5-Day Erg Chigaga Desert Trip from Marrakech

Day 1: Marrakech – High Atlas – Telouet – Aït Benhaddou – Agdz

Depart from Marrakech in the morning toward the High Atlas Mountains. Travel along winding roads to the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, enjoying spectacular views of rural Berber life and rugged mountain scenery. Visit the Kasbah of Telouet before continuing through the Ounila Valley to Aït Benhaddou, a fortified village and UNESCO World Heritage Site. After exploring the ksar and lunch, head to Agdz via Ouarzazate and the Anti-Atlas. Dinner and overnight stay in Agdz.

Day 2: Agdz – Drâa Valley – Zagora – Tamegrout – M’hamid

Enjoy breakfast, then follow the picturesque Drâa Valley, dotted with palm groves and ancient settlements. Continue to Zagora before arriving in Tamegrout to visit the historic manuscript library and traditional clay pottery workshops. Travel to M’hamid, the last village before the open Sahara. Experience the early desert atmosphere, enjoy dinner, and spend the night in a local desert lodge or camp.

Day 3: M’hamid – Desert Tracks – Erg Chigaga Dunes

After breakfast, leave the paved road behind and journey deeper into the desert along ancient caravan tracks. Arrive at the remote Erg Chigaga dunes, the largest and wildest dune region in Morocco, reaching up to 300 meters. In the late afternoon, take a camel ride across the sands during sunset. Dinner, traditional music, and an overnight stay in a comfortable nomadic desert camp.

Day 4: Full Day in Erg Chigaga Desert

A full day dedicated to Saharan exploration. Optional activities include dune climbing, sandboarding, and off-road adventures to discover desert oases and rocky plateaus. There is also the possibility of visiting nomadic families living in the region to learn about their traditions. Enjoy another night in the desert camp, savoring the quiet and beauty of the dunes.

Day 5: Erg Chigaga – Lake Iriqui – Foum Zguid – Tazenakht – Marrakech

After breakfast, travel off-road across the dramatic landscapes surrounding Lake Iriqui, an ancient dry lakebed. Reach Foum Zguid to join the paved road before heading to Tazenakht, a well-known center for Berber carpet weaving. After lunch, continue toward Ouarzazate and cross the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakech. Arrival in the late afternoon or evening. End of services.