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Morocco Deserts and Rivers

Whitewater Rafting in Morocco with Water By Nature Ltd

Highlights

  • Raft on the best whitewater Morocco has to offer, right on the edge of the Sahara
  • Explore the beauty and culture of the magical Kingdom of Morocco
  • Shop in the souqs of Djeema el Fna in Marrakech, a true feast for the senses

Full Description

This trip is full of contrasts, and will give you a wonderful insight into the rich culture, diversity and spectacular scenery in Morocco.

Morocco is a land full of contrasts and a destination to awaken the senses. You will get a true sample of the extremes of this land on our Deserts and Rivers adventure. Travel from the heart of the Atlas Mountains by river sampling scenery few people get to experience. Along the way, you'll have gourmet food in spectacular surroundings. After your river journey, we'll return to Marrakech to take in all that this fascinating city has to offer. We'll journey to the Sahara desert through Ait Bennhadou, the scene of so many great movies to the heart of the desert. Here you'll ride camels and sleep under the stars miles taking in the peace and serenity of this magical place. Morocco will surprise you in so many ways, but its variety of landscapes is illustrated perfectly on this trip.

Includes:

  • Transfers to and from Marrakech Airport to the hotel
  • Accommodation 1 night before and 1 night after the river trip. There will also be 1 night on the conclusion of the Sahara trip.
  • All transfers to and from the river
  • All meals from breakfast on day two to lunch on day six
  • All necessary rafting equipment
  • Tented accommodation whilst on the river
  • All camping equipment excluding sleeping bags
  • Fully qualified, experienced river guides and safety kayakers
  • All necessary permits and licenses
  • A cool Water By Nature T-shirt

Excludes:

  • Visas
  • Departure taxes
  • Travel insurance
  • Inoculations
  • Sleeping bags
  • DVD
  • Personal items
  • Gratuities
  • Meals in town

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1

Flights generally arrive into Marrakech in the morning. You will be met at the airport by our Water By Nature representative who will take you to your hotel and make sure that you get settled in nice and comfy! Then it's out to explore the local restaurants and culture (and believe us, there are plenty!)

Included: No meals

Day 2

We enjoy a hearty breakfast at our hotel, and then board our vehicles bound for the heart of the Atlas Mountains. We drive from Marrakech with the sun rising over the Atlas Mountains, northward toward the middle Atlas Mountains. On a good day we can see Jbel Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa. We stop in stunning olive groves for a sumptuous lunch and drive towards Tilouguite pausing to take in the view as we cross this picturesque mountain range. We cross the Ahanssel River just past Tilouguite and drive a little further to one of the fantastic campsites we have ever seen! We dine in style on the riverbank.

Day 3

After breakfast we will take you through a thorough safety briefing so you are fully prepared should you make an untimely exit from the boat and practice our paddling techniques before tackling our first rafting of the trip. We load the gear raft with the rest of our equipment and take on the rapids! Many of the rapids are as yet unnamed... perhaps a chance for your fame to be realized! Depending on flows this can be a fun technical river or big volume and bouncy! We paddle through the narrows in Tilouguite with locals watching on the riverbanks, rather bemused at our range of colourful equipment. Some may even jump in and attempt to hitch a lift down the river. We camp amongst cedar trees at "Barking Dog" camp. The afternoon is yours to explore the nearby mountains, or sit back and relax and soak up this beautiful scenery.

Day 4

Today sees more roller coaster rapids as we head down river and discover the majestic beauty of this land. Some great fun waves today. Our day is punctuated with a relaxing lunch, accompanied by curious locals churning wheat at local waterwheels. The water here is generally crystal clear and we will pack our fishing rods, to try our luck to catch fresh fish for dinner tonight! We will raft for around 4-5 hours per day, leaving plenty of time to go and explore nearby villages, or just sit around with your fellow paddlers and discuss the day!

Day 5

It is great to remember where we are on the edge of the Sahara, on a crystal clear river tackling the best whitewater that Morocco has to offer. Rapids come thick and fast today, what a fantastic place to learn your newly found skills! After a lunch full of the fresh foods Morocco has to offer, we walk up the valley to a nearby Casbah, as we relax and sample Moroccan hospitality! Farmers go about their everyday business and inquisitive locals marvel at out vast array of multicoloured equipment! We raft down to our night’s camp deep within a stunning gorge, a fitting finale to this magical journey! It’s great to sit around the fire watching the glow dance on the canyon walls and recount the day’s tales.

Included: All Meals Days 2-5 inclusive

Day 6

On the last river day we finish off with a few fun rapids and then paddle towards Lake Bin El Ouidane where we will raft all the boats up together and motor across the lake to our waiting vehicle. From here we will drive back to Marrakech for the evening and enjoy our first chance to explore the souqs of Djeema el Fna. Shopping is a whole new experience in Morocco, and even for the most reluctant of shoppers can be immensely fun.

Included: Breakfast and lunch

Day 7

Today sees an amazingly scenic drive up to and through the heart of the majestic Atlas mountains. We board our 4 wheel drive vehicles early in Marrakech, stopping en route to enjoy a great lunch alongside the River Dades. We arrive mid afternoon into Erg Chebbi and enjoy local food, music and entertainment.

Day 8

Let's try another type of transport today! Camels! After breakfast we board our new best friends, we take us to the Sahara Desert Great Dunes. We have some amazing photo opportunities here. We take a chance to enjoy lunch and relax. In the evening we visit a local Nomad village and meet the families who are totally at home and welcoming out here. We enjoy a traditional Moroccan Dinner with proud families entertaining us with music and dance. We Bivouac in the desert under the stars!

Day 9

We depart by camel back to Erg Chebbi Auberge, where we enjoy our lunch. We drive towards the Rissani Kasbah and other surrounding areas of interest for the afternoon. If you choose here, we can arrange an extra night in a desert Bivouac.

Day 10

Today we leave Erg Chebbi Auberge after breakfast and head for Ait Benhaddou and sample the history and hospitality of the locals. We have our lunch in the stunning Todra Gorge before making our way to Ouarzazate. We visit the Kasbah and in the evening after settling into our hotel we take a tour of the spectacular hillside medina. We enjoy dinner on the terrace of our hotel with Moroccan music and entertainment all included!

Included: All Meals Days 7-10 inclusive

Day 11

After breakfast we depart Ait Ben Haddou bound for Marrakech. A chance for some more exploring around this great city and for some last minute shopping.

Included: Breakfast & lunch

Day 12

After breakfast, take your flight home.

Included: Breakfast

About The Operator:

Water By Nature Ltd

Headquarters:

Denver, Colorado

Water By Nature grew out of a passion for running rivers and taking a bunch of like-minded people to remote and exciting parts of the world. It was founded by kiwi, Hamish McMaster, who had spent many years guiding the best rivers around the globe, in such countries as Nepal, Zambia, Israel, New Zealand, Australia, America and Europe. His vision was to start a company dedicated to providing safe, fun, exciting and cultural trips for clients and guides alike. He leads a team of world-renowned river professionals, who have helped him to realize this vision. Water By Nature is now the rafting specialist of the world. Our classic river journeys stand alongside climbing Kilimanjaro and trekking the Inca Trail in their appeal to the most avid adventurers. Our palette of river journeys reflect that we raft the best rivers in the world, and with 80% of our clients returning for a second trip, we must be doing something right! Many clients have expressed their amazement that a river journey entails so much more than just the river. Rafting has long been plagued by the myth that it is dangerous, extreme and only for adrenaline junkies. Rafting is our profession, so we take it seriously. We are serious about safety, about good food, good times and serious about fun! We offer trips to suit all ages and abilities - it is not about fitness, it is about fun. Our youngest client to date was 6 years old, and our most mature was a 73 year old blind chap, who did a 7-day Zambezi trip! (He was not into the scenery, but loved getting wet).

Experience

Our office staff will be able to answer all your questions, whether it be about visas, flights or hippos. Our river crews have a level of experience that is unmatched in the white water industry. They will navigate you safely down the river, and fill you with knowledge of wildlife and local customs. They will also keep you amused with a few river stories from their years exploring the world.