Sahara and Sea (including Plage Blanche)

Sahara and Sea (including Plage Blanche): 7 nights / 8 days

Trek Grade: Easy to Moderate

The Plage Blanche is a wild desert area located on the Atlantic Coast between Guelmim and Tantan, some 6 hours drive south of Agadir. It offers a fascinating combination of beaches, cliffs, estuaries, gorges, desert areas including dunes, French forts, wild camels, oases, fishermen and wilderness.

Day 1: Taroudant - Afensou

Welcome at Agadir airport (or transfer from other centre at a supplement). Transfer to Taroudant then Afensou through a scenic 4x4 track (about 2 hours).High Atlas Berber guesthouse “Les Terrasses de l’Atlas” at Afensou, near Taroudant.  Hammam, local music, Berber dinner.

Day 2: Warm up activities in the High Atlas:

A choice of walking or mountain biking or mule riding. Overnight at  “Les Terrasses de l’Atlas”.

Day 3: Afensou - Tiznit - Fort Noun

In the tracks of the Goums The Goums were the army composed of French chiefs and Berber soldiers that built and occupied the forts in the area.Transfer from Afensou to Tiznit for lunch (if start time allows) in a simple local restaurant in the medina and walls of the city (about  4 hours’ drive). Drive on the Guelmim Road and 4x4 mountain track to an isolated oasis down the old French fort called Fort Noun (about 3 hours’drive ). Wild camping by the old fort in the oasis, under the palm trees. Camels may be seen drinking there. Camp fire.

Day 4: Fort Noun - Aoreora Estuary

The day begins with a 1 hour’s drive.by 4x4 track and road in the Anti-Atlas to the beginning of the White Beach (Plage Blanche)

Morning : 28 km walk and drive on the beach (many birds to see, especially from autumn to spring), between the ocean and the sandy cliffs that become progressively dunes. 

Afternoon:  choice of walks : along a gorge, in the dunes, on the cliffs, on the beach, to an old French fort, the fishermen’s huts. Wild camping in the dunes in Aoreora.  Aperitif on the crests of the dunes at sunset. Fish barbecue. Desert activities.

Day 5: Cape Aoreora

Trekkers continue on the beach while the 4x4 drives on the cliff (12 kms) and meet at the Cape on the cliff. Drive, passing isolated crescent-shaped barchan dunes. Search for mussels and other seafoods.  Wild camping close to a fishermens’ camp to meet and take dinner with them.

Day 6: Drâa Estuary  

Take a 4x4 track to viewpoint over the Drâa estuary. Picnic and walk on the beach. Trekking for as far as desired, up to 15 km, on the very wild, vast desert plateau, with isolated dunes, wild camels and sandy mountains, stopping where you wish for wild camping.

Day 7: Legzira Arches

Track to old French fort Tafnidilt, then main road from Tan Tan to Sidi Ifni and coastal road to Legzira. Accommodation (half board) in a simple hotel in Legzira on the beach itself (some of the rooms have a bathroom and view of the ocean). Walk on the beach at Legzira to see spectacular natural arches.  4 hour drive with an option of a easy 2 hour walk about 10 kms. Dinner on the terrace.  

Day 8: Return to Taroudant or Agadir airport

An en route stop on this three hour drive,by the coast around Mirleft and in Tiznit medina may be possible, depending on flight schedules.

Notes:

1. Occasionally the army does not allow access to the beach on day 4; it happened twice in 2006 but never since then. This shortens the trip along the White Beach, but the most interesting is Aoreora and there are always good alternatives which may be adapted to the clients’ interests.  
2. For this trek, which goes through desert areas which lack either cafes or shops, a pick up vehicle is required for supplies and this increases costs compared with other treks.
3. The length and difficulty of walks chosen is highly flexible, due to varied terrain and 4x4 support, but in general gradients are relatively low in this region
4. Season - late Sept to late June. Note that night time temperatures in winter can be low.
5. It should be noted that due to the high costs of transport and logistics for smaller groups there are substantial savings for groups of 4 or more

What’s included

Transportation from Afensou to Taroudant/Agadir at the start or end of the trip; accommodation in Afensou, accommodation in Legzira; full camping gear rental including sleeping bags and sheet liners; full board including non alcoholic drinks and snacks (beers and wines available on request); preparation of meals, guiding and activities as described with no other third party client (unless agreed otherwise); taxes and tips. This 7 day itinerary is an example of trip with fits well with flights arriving into Agadir on 2 days per week: it could be shorter (not advised) or longer on request