Marrakech camel riding on sand dunes (erg chebbi)

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Marrakech camel riding on sand dunes (erg chebbi)
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Hi guys, I'm planning my trip to marrakech and me and my friend we would like to ride a camel on sand dunes and spend a night in a tent.

I have found this offer:

SAHARA 3 DAY/ 2 NIGHT EXCURSION: Visit Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, Ouarzazate

spend the 1st night in Dades Gorge in a hotel; Visit Todra Gorge with its famous oasis and

Todra Palmaerie; travel down to Merzouga Sand Dunes (Erg Chebbi); enjoy a sunset camel

trek – spend the night under the stars in a Berber tent – return to Marrakech the following day.

950DHS per person including breakfast, dinner, all accommodation and transport and 2

camel rides at sunset and sunrise.

Is it a fair price? Or you know about something better?

Thanks a lot, Cris

London, United...
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11. Re: Marrakech camel riding on sand dunes (erg chebbi)
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It's through my riad, they sent me a flyer with 4 possible excursion and the prices. The riad i found it here on tripadvisor. Lot of people say that is too cheap to be good. That I will be put on a 14 people van, no stops, everything very rushed etc, dirty hotel and cheap food. We will see. The same trip i can find it for 1350 dirhams but using a 4x4, with better stops and for longer and a hotel stop for a tea and shower before riding the camel. But really, everyone is trying to bring water to their well. Even if i take supratour to get to merzouga, skipping all the places i wanna see in the middle, people in merzouga is asking 700 dirhams for camel riding and night in the desert... I will need to check properly all this you know.

I will stick to 950 dirhams for a "cheap experience", but if someone knows a better service and quality i can arrive at 1200 per person.

Marrakech, Morocco
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12. Re: Marrakech camel riding on sand dunes (erg chebbi)
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Wow,

that's the cheapest price have come across.

Sounds too good?

Best : )

13. Re: Marrakech camel riding on sand dunes (erg chebbi)

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14. Re: Marrakech camel riding on sand dunes (erg chebbi)

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Morocco
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16. Re: Marrakech camel riding on sand dunes (erg chebbi)
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in my opinion the supratours bus would be the great way to reach Merzouga then arranging your desert trip from there, once you arrive for the next day, and and if you have more time you can stop for one day in Boumalen dades then take a short visit to todra gorges and dades gorges from Boumalen dades, then continue your way.

By the bus you can save more money and you can make a real experience meeting other travellers having the same way.

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18. Re: Marrakech camel riding on sand dunes (erg chebbi)

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London, United...
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19. Re: Marrakech camel riding on sand dunes (erg chebbi)
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Hi Chris,

I've just had one of those 950 MAD tours. And yes, it's mad.

Honestly can't say I recommend it. If you are the type who likes to explore, spend a bit of time in places and do things away from the usual crowd it's a really stressful experience. 3 days is not enough and shouldn't be the timeframe on such a trip. The distance from Marrakech to Merzouga is about 600-700 km not counting every detours your driver will make. By the time you reach Erg Chebbi camelback all you want to do is just sleep, not enjoy the stars or the desert. The hotel we were booked in at the first night (in the dades valley) was a cold, cheap experience. When we asked to have our room's pathetic aircon heater turned on they said it would cost another 100 dirham because as we all know, heating is never included in the price. Although we could certainly afford that, we declined to pay that out of principle. Coldest night in my life.

As expected, the desert was pretty freezing nighttime this time of year too, and the camp attendants provided only with two very thin blankets per person. Fortunately I had my sleeping bag to stay warm but the other guys in our tent didn't sleep one minute and lay shivering all night.

During the trip the driver will take you to lots of touristy places with touristy shops and touristy restaurants where the prices are steep - if you are able to go a bit about on your own, find another cafe and restaurant down the road where things are cheaper. Also, bring some snacks and keep buying water- in the desert there wont be much.

On the last day you will basically drive ALL day back (with a brief stop for a costly lunch). Your Borat-style driver will most likely play 90s techno music or Arab folk songs until you go loopy, so bring ear plugs or your own MP3-player. You may even convince him to play one of your CDs.

In my opinion, go to the desert, enjoy, spend some time there - but don't do these 3-day trips, they are the equivalent of a bland fast-food experience. Too quick to notice, poorly heated and a mildly annoying aftertaste.

Winnipeg, Canada
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20. Re: Marrakech camel riding on sand dunes (erg chebbi)
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In May, I was in Marrakesh and did the three day-two night camel trek to Erg Chebbi. There are several different tour companies in Marrakesh: Ida Tours, Iterance Plus, and several others I have now forgotten. They all put you on the same van (or separated in two different vans) so it is really pointless to worry about which company to choose from: just choose the cheapest as you will get the same thing regardless of what they tell you. We eventually haggled the price down to 80 Euros (800 Dh). Some other guests paid 120 Euros. They promised various people an uncrowded van, an English guide, a particular seat on the van (two people had no seat and had to spend three hours hunched over standing; several were unable to sit with their significant others) and airconditioning (useful for a crowded bus in the Moroccan desert), none of which occurs (you have a driver, but no guide at the various stop points except where someone wants to sell you carpets and at the camel ride). Speaking to various people with the different excursions from Marrakesh from the typical tour operators (don't get fooled by them telling you they are "licensed" or "tour operators" not "travel agents" or whatever--everyone gets the same thing), that is what you can expect for all of the excursions. Two people were so sick of our camel-riding excursion (the crowded bus with many turny roads) that they returned after day one at their own expense. There were also various arguments among people on board. There were not enough camels and four people didn't get to ride a camel (they were taken out to the camp by car). There was also a 4X4 vehicle that zoomed past us in the desert which kind of ruined the appeal.

In short, you get what you pay for: they will bring you to the camel riding and various other places for very little money, but you won't get much value added. For me, I would pay the 400 Euros or whatever to have a private tour (or perhaps book online--I have no idea if the various online operators that charge much more to book from home are of higher quality). Someone with less money might be happy with the cheap trip. Just make sure you jump on a camel as quick as you can so you do get the camel trip.

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