Frankie's Travels Day 5 - and finally, the Sahara desert

The terrain to the desert was flat and hard and sandy and dark brown.... And bone jarring bumpy.
But in the distance was the red sand dunes of the Sahara desert.

We travelled for about half an hour across the sand after turning off the tar road and arrived right up at the dunes in a place called Merzouga. (40km from the Algerian border)

Then we took cameras and mounted camels and rode off into the dunes to see the sunset.

The desert is a quiet place and our ride was only disturbed by the soft crunchy sound of the camels feet on the sand and the occasional prolonged camel snort.

After 40 minutes of side to side riding camel we stopped and climbed the dunes. While waiting for the sun to sink we took a few leaping in the air shots. (crouch, say go, then Jump!... Don't forget to smile)

The sunset glided below the horizon in blues and purples and yellows and oranges and pinks. And after plenty more group photo's we mounted camels again and turned back to the desert hotel.

We are sleeping in Berber tents tonight on mattresses on the ground under a tent of Berber carpets. It's going to be cold but a very unique experience. (well cold outside of the three thick blankets and the piled on sleeping clothes)

The desert is peaceful and the stars are bright and the spirits in the group are high and this night may go down as one of my high points of the tour.

The friendly Berber people are handing out mint tea and peanuts while we sit around a fire. Buffet dinner later. Mmmmm.