Camel Riding Experience In Morocco
21st October 2022- New Experience Number 22.
“Hold on” came the instruction from the front. From the mounting to the dismounting, and some of the slight downhills across the dunes, on my first ever camel riding experience in Morocco, those two words became a familiar phrase. Here are the ups and downs from our trip.
On our first visit to Africa, our trip with Much Better Adventures included an overnight stay in the Sahara desert, and getting there involved covering 4 kilometres by camel.
Is A Camel Riding Experience In Morocco Ethical?
There are many reports about whether we should ride on camels and there isn’t a definitive answer.
Of course, it’s not just the act of riding that we need to consider, but how the animals are treated. Our camels seemed content and healthy, and our guide was very gentle with them.
Much Better Adventures, who we booked our tour with, is a company that is all about sustainable and responsible travel, so I felt that I could trust the provider they had booked, and that they had done their due diligence into the teams they use.
Camel Comfort
As I straddled over the back of my seated camel, I gripped the handles and braced myself. This was not gracious or dignified.
Lurching forwards and then backwards, taking me with it like a wobbling weeble toy from the 80s, my ride raised up from it’s knees to stand.
The blankets on the back of the camels added some level of cushioning to us riders, and hopefully alleviated the camels from any particularly bony backsides.
That said, it wasn’t exactly the smoothest or most comfortable journey. Constantly swaying backwards and forwards it was a bit like being on a particularly choppy sea.
Camel Control
Our guide, Ahmed, was in command of our train of camels. This was a relief as I’d had visions of having a desert steed that either refused to move, or bolted off over the dunes and into the sunset with me clinging to the reigns.
Ahmed walked barefoot at the front. Our lurching line of animals obediently followed along. He was very gentle with them, only using spoken commands and the occasional encouraging nudge as we sauntered over the sand.
All I needed to do was sit back, enjoy the ride and admire the view. And what a view!
Not Quite Deserted In The Desert - Camel Riding Experience In Morocco
This wasn’t entirely the remote trek into the desert that I had envisaged. Several other groups were embarking on their own expeditions into the sandy wilderness, and at one point a convoy of quad bikes roared past us. This must be a regular occurrence as the camels weren’t in the slightest bit spooked, something I was very grateful for.
Yet the desert is vast, and once the wheels had spun on by there was plenty of space for us to feel a sense of intrepid solitude.
Silence In The Shifting Sands
Once the vehicles had passed, only the soft sound of camel hooves in the sand, and our gentle chatter, cut through the quiet. It was remarkably peaceful out there.
Well used by camels, people, quad bikes and 4x4s, the dunes were patterned with varying tracks and the occasional tuft of scrub-like vegetation. A black pipe snaked through the sand, visible in places where the wind had blown away its cover and disappearing again between the grains. This was desert tamed by people. Yet there was plenty of untouched sand flowing across the landscape rising up to high dunes like pointed waves. It was am amazing feeling of wandering in the wild.
Spectacular Scenery On A Camel Riding Experience In Morocco
The camels walked at a steady pace – perfect for taking countless photographs.
It was simply breathtaking – like being in a screen saver. It was definitely like being in a film set as this part of the desert has been used in many big screen adventures.
We swayed on the camels under the big blue sky, casting dramatic shadows across the sand.
Soaking Up The Sunset
Stopping to soak up the incredible sunset was an opportunity to stretch our legs Sitting astride my trusty ride it suddenly seemed quite a long way to get down. Dismounting was not pretty. Helping us one at a time, our guide uttered an instruction to the camel which then jerked what felt like a very long way forward, and then a very long way down onto its knees. This was definitely a moment to ‘hold on!’
The sun cast its final rays of the day across the almost lunar landscape. The vibrant colour of the dunes seemed ever changing; from rich reds and fiery oranges, to bold yellows and deep purples.
With the light fading, specks of stars began to appear in the twighlight. I don’t think our camels really cared, but to me it felt like a magical moment.
Dreaded Dismount
After almost an hour of trekking, my thighs were ready to alight my lovely camel. Of course that also meant the white knuckle ride of returning to the ground, which was just as brutal as it had been earlier.
Feet back as firmly as they could be on the sand, I patted my furry friend, thanking it for not throwing me off or spitting at me. In response, he just nonchalantly blinked those long lashed eyes whilst staring off into the distance. Any bond I thought we had made was clearly very one sided.
There was a bit of muscle ache in my legs, but that soon disappeared as we explored our camp where we would be spending the night in the desert.
Camel Riding Experience In Morocco - Tourist Trap Or Epic Experience?
It wasn’t wholly the romantic isolated experience that I had in mind. However, being completely cut off in the desert is perhaps not something tourists would actually enjoy. The risk assessment would no doubt be incredibly tedious too.
Morocco makes a lot of money through tourism. Riding a camel in the desert is an experience many people want to spend their hard earnt cash on. We have to appreciate that we’re not alone in seeking adventures like this, and it’s ok because there’s plenty of space in the desert for everyone.
Been There, Dune That
That had been an epic experience and an incredible way to visit the desert. Riding a camel might not be the most luxurious or speediest way to travel, but is certainly an amazing way to slow down and be immersed in the sights and sounds of the Sahara.
Want To Try It Yourself?
Our camel riding experience was part of a 5 night tour in Morocco with Much Better Adventures.
When in Morocco you can easily book a separate excursion. Bear in mind this could involve a fair bit of travelling depending on where you are staying. It was around 600km from Marrakech to Merzouga where we had our experience.
There are many places in the world that offer camel riding experiences, so why not have a look into it if you’re travelling somewhere near a desert?
Cost Of Experience
We paid just under £400 per person for our whole 5 night Moroccan trip in 2022. It included all accommodation, all transport, the camel riding experience, a night in the desert, and a majority of the meals. Flights were separate.
Check out the Much Better Adventures website for the latest prices and updates about this whole trip.
- You can of course book camel trekking independently. Some tours will take you to the desert, whilst you may need to make your own way there for others. Get Your Guide has a whole host of camel riding experiences and tours on offer, with some starting from as little as £20 per person.
- Viator also curates camel trekking tours across Morocco varying in duration and price.
Recommendations
- Take your camera – don’t forget to make sure your batteries are fully charged.
- Cover up – you’ll likely be trekking in the sun at some point. Take a hat, sunglasses and suncream.
- A scarf or a buff will be useful if the wind picks up, or if you have a particularly smelly camel.
- Don’t forget to take some water.
- Make sure you use a company that looks after their camels, and that you’ll be riding them on sand rather than solid ground – their feet are adapted for the desert, not for tarmac.
- If you’re booking to go during the school holidays, bear in mind there could be more traffic crossing the dunes.
- Enjoy the ride. It may not be the most comfortable journey, but the scenery is stupendous.
- Hold on!
What a lovely experience. I never tried and reading about your experience allowed me to understand and imagine what it might be like. How awesome. I’m glad you enjoyed it all in all. Thank you for sharing and for all the great trips!
Thank you so much Vanessa! It was such a nice way to slow down and absorb the spectacular scenery, even if wasn’t necessarily the most comfortable journey :o)
Camel riding in Morocco offers a unique and serene experience, especially at sunrise or sunset. The slow pace lets you take in the stunning desert landscapes and ancient caravan routes. It’s a timeless way to connect with Morocco Luxe Tours rich history, making it a must-do adventure for any traveler.
It certainly is unique and serene, and the sunset we saw was breath taking. It’s such an incredible way to momentarily experience an ancient way of life. Thank you so much for reading and commenting. Good luck with Morocco Luxe Tours, it looks like you offer some fantastic adventures!:o)