Sahara Trek - itinerary

Day 1 - Saturday

Depart London Heathrow for Casablanca, transfer to Ouarzazate and check into hotel.

Day 2 - Sunday

After early breakfast and full briefing we transfer to M'Hamid the start of the trek. Our drive takes us over the Jebel Sarhro Mountains and down the 'Valley of a thousand kasbah's' into the desert. We stop briefly in Zagora to buy a 'shash' (native headscarf ) before heading off into the desert. On arriving at the starting point we have lunch whilst our cameleers load up the camels. Our late afternoon trek takes us first across flat open plains then into Erg Lihoudi, our first taste of sand dunes. We make out camp at the edge of the dunes for the night.

Day 3 - Monday

AThe full colour of the landscape erupts as the sun rises. Hot coffee and a good breakfast set us up for a good day's trek. We dismantle the campsite and load up the camels and head across Erg Lihoudi. Amongst the sand dunes are small tamarisk trees that manage to flourish despite the harsh environment. Continuing between small sand dunes we see the Jebel Bani Mountains to the north and dunes to the south. After lunch we walk out of the dunes and onto a flat rocky plateau where we make camp near L'oued L'autuche.

Day 4 - Tuesday

Leaving the camp behind us we set off across flat open country and after about 4km we come to the edge of some low dunes. Skirting to the north of the dunes we walk on both soft sand and stony plateau and you can sometimes find the odd fossilised sea creatures. The hottest part of the day is spent having lunch in the shade. In the afternoon we head across lots of beautifully formed dunes. This part of the trek is quite challenging but after about an hour we will see the large dunes in the distance and head for them. We camp perched on a bluff overlooking the dunes.

Day 5 - Wednesday

After a good breakfast we head off down a gully onto the desert floor. In the morning we trek across stony flat desert and after several short climbs and after crossing dry and dusty plains we find the only tree for miles to have our lunch under. When the hottest part of the day has passed we continue across hamada (stony flat terrain) until we cross a ridge and enjoy a spectacular view of Chagaga, the largest sand dunes of the region.We camp below the dunes for the night.

Day 6 - Thursday

The day starts with a spectacular climb and an incredible view from the top of the 300-metre dune. To the south are rolling dunes as far as the eye can see and to the north, Hamada and Jebel Bani. We spend the day amongst the dunes passing the occasional nomadic encampments and small clumps of palm trees. In the late afternoon we reappear from the dunes and head out across flat terrain and acacia trees to our campsite just below Jebel Bani.

Day 7 - Friday

Today is our days of mirages and flat saltpans.We begin by walking across several kilometres of hamada with dunes lying to the south. Gradually the acacia trees vanish and we are left in spectacularly flat open saltpan. Distances are impossible to gauge as the views shimmer in the heat.We are getting close to trekking our hundredth kilometre now and the last few are completed crossing this remote place. Our last night is spent on the saltpan with its incredible sunset.

Day 8 - Saturday

The day starts early with our sunrise walk as we near the edge of the desert - a truly unforgettable experience. We load into the trucks and drive the last bumpy part of the desert in the back of the trucks which is great fun if a little dusty. We transfer back to the hotel in Ouarzazate where we have the afternoon to relax before the evenings festivities commence!

Day 9 - Sunday

Early transfer to airport, depart for London

Due to the nature of the challenge, this complex itinerary is subject to change