خلوة في الصحراء
Yoga & Trekking Retreat in the Sahara
Eight days of desert, yoga
Imagine waking up amid orange-gold sand dunes.
Above you, a brilliant blue sky, and around you nothing but vastness – a flawless, untouched sea of sand with no end in sight.
That's exactly where I want to take you: to a place of otherworldly beauty, whose history reaches far back and whose power is endless.
For eight days, there's no program in the usual sense: just sunrises you won't sleep through, yoga, meditation, meals and music shared around the fire, nights under a sky full of stars, and people around you searching for exactly the same thing you are.
And maybe not, if you…
We trek with dromedaries from dune to dune, setting up camp somewhere new every day, and later continue deeper into the Sahara by 4x4 jeep. From the palm oasis to the Draa riverbed to Morocco's largest dunes – we often have the desert entirely to ourselves.
We start each day with sunrise yoga and close it with relaxing yin yoga, meditation, or other mindfulness practices at sunset. We eat together, hike, climb dunes and sit by the fire. If there's interest, there might even be a small Ecstatic Dance Party, desert edition! 😉
A traditional Friday couscous meal with a Bedouin family, a glimpse into Saharan nomadic life, an argan cooperative and a carpet-weaving workshop, and to close it off, a visit to the mud-brick city of Aït Ben Haddou (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) – after this, you can rightfully say you've experienced a piece of the real Morocco.
Alongside the moments we share together, you're welcome to take deliberate time for yourself too – to enjoy the desert, meditate, take photos, or journal. Many people come to the desert carrying certain things they want to leave behind – the desert is a great place to clear your head.
A traveler differs from an ordinary tourist by intent: they're not looking for sights, but for genuine cultural exchange.
If there's one thing I learned in my master's studies in ethnology and African studies, and across four trips to Morocco, it's this: being in the middle of it and with people beats simply being present.
My wish for you is that by the time you leave the desert, you'll have a genuine sense of the local culture and way of life.
Mohamed, his team, and I will do everything we can to make that true.
We meet on Friday, November 6, 2026, in Marrakech. From there we cross one of Morocco's most spectacular routes by minibus – through the High Atlas Mountains, the stone desert, and the palm-lined Draa Valley to M'hamid el Ghizlane, the gateway to the Sahara.
From there, our journey through the desert begins, first on foot alongside the Bedouin guides and dromedaries, then deeper into the desert by 4x4 jeep.
The landscape keeps changing, and every new place brings another highlight.
The trip closes with one final night in a kasbah near Aït Ben Haddou, the UNESCO World Heritage Site where parts of the just-released action-fantasy film "The Odyssey" were shot. After visiting it, we return to Marrakech in the afternoon. (Itinerary is preliminary, details may still change.)
Drive through the High Atlas, a stop at an argan cooperative and lunch, couscous with Mohamed's family in the evening, first night at the desert camp under palm trees.
First camel ride, visit to an inhabited kasbah.
About 3 hours of trekking with the dromedaries, overnight at the first stop deep in the desert.
Farewell to the camels, onward by 4x4 jeep to the great Erg Toaba dune.
Drive along the Draa River, visit to an abandoned village, camp at the great Zahar dune.
Yoga, heading out to the slightly more remote savanna, a small surprise, camp among the mid-sized dunes.
Back to Mhamid, showers and onward travel, visit to the women's carpet-weaving cooperative, overnight in a kasbah and a ceremonial close to the journey.
Visit to Aït Ben Haddou, crossing the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, arrival in Marrakech in the afternoon.
Two and a half days go into travel there and back – the deep Sahara isn't around the corner. Our starting point, M'hamid el Ghizlane, is known as the "gateway to the Sahara":
This is where the paved road ends and the endless desert begins. Which means you get the real desert experience, far beyond the day-trip routes. ☀️🐪🌴
Adventures Desert independently runs and is responsible for the trip itself; I create and lead the program.
Not included in either package
Vera Natterer, Natara Yoga
Yoga and inner work have been part of my life for many years now, helping me find inner calm, clarity, and a reconnection to my own strength. I've been a Yoga Alliance–certified Vinyasa yoga teacher since 2017 (trained at Yogaloft Cologne), followed by a Yin Yoga training in Portugal and further education since; I'm currently finishing my personal trainer certification.
As a yoga teacher, polyglot, cultural anthropologist, and travel lover, it's close to my heart to bring these worlds together and show you the magic of the Sahara.
Morocco and the desert have become a place of power for me, one I keep returning to. I hope that in the desert, you'll leave behind whatever no longer serves you – and take with you plenty of vastness, spaciousness, and creative energy.
Our contact person on the ground
Mohamed and I have known each other since late 2018, when he led my very first camel trek. We've stayed in touch ever since – this retreat is the result of years of trust built between us.
Adventures Desert is his travel agency, with over 10 years of experience deep in the desert. As the eldest son of a nomadic family from M'Hamid el Ghizlane, Mohamed works exclusively with family and relatives from the nomadic culture. He and his team know the desert like no one else and always put their guests' safety and wellbeing first.
Mohamed Tfil, Adventures Desert
€1,280 for the whole week
November 6–13, 2026 · per person · maximum 10 participants
This trip is delivered by two independent providers who cooperate for this project: Adventures Desert (desert trip, transport, camp, meals) and Natara Yoga (yoga and mindfulness program, guidance). You book and pay both parts separately, each with its own invoice.
Payment deadlines (Natara Yoga portion): 30% deposit upon booking confirmation, remaining 70% due by September 6, 2026. The Adventures Desert portion follows Mohamed's own payment deadlines.
You'll receive the exact amounts and payment details for both bookings after reaching out via the contact form.
The desert trip – transport, camp, meals, the local team – is fully organized and run by Adventures Desert. I, through Natara Yoga, bring the group together and create and lead the yoga and mindfulness program.
Yes? Then secure one of the last spots! Still have questions? Just write to me!
Yallah! – Let's go!
The desert trip is run independently by Adventures Desert (Mohamed Tfil) – booking and payment for that go directly through him. I create and lead the yoga and mindfulness program, which you settle with me separately. After your first inquiry to me, you'll get both booking paths explained clearly.
For my program share, you pay a 30% deposit upon booking confirmation, with the remaining 70% due by September 6, 2026. For the trip share with Adventures Desert, Mohamed's own payment deadlines apply, which he'll share with you when you book. You'll get the exact amounts after reaching out.
In the Sahara near Mhamid el Ghizlane, in southwestern Morocco.
On November 6, we travel together by bus from Marrakech to Mhamid – and back the same way. Getting to Marrakech is on you.
Most people don't. Citizens of over 70 countries, including the EU, Switzerland, the UK, and the US, don't need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days; your passport must still be valid for at least six months.
Since the trip and program are booked separately, two cancellation policies technically apply – but both follow the same schedule, counted from the arrival date (November 6, 2026):
| Time before arrival | Refund |
|---|---|
| more than 60 days (until Sept 6, 2026) | 90% (10% processing fee) |
| 30–60 days (Sept 7 – Oct 6) | 50% |
| 14–29 days (Oct 7 – Oct 22) | 25% |
| less than 14 days or no-show | 0% |
You can transfer your booking to someone else free of charge at any time before arrival. I strongly recommend taking out travel cancellation insurance as well.
The minimum age is 18. There's no upper limit, as long as you're healthy and don't have any serious joint or circulatory conditions. 😉
No. The sessions are designed so beginners and experienced practitioners can join equally. Everything is optional – you move at your own pace.
You should be able to walk for several hours in the sun – the longest day involves about three hours of trekking alongside the camels. No serious athletic performance is required.
You don't have to – we practice together on a large rug in the middle of the desert. If you'd rather have your own mat underneath you, feel free to bring it.
Absolutely! Many people come solo. There's hardly a better place to genuinely connect with other people than the desert.
Then just reach out – we'll hop on a quick call or exchange messages, and you'll get a feel for it. No obligation at all.
In tents at the desert camp; sleeping bags are provided and freshly washed before the trip. Couples can share a tent. We spend the last night at a guesthouse.
There's neither in the desert. I recommend bringing wet wipes, small trash bags, and hand sanitizer. We can shower once we're back in Mhamid. On the last night at the guesthouse, everything's available again.
We start with a yoga session – if you like, coffee, water and fruit are available beforehand, with breakfast proper afterward. Then we break camp and move on with the dromedaries to the next sleeping spot. We close the day with meditation or Yin yoga at sunset, followed by a nourishing dinner. We sleep in tents under the starry sky.
Surprisingly few. The one you're most likely to meet is the black desert beetle.
Sturdy hiking shoes with a good sole. Trekking sandals are a nice addition.
Yes, no problem. I'm vegan myself and make sure there's enough plant-based protein along the way. Let me know your diet in advance so it can be planned for – the same goes for allergies and intolerances.
Daytime in November brings pleasant temperatures of 21–26 °C (70–79 °F), mostly under bright blue skies. Rain is rare. At night it cools down to around 7–10 °C (45–50 °F). Even though there are plenty of sleeping bags and blankets, warm clothing for the evenings is a must-pack.
In November, the sun rises around 7:40am and sets around 6:30pm. Our morning yoga begins at 7:30am in the blue dawn light – the sun rises over the dunes right in the middle of practice.
Mohamed and I will speak English, since we're an international group. (I can also easily speak German or Portuguese with you.)
There's decent signal in stretches. I recommend picking up a Moroccan SIM card with data at the airport. Deep in the desert there's usually no signal, though sometimes you get lucky, especially climbing up a dune. There's no electricity in the desert – I recommend bringing a powerful power bank or a solar charger.
The local currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD). Right now, €1 is roughly 10–11 MAD, though the rate fluctuates – check it shortly before departure. The Dirham is a "closed" currency: you can't exchange it in advance at home, only once you're in Morocco.
The cheapest way to get cash is at an ATM (not at airport exchange counters, which usually have worse rates). Always choose "billing in MAD" rather than "in Euros" when withdrawing (decline any "Dynamic Currency Conversion" offer) – otherwise you'll pay a hidden markup. Cards from Wise, Revolut, or similar providers usually offer the best terms (real exchange rate, little to no foreign transaction fee).
ATMs from major banks tend to be more reliable and cheaper than smaller providers – for example Attijariwafa Bank, BMCE Bank of Africa, or Banque Populaire. The local ATM fee is usually around 30–50 MAD per withdrawal, regardless of the amount, plus a possible small foreign fee from your own bank. There are no ATMs deep in the desert, so get enough cash in Marrakech before departure.
It's a lovely gesture, especially when visiting Mohamed's family. I'll give you tips beforehand on what's fitting.