A Week in the Desert

When: Anytime

Length: A one-week itinerary is given but other options are available, including one-day, one-weekend ones, and we also offer visitors the possibility of having their experience fully customized.

Number of guests: one to twenty

Fee: The prices of the programs is 10.000 Spanish pesetas per day (10,000 pesetas is about $20 US). The price includes all transportation in Laayoune and full board (bed, breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner). The excursions are not included in the price:Laayoune 500 Spanish pesetas; Camel Safari 2.000 Spanish pesetas; Naila 2.000 Spanish pesetas; Of course, the price for a single visitor will be calculated on the basis of type of tour requested and is dependant upon the number of kilometers covered, the expertise of guide required, duration of the trip, etc. A small (four to six people) group may be included in a previously programmed group, unless a specific request is made to make the group private.

A Note from EarthFoot
This trip centers around the town of Laayoune. Most of the world's maps portray Laayoune as lying within an administration area designated as Western Sahara. Morocco more or less annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979. Today the territory in which Laayoune finds itself is for all practical purposes part of Morocco. Today the area sees no military conflict.

Our Objectives:
Open the doors to the treasures of the Saharan desert in the south of Morocco. We offer the opportunity to plunge into the reality of desert life - sleep under a "jaima", ride a camel, roast your meat over a charcoal fire, climb a dune and walk shoulder-to-shoulder with the sons of nomads in their souks.

map Gettng to Laayoune:
A very intresting and pretty way to get to Laayoune is going by Car from Tanger to Laayoune, visiting Marraquesh, Fez, Agadir, Tan-Tan etc. It usually takes 1 week to get there.

Laayoune can be reached by air via Royal Air Maroc from Casablanca/Rabat/Las Palmas (Canary Islands). Charter planes (19 passengers) serve the town from Las Palmas, Canary Islands. At present there are flights on Monday, Tuesday, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. The cost is aproximately 28.000pts. The days and the cost may vary. Private plane (4-6 passengers) can be arranged in Tenerife, Canary Islands. The flights can be scheduled on a personal request. The ticket is about 25.000pts.

By road the town is available in rental cars from any point in Morrocco. Highways are in good condition and well marked; The cost is aproximately 8.000pts per day. Bus connection is also available from major cities.

All guests are met at their point of entry into Laayoune. If they come by air they are met at the airport at the time of flight arrival and they will be accompanied to the airport and assisted with their departure. If they come by car, a meeting point will be arranged previous to arrival.

Food and Lodging
Lodging is provided in tents in the Oasis L'Messeied. The tents are equipped with camp mattresses of foam, blankets, sheets and pillows with cases. There are three chemical toilet cabins and two cold shower/dressing rooms. There are hotels and pensions available in Laayoune; however, the hotels are typically expensive and the pensions are minimally acceptable.

The food served at the Oasis and on any excursions programmed for the desert is typical of the area. We give our visitors authentic menus, which include couscous, tajines, salads, camel and lamb dishes, fresh fish, fruit and pastries. All of our food is fresh, local produce prepared by our cook. Special menus and diets may be catered to upon request.

A WEEK-LONG ITINERARY

FIRST DAY:
MORNING: Drive into the desert; pass by an abandoned Spanish Legion Fort before arriving at the Oasis where you will be received in keeping with the customs of Saharan hospitality. Unpack and settle in before a succulent lunch of typical dishes served desert style.
AFTERNOON: Explore the Oasis and its surroundings by foot, camel or 4 X 4. Return to the Oasis in time for the tea ritual; sip mint tea and savor the local teacakes.
NIGHT: Dine by firelight while listening to the music performed by a local folklore group;learn to sing and dance with them.

tea below the tree SECOND DAY:
MORNING: Early breakfast under the palms before a visit to Laayoune Port and beach, where you can swim. Lunch among the dunes nomadic style
AFTERNOON: Visit to the city of Laayoune, its markets, and artisan center and take tea at the famous Hotel Parador, built during the Spanish reign.
NIGHT: Dine of exotic dishes and listen to anecdotes of Saharan folk tales by the light of the moon and stars.

THIRD DAY:
MORNING: Choose between taking a ride up the Saguia Hamara to feel the magic of the desert; painting hands and feet with henna designs; participating in any of the activities at the Oasis, such as the ages-old game of Petanc; or just swinging lazily in a hammock under the palms until lunch time
AFTERNOON: Visit the impressive Sea of Dunes and have tea in the nomad style of brochettes and cookies before visiting the Turkish Baths.
NIGHT: The local guitarist, Fafa, will entertain during dinner by moonlight.

communicating FOURTH DAY: MORNING: Early breakfast before travelling by 4 X 4 to the quaint fishing village of Tarfaya where St. Euxpery was inspired to write "The Little Prince. Drive to the expanse of white sandy beach for a picnic lunch.
AFTERNOON: Passing by kilometers of dunes and salt flats, you will arrive at Naila, the lagoon which is a stop-off for migratory birds. Walk to the ancient Spanish tower which dates back to the 15th century.
NIGHT: Under a starry sky, supper of the famous soup "harira", dates and fruit.

FIFTH DAY:
ALL DAY: explore the lagoon with all of its marshes, dunes and sites of historical and archeological interest
NIGHT: Delight in brochettes of fresh fish around a campfire.

SIXTH DAY:
MORNING: After a leisurely start to the day, begin the journey back to the Oasis picnicking on a salt flat and watch the harvest of sea salt
AFTERNOON: Sluice off the dust of the trip a Turkish bath before returning to the Oasis
NIGHT: The return "home" will be celebrated with a "couscous" dinner.

mother & child SEVENTH DAY:
MORNING: Choose between shopping in the souks of Laayoune, ride camels, paint with henna designs or just enjoy the tranquility of the Oasis. A special farewell luncheon will be served in company of folklore music and dancing.
AFTERNOON: Prepare for departure and return to the every-day world after a relaxing, refreshing pause in the desert absorbing its unique beauty.

Please note that we also have one-day and weekend itineraries. Also, we can fully customize special-interest trips. All tours are accompanied by a local driver/guide in order to add to the scope of information available to the visitor.