The Sahara Desert has always been the direction for those who want a unique travel experience. People all around the globe come to enjoy the beauty of this huge ocean of orange sand dunes. It is the largest hot air desert in the world and it is one of the best tourist attractions in Morocco. It covers an important area of the country’s south extending to other Northern African countries, such as Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt.
In this post, we focus mainly on some tourist attractive areas of the Moroccan territory.
What makes the Sahara Desert one of the most famous touristic destinations?
The beauty and tranquillity are what the Sahara Desert is known for. Being away from the hustles and bustles of the urban cities is what makes the Sahara Desert win the title of the calmest place in the world.
The Sahara is a landscape characterized by calmness and peace. There are no buildings, vehicles or people in sight. It is a clear 360° horizon which provides travellers with a spiritual experience in the real sense. You will be mesmerized by the peaceful nature of the place.
The second reason behind the fame of the Sahara Desert is its unique topography. The Sahara Desert encompasses a wide range of land features that are uncommon and worth visiting. The most famous land feature is the sand dune fields that are often depicted in movies. In Morocco, there are two big dunes; The Erg Chebbi and Erg Chigaga sand dunes.
The dunes cover only a small portion of the Sahara Desert leaving more space to other topographical features, such as basins, mountains, depressions, sand- and gravel-covered plains, plateaus and salt flats. Consider booking a tour which will provide you with a holistic visit to all these land features.
Besides the natural views, the Sahara Desert includes a number of historical monuments. Ait Benhaddou, for instance, is a traditional and very old city fully constructed with mud-brick. It is an old fortress that has been classified as World Heritage by UNESCO.
This Berber village is a left behind a heritage that reflects the ancient way of life in the desert, which protected the homes and cultures of the populations that were inside. It is considered Hollywood Morocco as it has been featured in so many famous movies, such as Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. This is not the only Kasbah or Kser in the region. Being featured in movies definitely adds to the fame of the Sahara.
Many tourists head towards the Sahara Desert to have a visit with a semi-nomadic family in order to discover a little about their distinct way of life. If you ever had the chance to visit a Bedouin family, make sure that you will enjoy drinking a glass of mint tea while listening to their performance of traditional drum music. It will be imprinted in your heart forever.
The place’s adventurous side attracts tourists from all over the world. The Sahara Desert is also known for the many unique activities that provide your stay with a sense of adventure. The first and the most famous activity is taking a dromedary and experiencing how the Bedouin have travelled for centuries through the desert. Just enjoy riding the camel and look at your shadow sailing the golden dunes. Riding a camel is unquestionably fantastic!
Another well-known activity you can do is stargazing. At night, bring your mattress outside your tent and enjoy wondering about the stars. Since the desert is not polluted, you will have a very clear view of the sky. The stars and the moon are just so bright. You will have a perfect view of the Milky Way and the numerous passing shooting stars.
Watching the sunset and the sunrise in the middle of the Sahara are other visual phenomena for which many people visit the Sahara Desert. Witnessing the dusk and the sun as it fades and hides under the dunes in this magical place would be an unforgettable experience.
The same can be said about viewing the spectacular sunrise and seeing how the sun cheers the world from the horizon. Just the mere act of imagination makes your inner self peaceful and relaxed, let alone taking part in the magical show.
Many people know the Sahara Desert through cinema. In fact, many interesting films have been released in the cinema studios of Ouarzazate, known as “The Hollywood of Morocco”. Some of the famous films released in Ouarzazate are Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, Asterix and Obelix and Babel.
The Sahara indeed is one of the most famous touristic spots in Morocco. Strolling the Sahara resembles the adventures and magical stories of the one thousand and one nights. It adds to the country’s culture, geography and fame. See you soon in the Sahara Desert!
