Oriental Desert Express: A Starry-Desert Gastronomic Journey in Morocco’s Far East

A journey through time: the captivating story of the Oriental Desert Express

Built between the 1920s and 1930s, the Oriental Desert Express train was originally designed to link the Mediterranean to Niger, cutting across the vast landscapes of north-eastern Morocco. This ambitious project, a symbol at the time of expansion and new connections, was eventually halted in Morocco’s Oriental region, halfway to its initial goal. Services then came to a complete standstill for several decades. Since then, this extraordinary train has taken on near-mythical status, immortalised in particular in the James Bond film “Spectre”, where it formed the backdrop to several spectacular scenes. Today, thanks to the initiative of a Swiss entrepreneur, the Oriental Desert Express is back on the rails, operating occasionally for one-off, private events. These journeys are an invitation to explore a little-known but strikingly beautiful region of Morocco, where desert, mountains and villages follow one another in a compelling rhythm, all the way to the shimmering oasis of Figuig on the Algerian border.

In 2024, the standout event of this renaissance was without doubt the “Oriental Desert Express de la Gastronomie”, held on 9 and 10 November. Conceived by Bachir Ayad in collaboration with the Oriental Development Agency and Maroc Voyage, this special edition celebrated Moroccan cuisine under the guidance of renowned chefs such as Chef Moha, patron of the event and a leading figure in fine dining, and chef Baya.
Transformed into a travelling culinary stage, the train, once dedicated to carrying passengers and freight across arid expanses, offered a singular experience where food and journey became one. Balancing tradition and modernity, this immersive interlude honoured Moroccan history and heritage, inviting guests on a sensory voyage at the heart of the country’s lifestyle.

Bachir Ayad: the man behind this one-of-a-kind culinary journey

Born in Oujda in 1964, Bachir Ayad is far more than a promoter of Moroccan gastronomy. After obtaining his baccalaureate in 1984, he went on to study computer science and hotel management in Paris. This dual expertise, blending technology and hospitality, paved the way for an unconventional career path. In 1986, he moved to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, where he combined his love of Morocco with a promising career in hospitality. It was there that he began to dream of a project that would showcase the richness and diversity of Moroccan cuisine.
In 2017, he brought this dream to life with the first edition of the “La Diplomatie Culinaire” festival in Las Palmas. Designed as a bridge between cultures, the event brought together chefs, artists and diplomats around a shared table. It was an instant success and earned Bachir Ayad recognition as an ambassador for Moroccan gastronomy. Buoyed by this momentum, he went on to organise further editions in 2018, 2019 and 2020, each drawing larger crowds and gaining wider international attention.
Today, with the Oriental Express Desert de la Gastronomie, Bachir Ayad is taking his ambition to a new level. He has turned a historic train into a space dedicated to culinary celebration, while highlighting Moroccan values of sharing, hospitality and innovation. The project reflects his vision: to honour traditions while giving them contemporary resonance.
This initiative is fully in line with his wider commitment as founding president of the Ambassadeurs de l’Espoir pour le Tourisme et le Développement Association, an organisation dedicated to promoting the Oriental region, where he was born. Through this platform, Bachir Ayad is helping to shine a light on a region with a rich and multifaceted heritage that still sits largely outside Morocco’s main tourist routes.
From the wide desert expanses of Figuig to the Béni Snassen mountains, via quiet oases, the unspoilt Marchica lagoon and the beaches of Saïdia, the Oriental region, set between Africa and Europe, holds an abundance of natural and cultural treasures that deserve a bigger place on Moroccan itineraries. Known for its regional produce, and in particular the citrus fruits of Berkane, it is steadily asserting itself as a destination with many strengths.
The Oriental Express Desert de la Gastronomie is part of this wider approach: boosting the region’s appeal and revealing its full potential to visitors from near and far.

A dazzling journey through the Moroccan desert

Covering 305 kilometres across the Oriental region, the Oriental Desert Express offers full immersion in landscapes worthy of a film set. The journey often begins in Oujda, a city with a rich cultural heritage, before plunging into a succession of striking natural sites. Vast desert plains, rugged mountains and characterful Berber villages pass before passengers’ eyes, creating a visual experience like no other. Each stop is a chance to uncover lesser-known highlights, from traditional villages to desert viewpoints of rare beauty.
The train itself is a showcase of period engineering. Restored to retain its original charm, it still runs with two vintage carriages at the rear. A word of warning, however, for those seeking high-end comfort: here, the experience takes precedence over convenience. With a journey of around 12 hours, this is an adventure best suited to travellers who value discovery and authenticity.

The high point of the journey was arrival in Figuig, the final stop on the route and the point from which the train returned.* Set in the heart of an age-old oasis, this emblematic town offers an atmospheric setting where lush palm groves and earthen kasbahs speak to a carefully preserved heritage.
The day began with a traditional breakfast before participants set off to discover Figuig and its surroundings on an in-depth guided tour. Exploring the ksour, gardens irrigated using age-old techniques and alleyways steeped in history offered a genuine insight into life in this oasis of Morocco’s far south-east.
The culinary experience reached its peak with a competition dedicated to the famous figuigui couscous, a local speciality whose recipe stands out for its subtle balance of local flavours and know-how handed down from generation to generation. This gastronomic contest highlighted the skill of local women, guardians of tradition, as well as the creativity of young talents from the OFPPT (Office de la Formation Professionnelle et de la Promotion du Travail), who demonstrated their flair in a performance that blended heritage and modernity.
Blending culture, sharing and transmission, this final stage in Figuig celebrated both the legacy and the future of Moroccan cuisine, before marking the start of the journey back.

Food and travel: events not to be missed

The 2024 edition of the Oriental Express Desert de la Gastronomie was a fleeting event, held on 9 and 10 November 2024. Its limited run made it all the more special for travellers and food lovers alike. Every detail was carefully considered to offer total immersion in Moroccan lifestyle.
The initiative came to life thanks in particular to the commitment of key players in the region’s tourism and economic development. The Société de Développement Saïdia, led by Jalil Bennis, the Oriental Agency for Promotion and Development, chaired by Mbraki Mohamed, and Youssef Zaki, President of the Oriental Regional Tourism Council, all helped to raise the profile of this remarkable land, underlining its appeal and distinctive potential.
This event forms part of a global trend in which immersive culinary experiences are taking centre stage in luxury travel. Just like other initiatives such as Créatures, which celebrates biodiversity through cuisine, the Oriental Desert Express de la Gastronomie highlights the role of gastronomy as a powerful vehicle for culture and connection. Here, however, it is the Moroccan desert that provides the backdrop, adding a magical, timeless dimension to the experience.