Many people know Morocco for its desert trips and riding camels. Camel trekking in Morocco is a once-in-a-lifetime experience because of the exhilarating sense of riding a camel across the desert, the stunning views of dunes, and the vibrant culture of the Berber people.
From personal experience, camel trekking in Morocco is a fantastic experience. In Morocco, they create special tours for camel treks that focus on ethics.
The ideal place to begin any Moroccan camel trekking expedition is Marrakech. One of my favorite things to do in Marrakech is take a camel ride outside the city during your visit!
Marrakech is a lively city with many sights, sounds, and colors. From here, you may go on a camel trekking excursion to discover the surrounding mountains, deserts, and valleys, experience the warmth of the Berber people, and discover more about the intriguing history and culture of the area.
Morocco offers various camel trekking activities, from quick rides to all-day adventures.
You can go on a camel ride over the Atlas Mountains, travel through the Sahara or Agafay Deserts, or spend the night in a traditional Berber tent. The selection of a trip can take time due to the abundance of possibilities. We have compiled a list of Morocco’s top camel trekking trips to assist with this. If you take a camel trekking excursion in Morocco, you are in for a treat.
Good to know as a conscious traveller
As a conscientious tourist, you must arrange your trip with reputable camel tour companies that take good care of their animals. If at all feasible. Find proof that they own camels, and focus on finding ones that are robust and in good condition. Expressing care for the well-being of the animals is a positive thing. Try to provide your support to people and small neighbourhood businesses that care for and appreciate their animals.
Be aware of the camels.
Checking the conditions of the animals’ care before boarding the camel is a good idea, and you shouldn’t be afraid to form your own opinions on them. It is quite acceptable for you to decline to ride a camel that appears ill, damaged, or sickly.
Riding underfed animals or with visible bones sticking out of their hips or backs is not a good idea. Steer clear of animals with open wounds, inspect the saddle and harness, and see whether the tethers and nosebands are excessively tight and uncomfortable. In all these cases, raising concerns with the animal caretaker is essential. Watch for those who oppress animals and observe how the animal handlers handle them.
You can ride a camel with two people, but make sure the camel is strong enough to carry the weight. Camels typically keep 150 pounds, so be careful not to overburden the animal. Steer clear of operators packing too many people and stuff onto their camels. While you might want to save money, riding separately is better for the animals.
What to wear on a camel?
Checking the conditions of the animals’ care before boarding the camel is a good idea, and you shouldn’t be afraid to form your own opinions on them. It is quite acceptable for you to decline to ride a camel that appears ill, damaged, or sickly.
Riding animals that look thin or have visible bones sticking out of their hips or backs is not a good idea. Steer clear of animals with open wounds, inspect the saddle and harness, and see whether the tethers and nosebands are excessively tight and uncomfortable. In all these cases, raising concerns with the animal caretaker is essential. Watch for those who oppress animals and observe how the animal handlers handle them.
You can ride a camel with two people, but make sure the camel can handle the weight. Camels typically keep 150 pounds, so be careful not to overburden the animal. Steer clear of operators packing too many passengers and stuff onto their camels. Even though you might want to save money, riding separately is better for the animals.
Ride camel in safety
When it comes to safety, camels are often relatively docile. They tend to be safe to ride because they are dependable and steady. Ascertain that the tour leader gives you precise instructions about how to sit and hang on. Like any animal, they can be temperamental at times. Listen carefully to any safety advice you receive, and follow the ride’s rules. It would help if you straddled your legs to mount the camel, which will take some time.
Stretching your leg muscles before the ride can be a good idea, especially if you’re not used to exercising them. As the most challenging aspect of the ride is keeping proper posture and stabilizing yourself with the pressure you may apply with your legs, you should stretch and perform a few squats. If you intend to go on a lengthy journey, be ready for some discomfort.
Long periods spent in the saddle will affect the body, so if you have back problems, it is wise to take some pain medication. The ideal strategy is finding a rhythm that syncs with the camel’s movements. Your body will naturally move when you let it relax. Your stability and balance will improve if you maintain your awareness in your core,back will not feel as much pressure from a collision if you have a strong body.
The cost of riding a camel
Should you want to go on a two-day camel excursion, your budget should allow for around $200. This ought to cover all meals and travel expenses. You may choose from a wide variety of trip combinations and customize the duration of your vacation. The longer excursions will cover more exploration of the Sahara Desert. Since haggling for the best deal will eventually impact the animals’ welfare, try to pay a reasonable fee for the tour. Aim for sustainable tourism since this will allow people to visit these incredible locations and see the persistence of the local ways of life. The money generated by tourists helps the camel herding and desert settlements survive.
Where to ride camels in Morocco
You must undoubtedly experience camel riding if you visit the Moroccan desert.
Nevertheless, there is still hope if, for whatever reason, you are unable to go and would rather not forfeit the opportunity to ride a camel.
Let’s examine the two possibilities in more detail.
1 Camel riding in Marrakech
The most excellent site to ride a camel in Marrakech is El Palmeral, which is 10 kilometres outside of the city. Many people opt to get there by rickshaw or taxi because it’s an exciting and unique experience.
Imagine taking a tour of an expansion covering an approximately 13,000-acre area, home to over 100,000 palm palms. That’s what the Palmeral has to offer, though.
You can see how crucial the palm tree is to the nation’s economy and culture because of its dates and the timber that can be harvested from it.
Although riding a camel this way is exciting, nothing beats riding one in the desert.
2 Camel riding in the Moroccan desert
We have reached the ultimate destination for camel riding enthusiasts worldwide: the Moroccan desert, namely Erg Chebbi.
Not that we say so—though we do as well.
This is because the desert is the dromedary’s native habitat; the animal’s coat, colour, and foot pads were all designed to survive here rather than suffocating or sinking in the sand.
The same is true of their noses, which can be shut entirely to keep sand out during blizzards, and their exceptionally long eyelashes, which shield their eyes.
Observing the dawn or sunset on a camel in Erg Chebbi is a sensory experience that will leave you speechless. The views of the horizon from the top of the animal, the sky’s gradient, and the stillness of the desert will captivate your senses.
