5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakesh to Erg Chigaga and Essaouira

1st day: Marrakech – Ouarzazate

The best 5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakesh to Erg Chigaga will begin at 8 am in the morning, by driving you from your Riad or hotel in Marrakesh, towards the Highest mountains in Africa, “The Atlas mountains”, passing by the Tichka mountain. By leaving the main road, we will take a side road to Telouet Kasbah, which was belonged to the Glaoui family, the wealthiest of the Atlas, and which is now completely devastated after the last Pasha left the country after the departure of the French. We will then continue to the most well-known Kasbah “Ait Ben Haddou”, in order to have lunch and to visit the Unesco World Heritage site. We will spend a night in a riad at Ouarzazate when reaching it at the end of the first day of the best Marrakech Sahara tour.

2nd day: Ouarzazate – Chegaga

On the second day of this 5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakesh to Erg Chigaga, we will drive to the oldest Tamnougalte Kasbah at Dar’a valley, which is still partly inhabited, and along the ancient caravan road between the mountains and the river. In our pathway, we will pass by many villages and gardens in order for you to observe and have a clear idea about life in the oasis. Then, we will drive to M’hamid, the gate to the desert, towards the dunes of Erg Lihoudi for lunch, and after that, we will drive to enjoy a two-hour camel ride in the desert, before going to Erg Chagaga dunes (300m), to stay the night there. Along with our route, we will pass by different sides of the desert: ‘hammada’, ‘reg’, ‘erg’, and ‘oasis’. These dunes are far from the population, and their views are overwhelming.

3rd day: Chegaga – Taroudant

Our day will start after taking breakfast, by driving another 90 Km across the Sahara over the Stony Desert, “Reg” and “Hammada”, and the Iriqui Lake, which is now completely dried up, and where we can search for fossils. We will have lunch when reaching Taznakht, which is well-known for its Berber Gelims and carpets, after crossing Foum Zguid at the edge of the Sahara Desert. Then, we will pass by Tizi-N-Ikhsane, Tizi-N-Tighatine, until Taliouine, the heart of the saffron-growing area. Arriving at Taroudant at the end of the afternoon, we will stop there to spend a night and have dinner in a riad.

4th day: Taroudant – Essaouira

On the 4th day of our 5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakesh to Erg Chigaga, we will visit Taroudant, “the little Marrakesh”, which is spectacular for its massive ramparts and stunning medina. From here, we will continue through the Souss River valley, which contains many Argan groves as far as Agadir. Then to the coast along with the Valley of Paradise, driving by Taghazout and the mountains. Arriving at Essaouira, we will visit the town, the medina, the Skala and all its countless shops as well as the front sea with its restaurants which serve fresh fish. We will spend a night at Essaouira.

5th day: Essaouira – Marrakech

Our last day of the best5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakesh to Erg Chigaga will start by having breakfast, then we will continue to have a walk around Essaouira, getting to know it better, and maybe enjoying more of the fresh fish. Finally, we will reach Marrakesh, at the end of the best Sahara tours, Marrakech, we will stop in our pathway in a forest of Argan trees, where you will observe the cooperative of Argan oil makers, and many Berber villages.