The ideal season for a trek or desert retreat is between late September and late April.
In November and December, nights can be very chilly. Bring a warm sleeping bag and thermal pajamas.
Outside of this period, it is very hot. However, if you wish to come to the desert during the hot season, a 4X4 tour is possible.
| Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | August | Seven | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Day | 21 | 24 | 27 | 32 | 37 | 42 | 46 | 45 | 39 | 32 | 26 | 21 |
| Night | 4 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 21 | 16 | 11 | 6 |
| Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | |
| Day | 21 | 24 | 27 | 32 | 37 | 42 |
| Night | 4 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 |
| July | August | Seven | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Day | 46 | 45 | 39 | 32 | 26 | 21 |
| Night | 26 | 26 | 21 | 16 | 11 | 6 |
What to do in M'Hamid El Ghizlane
Discovery of old M'Hamid and its fortified kasbah.
Visit the large palm grove which runs along the Drâa wadi.
To prepare your program together:
At the end of the trek, you can spend a wonderful time in the hammam.
Visit the souk, which takes place every Monday. Here you'll find local products at great prices and mingle with the locals.
Visit the souvenir shops.
The Taragalte Festival: Held annually for three days in early November in the heart of the dunes of M'Hamid El Ghizlane, this world music festival unites all the Saharan communities. This event celebrates the diverse desert lifestyles, world music, and dance, with a series of exhibitions, activities, and workshops under the stars.
Another festival, the International Nomads Festival, takes place annually for three days in March or April. The cultural activities held there highlight the tangible and intangible heritage of nomadic tribes, helping to preserve their cultural identity. Songs, music and dance, storytelling, and poetry are performed by artists (local, national, and international) invited to perform on stage.
The ideal is to combine one of these festivals with a trek in the desert.
You can eat everything there and very healthily: tagines, couscous, bread cooked in the sand or on embers, eggs, vegetables, fruit, tea with or without sugar, coffee, jams, etc.
Nomads are very good cooks. They prepare delicious dishes that are very well presented.
Whether you're a meat-eater or a vegetarian, they adapt their meals to your eating habits. Remember to let them know in advance if you have any food allergies.
The water served in the desert by nomads comes from bottles, making it safe to drink.
The Desert Gateway M'Hamid El Ghizlane, formerly known as Taragalte (meaning "Plain of Gazelles"), is a small rural commune in the province of Zagora. It is located at the very end of the road from Marrakech. After passing through this village, the path ends and you enter the vastness of the Sahara.
Close to the Algerian border, M'Hamid El Ghizlane is crossed by the Draa River which flows further into the Atlantic Ocean.
