Sunset in the Sahara - Near Erg Chebbi, Morocco

One of the highlights of our trip to Morocco was an opportunity to ride camels into the dunes and enjoy a Saharan sunset. It was an all-day affair, that involved riding in 4x4's to several locations in the desert where we got to meet nomads, an oasis lunch, a bit of relaxation at a desert hotel and then the camel ride up into the dunes. The desert has two distinct looks. There is terrain whose volcanic remnants give the ground a dark, rocky appearance and then the dunes, which are reddish brown. The pristine dunes are a stark contrast from the more dystopian look of the volcanic landscape. The photo below demonstrates a bit of that contrast.

We were met in Rissani by our drivers. The 4x4s stood ready for us to pile in. We traveled in groups of four into the desert. Our 4x4s spread out on different paths, barely visible to the naked eye. Some of the roads were marked with small stone piles at intervals. Some looked like the remnants of riverbeds from the rainy season. Whatever the case, we wound back and forth through the desert, stopping for a few photo opportunities along the way.

Our car got stuck in one of the sand dunes just as we were arriving for lunch. The other drivers arrived to assist, one offering to drive us to the oasis. It was a short walk, so we opted to hoof it through the heavy sand. I stopped and turned back to snap a photo of the 4x4s as we walked toward lunch.

As we turned behind the dunes, we were met with a welcome surprise. The oasis lunch spot was ornately decorated. There was a restroom, running water and tables set up for lunch. Lunch consisted of chicken and beef grilled fresh as well as a variety of salads, bread and fruit. It was a delicious lunch, particularly for a meal prepared partially in the desert. I am fairly certain the salads were prepared at one of the hotels and trucked out. We enjoyed some camaraderie with our fellow travelers as we enjoyed a peaceful, sheltered lunch against the backdrop of the dunes.

Part of the well system was visible near the restrooms. I though it was interesting since it also appeared to be connected to a small irrigation canal. So I snapped a photo. It may not be much to look at, but it was intriguing to me.

After lunch, we headed back into the desert to a small nomad camp. We were stopping to visit the family of one of the drivers. His wife was weaving in one tent, with their child nearby (I didn't feel comfortable taking a photo of them) and his mother was in another, larger tent. The tent was large so we could fit inside and have a conversation with the driver's mother. The tent was set up like this on purpose. It is a source of income for the family. The mother talked to us about nomadic life, children and education (with our guide as translator) as she shared tea with us. It was hard for me to imagine the difficulties of an elderly woman living as remotely as they lived, but she seemed content and healthy.

After tea and conversation, we headed back into the dessert to a hotel. We were advised to bring swimwear if we wanted, as the hotel had a swimming pool and changing rooms. I opted to hang out in the bar near the pool and relax. It was air conditioned. An immediate bonus. We had a couple of drinks while we killed a couple of the hot afternoon hours before heading into the dunes on camel back for the sunset.

Our guide recounting our trip on the map and showing us the direction we would be headed on the camels. This photo shows where we had already been. The camel ride would have been further to the south from where he is pointing at this moment.

From here, we headed to another location where the camels were waiting. The camels were strung together in groups of two and four. We ended up in a group of four, on the two rear camels. Not a big deal. I wasn't too concerned about being at the front or back of the pack. We were all headed to the same place eventually. And photos with camels in them are more interesting than photos without.

Having been to the desert and ridden a camel before (in Egypt), I was bit surprised at the size of the Moroccan camels, which are much smaller than the ones we rode in Egypt. They also seemed to sway and dip a bit more, although camels are not the smoothest ride to begin with.

We arrived near the top of the dunes about half an hour later. We dismounted and walked the rest of the way up. We had a ridgeline near the high point of the dunes where we could take in the scenery. Luckily, I purchased a scarf while we were at the Rissani souk. The wind was blowing across the dunes with enough force to toss sand in your face.

Protip: Expensive cameras may be ruined by blowing sand. One of my fellow travelers had a thousand dollar camera. The sand got into the aperture and it stopped opening and closing. Halfway through vacation. I would recommend a cheap point and shoot. That's what I use anyway. I also took photos with my iPhone. You have to be cautious with phones as well. If the sand gets into the charging port, the phone may stop taking a charge. Another traveler said it happened to him in the Gobi Desert.

The mountains in this photo are the Algerian border.

All photos and video are my own. They may be reproduced with prior permission.