After our early morning hike to the top of the hill behind the hotel in Zagora, we drove to Mhamid, on the edge of the Sahara Desert
Arrived at the magnificent Kasbah hotel Chez le Pacha in Mhamid well in time for our 1500hr appointment with Hassine
the well known sign - Timbouctou 52 Jours
here we would leave our car overnight
wandered around the luxurious grounds
and relaxed by the pool
our transport was waiting paciently for us
all mounted ready for the first stage of our trip into the Sahara
Ali Baba & Queen of the Desert
an hour later we dismounted
said goodbye to our guide
and transferred to our 4wheel drive
two bumpy hours later we arrive at our Berber Tented camp close to the Erg Chigaga dunes
and evening walk in the dunes
careful not to lose sight of our desert camp
and back for our Tagine meal
to be entertained by our hosts on drums
and later sat in the open enjoying the silence of the desert and the fantastic starry night with the Milky Way clearly visible,
before retiring to our tents
Before sunrise we went for a hike to the highest dunes where Jeannette greets the rising sun
hard work
made it!
sunrise
good place for yoga
amazing shadows
more sun salutations
almost back at the camp
for a very welcome breakfast
on the way back to Mhamid stopped to admire these trees growing out of the sand
also stopped a few times to bleed the diesel system - engine stopped a few disconcerting times as air blocks developed in the fuel system
Back in Mhamid at the Chez le Pacha Hotel, Mohamid, Houssine's eldest brother shows us round his beautiful hotel - these are some rooms he has just had built inspired by a trip he has just made to northern Nigeria
Although we have not actually stayed here, the Chez le Pacha hotel looks as though it would be very pleasant to stay at - and certainly the service provided by Houssine and Mohamid with our Sahara trip was excellent
