Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
23 Mar 2025
Reply rate
76.9 %
Usually responds within 11 days
Feedback
6
Facebook verified
Email verified
Badges (4)
Details
Description
We are the Laaroussi family living outside of M'Hamid in a camp next to the dunes of the Sahara. Our ancestry is Berber, the nomadic tribes that have lived here in the Sahara for centuries. There are 12 of us 8 girls and 4 boys in our family but many of us live in the city for the most part. We are excited to open our home up to you and teach you about our culture and way of life.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
Language practice
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Here you will get the chance to learn about the Berber people, experience life in the desert, practice French, Arabic, English, and Berber, and much more!
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
While you are here we can teach you our traditional style of mud brick building. We are hoping to build 3 more houses deeper amidst the dunes but it is hard due to desertification. We are also always excited to have a chance to practice new languages. Besides that you can help participate in the daily tasks and enjoy the desert!
Languages
Languages spoken
Arabic: Fluent
Berber: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
We have mud huts you can stay in or enjoy the fresh air under our star filled sky.
What else ...
About my village
M’hamid El Ghizlane, the last village before the vast expanses of the Sahara, is a rural municipality of the Zagora province, in the southern Drâa – Tafilalet region. It is located at the end of the N9 road, after Tamegroute, and it shares its southern border with Algeria.
An ancient cultural crossroads – its territory used to be a stop for trans-Saharan traders – M’hamid El Ghizlane is part of a nomadic area. With its little adobe shacks made of mud or clay bricks, the little ochre village seems to come right out of sand.
M’hamid El Ghizlane is sheltered in a palm grove stretching for 16 km along the river Drâa (oued Drâa). On one of the banks is M’hamid Bali, the old town, which holds an important kasbah. On the other side, M’hamid Jdid, the new village, offers essential facilities: groceries, craft shops, cafés, restaurants, family hotels, …
Every Monday there is a souk, an opportunity to see the famous « blue men », desert camel-herders, and to buy local products, bathed in the colours and fragrances of these goods.
. M’hamid El Ghizlane has established itself as the main departure point for desert excursions, particularly to the dunes of Erg Lehoudi and Erg Chegaga erg ezahar ...
While here you can explore the desert by camel or quad, visit our village of M'Hamid (about a 20 min walk away), enjoy campfire parties in the evening, and much more.
How to get to Mhamid el ghazlen
Public Transportation Access
Taxis and CTM buses to multiple destinations (Zagora, Ouarzazate, Marrakech, Casablanca ...).
For example, there are daily departure of CTM bus from Marrakech at 11:15 am and daily return at 6:15 am at the The destination on CTM is called: Lamhamid Ghozlane. I pick you at the bus station
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (4)
The days were rather calm with plenty of free time. Our main activities included cleaning, preparing the rooms after guests left, cooking, taking care of the camp, and even working on a mud wall… read more
I came here in October 2018 planning to stay for just two weeks. Two weeks became three weeks became two months... and eventually it turned into the best six months of my life yet. Thank you Said, Ahmed, Mohamed, and Ohmaymuh (and many more) for changing the way I see myself and the rest of the world.… read more
Thanks… read more
Photos
Feedback
The days were rather calm with plenty of free time. Our main activities included cleaning, preparing the rooms after guests left, cooking, taking care of the camp, and even working on a mud wall… read more
I came here in October 2018 planning to stay for just two weeks. Two weeks became three weeks became two months... and eventually it turned into the best six months of my life yet. Thank you Said, Ahmed, Mohamed, and Ohmaymuh (and many more) for changing the way I see myself and the rest of the world.… read more
Thanks… read more
