Oriental Desert Express

Oujda – Bouarfa

304,500 km a unique trip by train

between Oujda and Bouarfa in the vast desert of the oriental

region of Morocco

Oriental Desert Express

– change of scene

– romanticism

– adventure

– and pure nature

Morocco

Oriental

Situated in north-eastern Morocco, it is stretching from the Mediterraneansea to the desert for 350 km with an area which is about 83 000 km2 and acoastline of 200 km, and has a population census of close to 2 million andhas Oujda as its capital city.

The region includes the provinces of Berkane, Figuig, Jerada, Nador andTaourirt, and the prefecture of Oujda-Angad. The city of Oujda and Essaidiaare great tourist destinations.

The region in general has numerous culturally rich towns, rich history and isalso known for its agricultural sector. Rural tourism is also popular in the re-gion of Oriental and provides many opportunities to really get to know thelocal people.

Oriental is of strategic importance, both for its location as for its economicpotential. It is essential interface to bolster Morocco in its geostrategic posi-tion as a crossroads between Europe, the Grand Maghreb and the Mediter-ranean world. And nowadays many projects have been realized in that regionone of the most known is the tourist resort in Essaidia.

Oriental Desert ExpressSmell, Rhythm & colours of Oriental Morocco

The history of the railway line Oujda-Bouarfa, is more linked to French colo-nial military intrests as well as mining in the region of Bouarfa especially coal.Thus the 1st uses were served for penetration in the country and deploye-ment of French troops, their supplies and transporting their equipements.And since the independence the line remained faithful only for transportingmines until the closure of mining coal of Bouarfa in the nineteen’s, after thatthis line was neglected and unused.

In 2004 Suprateam Travel organizes – for the first time in Morocco – aunique journey for tourists onboard a special train from Oujda towardsBouarfa in eastern Morocco, and it was the starting of our new productORIENTAL DESERT EXPRESS.

Oriental Desert Express: A unique trip by train in the eastern Morocco from Oujda towardsthe desert landscapes of Bouarfa.

The train is composed of:– The powerful Diesel locomotive, type DH with 3600 PS weighs 120 tons

and can accelerate up to 120 km/h. However, during our desert trip themaximum speed will be only 50km/h.The rails are leading through a mountainous region sometimes rising up to16 0/00 and the engine copes with a heavy load of 500 tons.

– The first wagon (XRDS) provides the electricity and air conditioning.– Then follows a first class passenger wagon.– The last wagon is the restaurant and offers a panoramic view. The windows

can be opened and the wagon will be heated in winter.

Oriental

Oriental Desert ExpressSmell, Rhythm & colours of Oriental Morocco

OFFER OF A PRINCELY WAGON:

Cencerning luxurious tours we propose for you a princely wagon which be-longed to royal familly of Morocco a few years ago. With this wagon we cando many combinatintions between different Moroccan cities: Marrakech,Rabat, Fes, Meknes, Tangier and Oujda. So ask for our offer…

Offer yourself the ORIENTAL DESERT EXPRESS with this luxury carriage.

OFFER OF A PRINCELY WAGON:

Oujda – BouarfaRails constructed between 1925 and 1931

ORIENTAL DESERT EXPRESS is ready in the morning at 07h30 in the rail-way station of Oujda for departure. After Oujda we will arrive at the cross-road of Beni Oukil where a Stop is obliged so as to get a writtenauthorisation to roll in rail leadings southwars. After 304.500 Km the trainreaches the railway station of Bouarfa in a period of 10 to 12 hours depend-ing on the climate (sometimes when the sand covers the rails it obliges us to expel the sand, a moment not to be missed).

The JourneyAfter having crossed a verdant plain the train wonds on a sloping journey of16 0/00 crossing the massif of Djbel Massor (1104 m). Then a stop in the rail-way station of Guenfouda showing the developement of this city during theprotectoral period thanks to the mines especially the lead mines an old fac-tory on testifies. Actually there are works so that the factory can worksagain, and that will allow more opportunities of jobs to the population of theregion. Later the path continues crossing the tunnel of Tiouli made in1931 to reach Beni M’thar city. From Guenfouda to Bouarfa there is noshunting post and there is no way to put the locomotive to the other end ofthe train before Bouarfa.

Desert It is unique and exceptional on this trip that the train crosses a stony anddesert landscape often covered by sand. The oriental desert in the east ofMorocco is limited by the province of Oujda in the north and by Algeria inthe East, It represents an amazing geografical and human diversity and an ex-traordinary unrecognised tourist pentential, as well as big prehistoric pros-perity called «country of wormwood and the wind» (Bled chih oua rih).

The train ORIENTAL DESERT EXPRESS offers you an ideal means toadmire this splendid landscape.

Strenths:

– Photo in the train: a special carriage for the photo’s fan withwindows that can be opened.

– Train Stops: there will be manystops between Oujda and Bouarfain order to be close to the land-scapes and the population

– Tiouli tunnel: the only tunnel in thisjourney. It was founded by French in1931.

– Beni M’thar church: Abandonedcatholique church that witnesse thecolonial period.

– Spontanuous Stops: Especially tomeet nomads and admire their wayof life.

– Obliged Stops: To expel sand fromrails, don’t miss this unique occa-sion and take original pictures.

Oujda – Bouarfa

Saïdia

Berkane

Jrada

Guenfouda

Taourirt

Nador

Melilla

Saka

Bouarfa

Tendrara

Mangoub

Ain Beni M’thar

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Towards Taza

Towards Rachidia

Towards Rich

Beni Snassen

Midar

Oujda

Nador: Nador is a Mediterranean city, situ-ated along a vast lagoon in the centre of a richagricultural region. This region is currently ex-periencing an economic boom burst and thetown itself is described as «Champion city».Nador is the central axis of the metals andmining industry. There was many investment ininfrastructure: airport, port (passenger, com-mercial and industrial), industrial areas androads (Nador be served by the northerncoastal ring road. On the other side, thetourism sector has not been developed andhas been virtually no significant investment.This area remains untouched despite the natu-ral advantages of the region: the lagoon and itsspecial ecological environment and beachesamong the finest in the world.

Berkane: The Area of Berkane is an assem-bly of plains and mountains. It extends from theeastern Rif to the Algerian border and it is apart of the narrow strip Mediterraneanbounded in the east by the Wadi Kiss (Algeria),join the south by the Wadi Moulouya. Its natural environment, cultural heritage and itsgeographical context, near the Mediterranean-place is one of the territories most favourableto a tourist-type «green tourism».

Beni M’thar: During the protectorate thiscity was a strategic point beween the northand the south of Morocco. Also its closeness tothe Algerian border. Buildings demonstrate thatpoint. For example the railway station and theCatholic Church(abandoned). Later on this city became a commercial and ad-ministrative point for the tribes of the regionbut nowadays we hear about this city at na-tional scale thanks to the construction of aunique thermo-solar centre in Morocco andeven in Africa.The region of Beni M’thar is an important en-tity highland of the eastern steppes, which aresemi-arid burning in summer and swept by coldin winter.

Tendrara: Is known by plantation speciesadapted to the aridity like Esparto on relief andwormwood in the muddy areas of rivers andoueds.A typical Moroccan village to meet nomads ofthe region in it small shopping centre wherethey can stock up all products especially ofpremiere necessity (Sugar, gas, flour….) someKilometres from the village there is a big rail-way station that shows the importance of thisvillage during the French protectorate.

ALGERIA

Figuig

Railway

Route

Tendrara railway station

Are needles in the right position?

A witness of the protectorate

A contrasted nature

Wind, sun and pure nature

Saidia: «the Blue Pearl of the Mediter-ranean» is the last Moroccan town in the eastof the kingdom on the Mediterranean coast, inthe border with Algeria. It is over 18 km ofsandy beach and scenery will enchant you.About ten kilometres from Saidia there is theriver Moulouya which includes a bird sanctuarywhere many species of migratory birds cometo land. This beautiful region is experiencing a signifi-cant increase by the introduction of a series oftourism investments to increase tourism in Eu-ropean and Arab countries in that regionwhich still unknown in Morocco. The infra-structures include a marina and many hotels ofall categories.

Bouarfa: Bouarfa was known by its richcoal mines since protectorate period that’swhy it was active and it was the most popu-lated city in oriental region of Morocco, en-dowed by a commercial and administrativecentre.Nowadays the city is in decline and many ofthe inhabitants did leave it cause of the lockoutof its mines (extermination of coal). Bouarfa is an ideal starting point for many tripsin the Oriental.

Figuig: is one of the oldest cities of the king-dom. Known by its climate semi-desert, its in-numerable date palms and its Ksour. Formerly,it counted several Ksour, but today only sevenare still existing, in particular ksar HammamFoukani, ksar Hammam Tahtani, ksar Laabidate,ksar Lamiz, ksar Loudaghir, ksar Oulad Slimane. Who are practically gather in the same areaand finally ksar Zenaga which is, in the low partof Figuig, separated from other Ksour by the«Jourf» a terrestrial height.Figuig is known as the ‚Oasis the mostclose to Europe’.

Oujda: Built on Angad plain which is sur-rounded by the most beautiful mountainousregion: Beni Snassen Mountains.This mountains offer a panoramic view onOujda. The medina of Oujda is separated fromthe new city by walls which are evidences ofist glorious past, for example: Bab OuledAmran, Bab sidi Aissa, Bab Sidi Abelwahab andthe great mosque built in XIII century .Beforestarting your adventure with the ORIENTALDESERT EXPRESS a visit of this splendid andpicturesque city can be programmed.

Activities during the journeyActivities during the journey

Extraordinary landsacpesThe unique and exceptional thing in that journey is that the train goes to-wards desert landscapes. The train offers for you the opportunity to admirethe beauty of the eastern Morocco.

RestaurationDuring this trip the lunch is prepared onboard the train, you can see thecooker while preparing the meal.The lunch can be served:

– onboard the train

or

– outside.

The lunch is composed of:– An entree: salad or soup.– Meal: Tajine of meat with vegetables or vegetarian. – Dessert: Fruits.

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage will be served.

AdventureLive the adventure with ORIENTAL DESERT EXPRESS, in the desert of Oriental Morocco, the rails can be covered by sand and the train must stopto expel the sand. Take original pictures…

Visite of NomadesDuring the journey we can stop so as to visit nomads and see their way oflife.

Bivouac:Suprateam Travel proposes for you a Bivouac in the Oriental desert.The capacity of the Bivouac: 50 person

The Bivouac is composed of:– Berber tents for two people – Mattresses on tent cloth; – Blankets; – Some toilets; – A bar with all beverages, – A restaurant: a big nomadic tente with berber carpets and small

tables – Folklore on request

And all what incentive groups need can be at disposal.

Live the magic of the night in the desert ofeastern Morocco!

4x4 carsSuprateam Travel disposes in its own park 4x4 in the oriental region so as todiscover the beauty of that unknown region and tourist virgin places.

– Tours by 4x4 from Oujda, Bouarfa and Essaidia– Excursion from Bouarfa towards Figuig and Iche…

With our know how we take you to unknownund splendid places in eastern Morocco

Arround the Oriental Desert Express

Arround the Oriental Desert Express

Suprateam TravelAvenue Bir Anzarane 126 /Tinghir MoroccoTel: +212 5 24 83 29 89 /Fax: +212 5 24 83 35 05Mobile: +212 6 61 24 36 02Email: suprateam@menara.maWeb: www.supratravel.com

Tours that can be organized in combination with Oriental Desert Express

Tours that can be organized in combination with Oriental Desert Express

A tour of 11 days /10 nights from / to Casablanca:combination with imperial cities, ORIENTAL DESERT EXPRESSand the south:Day 1: Casablanca – RabatDay 2: Rabat – FesDay 3: Fes – FesDay 4: Fes – OujdaDay 5: Oujda – Bouarfa: ORIENTAL DESERT EXPRESSDay 6: Bouarfa – ErfoudDay 7: Erfoud – Merzouga – TinghirDay 8: Tinghir – MarrakechDay 9: Marrakech – MarrakechDay 10: Marrakech – CasablancaDay 11: Departure

A tour of 08 days / 07 nights from/to FesDay 1: ArrivalDay 2: Fes – OujdaDay 3: Oujda – OujdaDay 4: Oujda – Bouarfa: ORIENTAL DESERT EXPRESSDay 5: Bouarfa – ErfoudDay 6: Erfoud – MeknesDay 7: Meknes –MeknesDay 8: Departure

A tour that can be organized with a small car (8 days / 07nights from/to Fes)Day 1: FesDay 2: Fes – OujdaDay 3: Oujda – and its surroundingsDay 4: Oujda – Bouarfa: ORIENTAL DESERT EXPRESSDay 5: Bouarfa – TimnayDay 6: Timnay – MeknesDay 7: Meknes – FesDay 8: Departure

Also there are other activities that can be organized in combination withORIENTAL DESERT EXPRESS:

– Trekking in Beni Snassen– Excurssions from Essaidia– Incentives …

Just ask and we propose you the best!