Explore the breathtaking desert landscapes on a 4-day trip from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga and explore the stunning desert. Travel across the Atlas Mountains and the highest pass in North Africa, passing old villages, green oases, and ancient trade routes. Visit Berber villages and Morocco’s famous carpet-making town. Our experienced drivers will take you through different desert landscapes to a desert camp. Ride camels on the sand dunes, try sandboarding, and watch beautiful sunsets from the highest dune. Meet local nomads, enjoy drum music, and sleep in a traditional tent under the stars.
From Marrakech To Marrakech
Depart from Marrakech at 8 am
Our 4-day tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga is a Desert Tour from Marrakech that will take you to visit the Erg Chigaga Desert, Ait Ben Haddou, Atlas Mountains, Zagora, and Mhamid El Ghazlan.
Your desert trip from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga starts at 7:30 a.m. with a pickup from your hotel or Riad.
First, you’ll travel through the Atlas Mountains, reaching the Tichka Pass, where you can enjoy breathtaking views and take photos of the high peaks.
After crossing the mountains, you’ll visit the famous Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, a site featured in movies like Indiana Jones and Gladiator.
Next, you’ll head to Ouarzazate for lunch before continuing to Zagora, passing the Draa River, which flows through a massive 200-kilometer oasis at the base of the Anti-Atlas Mountains.
After breakfast, we drive to Mhamid, where the paved road ends. On the way, we stop at Tamagroute to visit one of Morocco’s oldest Quranic libraries and a nearby kasbah known for its pottery.
You’ll have lunch in Mhamid at your own pace. In the early afternoon, we head to the Erg Chigaga dunes, passing through different desert landscapes like rocky plains, sandy dunes, dry lakes, and hidden oases.
Once we reach the remote Erg Chigaga dunes, ride camels across the sand and watch a stunning sunset over the shifting dunes.
End the day with a delicious dinner under the stars by a warm bonfire, while local nomads play traditional music.
After breakfast, we continue our journey through 90 kilometers of diverse desert landscapes. First, we cross the vast, dried salt lake of Irqui and travel through the Anti-Atlas mountains, following part of the old Rally Paris Dakar route.
Next, we arrive at Foum Zguid, the first village after the desert, where paved roads begin again. After lunch, we head to Taznakht, a Berber town famous for its traditional carpets and rugs.
By late afternoon, we reach Ouarzazate, where you will have dinner and spend the night at your hotel.
After breakfast, you have the option to visit the famous film studios just outside Ouarzazate, known as the “Hollywood of Africa.”
These studios have hosted many international films, including Gladiator, Indiana Jones, and Lawrence of Arabia. You’ll get a chance to walk through the sets and learn about the filmmaking process.
After the visit, we head back to Marrakech, crossing the High Atlas Mountains and the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. Lunch can be enjoyed in the Atlas Mountains, depending on the time.
Your 4-day desert adventure will end with a drop-off at your hotel, Riad, or a location of your choice in Marrakech.
This was an amazing trip! It was well-planned, with great places to visit and beautiful Riad hotels to stay in each night. Our driver, Mustapha, was a wonderful person who we now consider a friend. He was very flexible and adjusted the tour to fit our needs, whether adding a desert hike or changing the route to save time. He took us to fantastic local restaurants where we enjoyed delicious homemade Moroccan food, often as the only guests. The tour staff, hotel teams, and the desert camp crew were all incredible! I highly recommend Sahara Travel Adventures Company, especially Mustapha as a driver.
This was an amazing trip! It was well-planned, with great places to visit and beautiful Riad hotels to stay in each night. Our driver, Mustapha, was a wonderful person who we now consider a friend. He was very flexible and adjusted the tour to fit our needs, whether adding a desert hike or changing the route to save time. He took us to fantastic local restaurants where we enjoyed delicious homemade Moroccan food, often as the only guests. The tour staff, hotel teams, and the desert camp crew were all incredible! I highly recommend Moroccan Travel Company, especially Mustapha as a driver.
