Salaam Aleikum! Greetings from Marrakech. Your Dakhla adventure begins with an evening welcome meeting with your group. After the important meeting, why not check out Djemaa el-Fna – the main square and meeting place of Marrakech. With food stalls, crafts, musicians, artists and an overall infectious vibe, it is the place to be of an evening.

This morning, take a flight to the desert peninsula of Dakhla. The flight is expected to arrive late morning, but scheduling changes may occur. After you are checked in to the hotel, head on an orientation walk with a local leader who will help you get your bearings. Dakhla is located on a 35-kilometre-long peninsula, with a landscape of rolling sand dunes, desert beaches, and sun almost all year round. It is a calm and serene place, and being so isolated, provides an ideal reason to switch off and immerse yourself into the world around. Dakhla is popular for adventure seekers, with a large range of water-based activities on offer, and the warm waters surrounding the peninsula are also a great fishing area, with a significant portion of southern Europe’s oysters coming from here. In the evening, seek out some food, perhaps at the local market in Dakhla town, and be sure to have a traditional mint tea later on.

Today, head off to ‘dune blanche’ – the White Dune. Situated about 30 kilometres from Dakhla town, it is a stunning sand dune that juts out of large lagoon, with a small body of water in its centre. It is a paradise for flamingos – you’ll get some pretty cool photos here. Afterwards, head to the stunning shores of Portorico Beach, for a laze around and maybe a swim. Today will also include a 4WD adventure inland to Imlili. This unique landscape in the western Sahara has a series of saltwater and freshwater lakes which are teeming with small fish, ready to give a foot pedicure. On the way, you’ll drive over dunes, pass by wild camels and stop for an included picnic lunch. In the evening, head to a traditional Bedouin camp. Bedouin is a generic name for a ‘desert-dweller’, and this form of camping gets you right in the heart of the desert with traditional hospitality and a real taste of what local living for these people is like. Even though the conditions are basic with shared facilities, this experience is something you won’t forget.

You have the morning to explore Dakhla at your own pace, possibly heading into Dakhla town’s souq for a look in the artisan stalls, partaking in a Saharawi tea ceremony, or simply just relaxing on one of the desert beaches around. Enjoy a fresh seafood barbecue for lunch, and later in the afternoon, take a flight back to Marrakech, where you will be transferred to a hotel for the night.

With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave the accommodation at any time today. That doesn’t mean your short break has to come to an end! If you’d like to spend more time in Marrakech, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).