Do I need experience to drive a buggy in the desert? +
No. An ordinary driving licence is enough. The buggies are automatic, and every raid starts with a briefing and a practice loop on open sand near the start point, before anyone commits to the route. The guide sets the pace for the slowest rider in the group, not the fastest. If you have never driven on sand, you will spend the first hour learning and the rest of the day riding.
What exactly is a buggy, and how is it different from a quad? +
A buggy here is a two-seat side by side vehicle with a roll cage, a four-point harness, a steering wheel and pedals. You sit in it rather than on it. A quad is a straddled machine you ride like a motorbike. The buggy is more stable, far more comfortable over long distances, and lets two people share the day, which is why we use them for the raids rather than quads.
How many kilometres do we actually cover? +
The M'Hamid raid is sixty kilometres of piste to the camp. The Zagora raid adds ninety-eight kilometres down the Draa before that. The Ouarzazate raid covers the whole valley over two riding days. None of these are speed runs: a riding day includes a long lunch stop and several halts, and the day is planned around the terrain rather than the clock.
Is it safe? +
Every raid runs with a lead guide in front and a closing mechanic at the back, so no rider is ever the last vehicle on the route. A 4x4 shadows the whole way carrying water, spares, tools and a medical kit. Six buggies is a hard maximum, because beyond that the group cannot be kept together. There is no phone coverage in the erg, so the team carries satellite communication with the camp.
What happens to our luggage? +
It travels in the support vehicle and is in your tent before you arrive. You ride with what fits in the buggy: water, a layer, a camera. Nobody should be riding sixty kilometres of piste with a suitcase behind them.
What do we do once we reach the camp? +
Every raid includes three nights with the camp closed to everyone but your group. Full board, stargazing with a telescope and an astronomer under a Bortle Class 1 sky, a campfire with Berber musicians, bread baked in the sand, sandboarding, a walk with nomad guides and a camel ride at sunset. The raid is how you arrive. The camp is why you stay.
When can we ride? +
October to April. We do not run raids between May and September, because a full day in an open vehicle in Saharan summer heat is not something we are willing to sell. October, November, March and April are the strongest months, with long light and cool mornings.
Can we do the raid one way and return differently? +
Yes, and most groups do. The return to M'Hamid, Zagora or Ouarzazate is by 4x4 and is included. If you would rather ride back as well, we can build that, but it makes the trip longer rather than cheaper.
How many people can come? +
Two to twelve riders, and every departure is private. Twelve is the ceiling because six buggies is the ceiling. If your group is larger, we run the raid over consecutive departures or combine it with a full camp privatisation, and we will tell you honestly which of the two works better for your dates.
What does it cost? +
Each raid is quoted rather than priced from a list, because the number of riders, the route and the season all change what it takes to run it properly. Tell us your dates and your group size and you will have a written proposal with everything itemised.
Can children come? +
Children ride as passengers, not drivers, and the minimum age for the passenger seat is eight. The harness and the roll cage are sized for adults, and below that age the fit is wrong. For families with younger children, the 4x4 excursion from the camp is the better answer.
Do you work with travel agencies and operators? +
Yes. We work with adventure and luxury operators who need a Sahara ground partner, on standard trade terms. Contact us for availability and a trade sheet.
