Ouarzazate the journey takes approximately 4-5 hours. This afternoon we will arrive in the desert and be welcomed by the rest of the trek team and the camels before commencing our trek into the vast and arid Sahara desert, stopping overnight to camp under the stars of the Sahara.
Approx. trek distance: 5km
Overnight: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Days 3 – 4 (Friday 7 – Saturday 8 March 2025):

Sahara Desert
Our trek continues through the desert as we traverse sand dunes and rocky, lunar landscapes for the next three days. We are aided by our local Berber team comprising of the guides, cook and camel owners (the camels are our porters, carrying our luggage and equipment). Each day you enjoy the varied Saharan landscape and learn about how important it is to respect and comply with the forces of nature in the desert. On average we will cover 15-20km per day but this will vary. As the trek progresses we learn how the nomadic people of the Sahara live: from cooking to sleeping out under the stars and reading the magnificent Saharan night sky.
Approx. trek distance: 15-20km
Overnight: Camping
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5 (Sunday 9 March 2025):

Sahara to Marrakech
This morning it’s the final leg of the trek back to the village where we bid farewell to the trekking team and head back to Marrakech (approx. 9 hours’ drive). Enjoy a farewell dinner tonight and overnight stay at a central hotel.
Approx. trek distance: 5km
Overnight: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6 (Monday 10 March 2025):

Marrakech to UK
Enjoy some free time to explore the exotic city of Marrakech before your flight back to UK (subject to flight times).
Meals: Breakfast

Optional trip extension

There is also the option to extend your stay after the trek to explore more of Morocco. See Costs + how to pay tab for more details.

N.B. This itinerary may change due to weather, the ability of the group and so on. We do our best to keep to the itinerary but we cannot be held responsible for changes that occur outside of our control. Your guide and tour leader has the final say in the interest of the group.

Costs & How to pay

Registration fee: £350
and then either…

Sponsorship: £1680

or

Self-funded: Pay £945 trip costs* and fundraise as much as possible for CHAS

NB. Bookings on this trip are now subject to availability and may be subject to flight surcharges.

SPONSORSHIP

This option is for those who wish to raise sponsorship to cover both the costs of the trip (flights, accommodation, food, guides etc.) and a donation to CHAS. There is a minimum sponsorship amount for each trip that you are required to raise in order to participate.

A registration fee is payable at the time of booking.
A total of 80% of the minimum sponsorship (£1,344) must be paid to the charity by 11 December 2024.
The remaining £336 must be paid to the charity by the date of departure.
The amount the charity receives is at least 50% of the minimum sponsorship total.

SELF-FUNDED

This option is for those who choose to pay the trip costs (flights, accommodation, food, guides etc.) themselves. You are also asked to fundraise as much as possible for CHAS.

A non-refundable registration fee of £350 is payable at the time of booking.
You are then asked to pay £945 trip costs* to Different Travel by 24 December 2024.
You are asked to fundraise as much as possible for CHAS.
Any fundraising undertaken cannot be used for your trip costs.

*NB the final trip costs are based on the overall group size and are subject to change. This is the most you will be required to pay.

OPTIONAL TRIP EXTENSION

2-night shared occupancy (twin or triple) extension: £180

Two additional nights’ accommodation* with breakfast plus a return airport transfer based on 2 people sharing a twin room.

*You will be accommodated in the same hotel as is used for the group during the main trip. This is TBC but is likely to be Hotel El Andalous or similar.

2-night single occupancy extension: £225

Two additional nights’ accommodation* with breakfast plus a return airport transfer in a single occupancy room.