Surreal Beauty of the Mysterious Sahara

How was the Sahara Desert born? It was formed around 7 million years ago, as a great dust bowl sitting where the Tethys sea once soaked. When the African plate slammed into the southwestern Eurasian plate, it created the Alps and Himalayas, and enclosed part of the Tethys sea. Time flew by, and as the sea kept losing ground, it shrunk into the Mediterranean, making the Sahara Desert a massive repository for fossils of ancient marine life, whales and even dinosaurs.

The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world, covering around 9.2 million square kilometers. It spans nearly one-third of the African continent, extending 3,000 miles from east to west across over 11 countries. For centuries, adventures in its vast landscape have been the stuff of legends. Even the timeless classic, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. A stranded aviator crash-lands in the Sahara Desert, symbolising isolation and a return to essential human values.

The word “Sahara” originates from the Arabic word, which directly refers to desert. See? Even the smallest ancient dust hides secrets of the desert. To discover entirely, some immerse into the enchanting sunset in Erg Chebbi, a 5km-wide orange-gold dune sea; some stargaze and have a campfire night with traditional Berber drumming and dancing; while some try sandboarding, a desert version of snowboarding. Excuse me, who said you can choose only one, Habibi?

Hidden Gems: Berber Tribes and Khamlia Gnawa (格納瓦族卡姆利亞村)

Pre-dating the Arab conquest of the region, over 20,000 years ago, the Berber tribes have deep historical roots in North and sub-Saharan Africa. Their influence can be traced back to the civilization of Ancient Carthage and Ancient Rome. When Morocco regained its independence in 1956, the country underwent significant political and social changes that allowed the inclusion and recognition of the Berber identity and culture.

It is estimated that the population of Berbers ranges from 14 to 15 million. The word “Berbers” derived from the Latin barbarus, which refers to barbarian; while the tribes call themselves Imazighen, aka free people. Since the B.C. 2nd century, they cultivate crops using an ancient underground irrigation system called khetaras, drawing water from 2 to 3 meters deep aquifers. Cheers with Maghrebi mint tea and traditional pizza Medfouna.

As part of the worldwide slave trade, black Africans from the Gnawa tribe were forcibly moved from their homelands across the Sahara to Morocco, until slavery is forbidden in Islam in the 18th century. They lived as nomads until settling last century in the small village Khamlia. They sang to soothe and search for mindfulness in the rhythmic chanting and clanking of the chains. Nowadays, this music is a way of showing gratitude for freedom, and nostalgia for the homeland.

Hidden Gems: Ifrane (伊芙蘭), Little Switzerland of Morocco

Before arriving at the Sahara Desert, we stopped by Ifrance, the “Little Switzerland of Morocco” located in the Middle Atlas region. Its remarkable tale unfolds in 1929 when French colonial authorities claimed land from the Zawiyat Sidi Abdeslam community. Under the masterful guidance of architect Henri Prost, the French Service urbanism crafted a garden city that would redefine mountain living, crafting their perfect summer sanctuary away from sweltering cities.

Ifrane means caves in the local Amazigh language. Majestic cedar forests, crystalline lakes, and dramatic mountain paints Ifrane’s canvas with the richest ecological treasures. Each street bears the name of local flora.The planners' dedication to green spaces manifested in strict regulations - each plot surrendered 60% of its area to gardens. Don't forget to greet the Lion Sculpture, which was carved during WWII in honor of the last remaining wild Atlas lion, killed close to Ifrane.