Camel Treks and Desert Excursions

Camel treks from M'Hamid range from two hours to two weeks. The short trips — a sunset ride through the dunes around Erg Lihoudi — can be arranged on arrival from the guesthouses and operators in town. The serious trips — multi-day traverses to Chigaga, Foum Zguid, or Oulad Driss — require more planning and a reliable local guide.

The quality of operators varies considerably. The best guides have deep knowledge of the desert, can navigate by landmarks and stars, know where to find the few wells, and provide good equipment and food. It is worth spending time choosing carefully and talking to previous travellers. The office of Nomads du Sahara on the main street has a long track record. Prices for overnight camel trips run to around 400–600 dirhams per person per night, including food and tent accommodation.

things to do sight
A story
The Draa Valley was historically the northern terminus of the main caravan route from sub-Saharan West Africa to the Mediterranean. For centuries, caravans of several thousand camels carrying gold, salt, slaves, and ivory assembled in M'Hamid before crossing the Sahara — a journey of several months. The closure of the Algerian border in the 1990s killed what little remained of this trade, but local guides still use the same desert tracks that the caravans followed.