The heat continues to build here in Morocco, becoming an endless topic of conversation wherever in daily life. The heat also brings life to Marrakech as people gather in the few green spaces to escape their hot homes.

I’m writing this from Faro, Portugal, where I took a quick weekend trip to reset my visa. After witnessing firsthand the difficulties Moroccans face when trying to travel, I have a newfound appreciation for the ease of a quick border hop like this.

While daily life in Morocco has settled into a rhythm that gives me fewer dramatic stories to share, my Canadian friend Nancy and I embarked on an adventure that felt quintessentially Moroccan – a four-day road trip to the Sahara Desert with camels, camping, and endless expanse.

A Road Trip to the Sahara Desert

I knew my time in Morocco would feel incomplete without feeling the Sahara Desert between my toes. When Nancy suggested we rent a car and make the journey together, I was game. We planned a road trip to Merzouga, one of the most popular gateways to the desert.

It was great to spend several uninterrupted days with a close friend from home. While we’d had years to get to know each other through office interactions and dinners in Morocco, a few days in close quarters allowed for more depth to emerge.

We found ourselves reminiscing about our shared experiences working in Cold Lake for the same employer. In one of those strange coincidences that make the world feel smaller, we discovered we’d both struggled with the exact same issue of beavers blocking culverts – just a few years apart. There’s something comforting about shared professional war stories, especially when they’re told thousands of miles from where they took place.

Road Trip Stops

One thing that impressed me was the sheer number of ancient castles (kaspahs) and archaeological sites scattered along our route. Many appeared as natural extensions of the landscape. Built from local materials like clay, hay, and stone, these structures have withstood centuries thanks to the arid climate.

We stopped at Aït Benhaddou, a historic fortified village that’s gained fame through its appearances in Hollywood films and shows like Gladiator and Game of Thrones. It’s so popular that the nearby city of Ouarzazate has a cinema museum to highlight this region’s fame on the big-screen. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site that dates back to the 17th century, making it over 400 years old.

Despite the apparent scarcity of water, the occasional oasis can be found. Any amount of green was a reminder of the resilience of life everywhere on this remarkable planet.

In one particularly lush pocket, we discovered an entire grove of pomegranate trees.

We spent our first night at a hostel in Ouarzazate. Some of my favourite travel memories have been forged in hostels, and this group didn’t disappoint. We met Kevin and Emily, two other Canadians nearing the end of an epic 14-month backpacking journey that spanned several continents.

There’s a certain camaraderie that exists between long-term travellers through the inevitable and unpredictable ups and downs. In the end, they all make for great stories. We stayed up late trading our learnings and favourite experiences.

No late night with fellow travellers would be complete without games, and I was happy to introduce them to The Game of Fern, a card game designed by my cousins back in Canada. I can now proudly say that travel has provided me with my first sponsorship opportunity. If you want to pick up a copy, you can check it out here. Each purchase will put a few dollars to my fund to support others as I travel.

Venturing into the Sahara

The summer heat of the Sahara meant we could only venture into the deep desert during the cooler evening and early morning which meant a quick trip. But even this brief window proved memorable. Everything about it reminded me just how far I was from home in Canada.

When we arrived at the camel camp, I noticed their massive, distended bellies. I initially wondered if they might be pregnant, but later learned that these are their water reserves. Perfectly adapted for desert life, these creatures can drink over 200 litres of water in a single sitting.

Hopping on my first camel took me back to days riding horses on my Uncle’s farm. For anyone planning their own camel adventure, I have one crucial piece of advice: wear long pants. I learned this lesson the hard way and can still feel the chafing.

The real magic unfolded during sunrise, when I found myself alone in the seemingly endless landscape.

Sitting on the desert in silence, I began to understand how places like this give birth to stories, religions, and legends. There were wordless messages whispered in the silence, the kind that only places of true solitude can provide.

Every dune in front of me was slowly shifting with the wind. Every grain of sand had once been part of something larger – broken down over time. In this endless transformation, I could see the cycles that govern everything in life.

While in contemplation, I scooped up a handful of the fine Sahara sand. It slipped through my fingers like water no matter how tightly I held. It reminded me that no matter how much we hold on, nothing remains ours forever. It’s a universal truth. The best we can do is appreciate what we have while it’s with us.

Hitchhikers

After my past experiences in Chile, it felt it was my turn to pay it forward. We encountered many people on the road as we drove, mostly looking for a quick trip to the next village.

While Nancy mentioned she probably wouldn’t pick up hitchhikers alone, she felt comfortable with me in the car, so we turned it into a fun challenge to see how many people we could help.

Interestingly, we mainly saw men and boys hitchhiking which reflected the cultural norms that men typically travel for work while women remain closer to home. Sometimes three people would pile into our car at once. They spoke mainly with me despite Nancy’s Arabic being far superior. This too seemed to reflect cultural norms around cross-gender interaction.

By the end of our trip, we gave rides to seventeen people, all of them happy for a lift to escape the heat.

Closing

Now, my time in Morocco is quickly coming to an end. At the end of the month, I’ll be flying to Jordan before overlanding to Iraq to meet up with my Big Brother family from Canada for a holy pilgrimage.

Travel continues to remind me that we can only truly understand a place through our own experience. When I was originally planning this journey, the Middle East was near the top of my list. While it’s often reduced to simple narratives in news media, I know the reality will be far more complex and nuanced than any headline could capture.

If you like these stories and would like to lend your support, you can become a monthly contributor on my Buy Me a Coffee page. Donations will go to support my efforts to give back to others as I travel. 

Thanks to my current supporters:

• John Lyne

• Tiana Tymko

• Steve Cox

• Roy Tymko

• Riley Santarossa-Dixon

With Love, 

-Adam