Are you wondering where to ride a camel in Morocco? well, this article is for you. Here, we will share with you the best places to ride a camel in morocco.
Riding a camel in Morocco is one of the most popular activities that tourists like to experience once they are in the kingdom. Being able to see yourself on the top of a two-meter-tall tranquil camel and fusing with a desert’s unique natural surroundings is an extraordinary experience.
Before we share with you the best places to ride a camel in Morocco, we think that it is important to mention two unique characteristics camels have that other animals may lack as there some people are unaware of. These unique characteristics are:
- The First characteristic is that A camel is able to withstand water and blistering sun. In other words, dehydration and high body temperatures are some conditions camels can withstand. Hence, They may survive for several days without drinking water.
- The Second characteristic is that it can withstand long periods of cold in the winter. In other words, it has the ability to survive in frigid mountainous regions.
Now, let’s go into detail and share the best places to ride a camel in morocco.
Erg Chebbi
Erg Chebbi is the first best place to ride a camel in Morocco. The Merzouga area, around 40 kilometres from Erfoud, is where you’ll find the Erg Chebbi dunes.
The Erg Chebbi dunes rise up to 150 meters over a surface that extends around 28 kilometres from north to south. This is one of the top destinations that tourists visit when they want to ride a camel in Morocco. All desert camps in Erg Chebbi, luxury and standard ones offer camel tours for their guests.
In case you booked a hotel in Merzouga, the ride starts just before sunset since it takes just 30 minutes on a camel to get to the Erg Chebbi dunes. However, it is better to look for a desert camp in Erg Chebbi to get the best out of your camel tour.
Not only you will enjoy riding a camel over the Erg Chebbi dunes, but you will also enjoy a panoramic view of the desert. What is more fascinating is that you will have the chance to enjoy watching the sunset on the top of a sand dune and enjoy sleeping under a sky filled with stars.
Overall, you will not experience the desert and Erg Chebbi unless you experienced riding a camel over the dunes of Erg Chebbi.
Erg Chigaga
Erg Chigaga is one of the best places where you can ride a camel in Morocco. The biggest dunes of Morocco are in Erg Chigaga.
Erg Chigaga’s big dunes are one of the most alluring destinations for those who are people looking for adventure, something special, or anything off-the-grid. Erg Chigaga is the biggest and wildest erg in all of Morocco, measuring roughly 35 by 15 kilometres.
About 9 hours drive separate Erg Chigaga from Marrakech. The closest town, M’Hamid, is 60 kilometres away from Erg Chigaga camps. You must go over sand, dried-up lakes, and rugged terrain in a 4WD to get to the camp. Given its isolation, there won’t be any mass tourism or tour buses there.
A typical day in Erg Chigaga starts at 5:30 am in case you are a morning person. You will wake up and walk or ride a camel up the big dunes to enjoy an incredible view of sunrise over the dunes.
In case you are not a morning person, you wake up at 8:00 a.m to have your breakfast. Then, at 10 a.m you will be on the back of a camel climbing the big dunes and enjoying a beautiful view of the big desert. You could ride for 1 hour, 3 hours,..it is up to you.
Keep in mind that, you will have the option to experience having lunch under a tamarisk tree in the dunes where you can relax a little bit before returning to the camp.
Agafay Desert
Agafay Desert is about 45 minute’s drive south of Marrakesh. Agafay desert is one of the best places to ride a camel in Morocco in case you want to escape the crowds of the city of Marrakech and experience riding a camel.
Unlike Erg Chebbi and Erg CHigaga sand dunes, Agafay Desert is not sandy, instead, it is rockier. In other words, there are no sand dunes in Agafay Desert, but sand dunes like hills.
Agafay Desert, or Marakesh’s rocky desert as it is called, is unique. You will not only have the chance to experience crossing rocky dunes, but you will also have the opportunity to dress like a nomad in a blue scarf and robe. Moreover, it will be an opportunity to enjoy a cup of mint tea in a really cosy atmosphere.
Keep in mind that it is one of the best places where you can take amazing photos riding a camel with the sunset as a backdrop. It is worth the visit.
Zagora
Zagora, the gate of the Sahara desert as it is called, is located in southern-eastern Morocco at the base of the Anti-Atlas Mountains and alongside the Draa Valley. Zagora is a traditional quiet town. It is one of the best places where you can ride a camel in Morocco.
A camel ride in Zagora is a must to do activity if you want to experience what it was like for ancient nomads to live in the desert and admire their way of life. This adventure entails exploring the magnificent desert environment while riding camels. You may lodge in a bivouac, or traditional night camp, and enjoy meals taken in the shade of savannah trees
When compared to other Sahara desert locations like the Erg Chebbi dunes and the Erg Chegaga dunes, the Zagora desert is far more stony and arid. However, Riding a camel is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for tourists because of the magnificent scenery and the welcoming hospitality of the inhabitants. Also, riding a camel and enjoying the stunning mountains, oases, wadis and the huge sand dunes of this town is a unique experience.
Agadir
Agadir, one of the biggest cities of Morocco, is located north of the point where the Souss River empties into the Atlantic Ocean. It is near the foot of the Atlas Mountains. It is one of the top destinations in Morocco tourist visit.
Agadir offers its visitors many different activities to do. For example, if you want to experience riding a camel, Agadir is one of the best places to ride a camel in morocco. Just 6 kilometres away from the city.
The camel riding adventure is located close to the city. This fun journey will take you through a eucalyptus forest, sand dunes, and stunning scenery.
You may also have the opportunity to travel through charming Berber towns before arriving at the Oued Souss river’s mouth and the national park, where migrating birds frequently fly throughout the winter from frigid regions. Pink flamingos and other unique bird species are almost always visible, offering you a fantastic chance to get a good look at them.
At the end of your journey, you can enjoy a traditional Tagine or a BBQ or a vegetarian meal. That is why Agadir is one of the top places to ride a camel in morocco.
Dakhla
Dakhla, a sliver of heaven tucked away between the Atlantic and Saharan sands in southern Morocco, is a little area of beauty. It offers you a total change of scenery.
Dakhla is a growing tourism destination in Morocco. The wind in Dakhla is renowned for luring windsurfers and kitesurfers from all over the world to partake in these activities. Yet, You can do different activities like riding a camel as there are many kite and surf camps that offer their guests this activity.
It is true that Dakhla is not one of the top tourists destinations in morocco such as Chafchaouen, Fes, Marrakech, Assila and many other cities, but it is one of the Moroccan cities that offers a relaxing experience far away from the crowds of the big cities.
Dakhla is really a perfect place where you can ride a camel in Morocco. So, when the sun sinks down on the horizon, just hop on your camel and have fun.
Essaouira
Essaouira, the ancient Mogador, is known as the “Bride of the Atlantic” because of its crenellated walls, distinctive breeze, and houses with white and blue façade. Like Dakhla, Essaouira attracts kite surfers and windsurfers from all around the world.
In Essaouira, you will have the chance to enjoy the stunning beaches, sand dunes, and coastal forests of this city on the back of a camel as The Sahara Desert isn’t the only area where you can ride a camel in morocco. You may go until you reach the dunes and the lovely beach, where you can enjoy the thrill of walking in the ocean from atop a magnificent camel. you will also have the opportunity to admire the Portuguese Castle’s ruins on the beach, and Mogador Island’s mosque and its historic prison.
On a final note, we would like to say that it is true that there are many other places where you can ride a camel in morocco, yet we gave you the best places where you can experience riding a camel. Keep in mind that the best time to ride a camel is just before sunset because watching the sunset on a back of a camel over the dunes is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.