Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chegaga offers a glimpse into the history of southern Morocco and discovering most of Morocco's palm groves. Our desert tour also includes a visit to the world's most famous kasbah, Ait Ben Haddou, which is also famous in the movie industry. So if you've dreamed of riding a camel, playing music next to a campfire, sleeping under a million stars, and watching the sunset fade on the horizon, this 3-day tour from Marrakech to the Erg Chegaga will make your fantasies come true.
About this activity: 3 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chegaga
Secure your travel plans with flexibility—reserve your 3 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chegaga today with just a 20% deposit.
This trip is private, ensuring you travel exclusively with our team who speak English, French, and Spanish
Your driver will pick you up conveniently at 08:00 from your accommodation or the nearest accessible location in Marrakech.
Marrakech is an ancient city in Morocco, it was founded in 1062 by the Almoravid Berber ruler Abu Bakr, the cousin of the 5th Almoravid emir, Youssef bin Tashfin, who built several buildings bearing designs from the Sahara and Andalusian characters. It became the capital of the Almoravid Empire. The old part of the city was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. It is located on the fertile Haouz plain, at the foot of the snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas Mountains, around 476 km from the sand dunes of Erg Chegaga and 250 km from the Atlantic Ocean, among the red ramparts shaded by thousands of beautiful palm grove which gives it a real charm.
Marrakech will be the starting point of this Erg Chegaga Desert Tour. On the first day of our desert journey, we will pass through the dramatic landscapes of the mountains to the Onilla Valley, formerly known as the caravan trade route between the desert and the High Atlas Mountains. Along the way, admire great examples of Moroccan architecture, such as the old Berber villages. One of these is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site Ait Ben Haddou.
After visiting the most interesting Kasbah in Morocco Ait Ben Haddou, we travel through a very beautiful valley known as the Valley of the Palm Groves. The Erg Chigaga desert tour gives you the opportunity to try camel riding, climb the highest Sahara dunes and watch the sun sink on the horizon, admire beautiful views of the desert and desert landscapes, and spend a night under the stars if the weather permits otherwise in a nomad tent.
Tip: The Erg Chigaga desert tour lasts a minimum of 3 days. On the last day, it will be a long drive from the dunes of Erg Chigaga to Marrakech, so if you are traveling with children, we highly recommend doing this Erg Chigaga desert tour in 4 days instead of just 3 days. We also have a 4-day Erg Chigaga Desert Tour available and it can be booked whenever you want except in the summer as it gets very hot.
- Enjoy the beautiful High and Middle Atlas Mountains with the Tizi n’Tichka including the beautiful Ait Saoun
- Visiting the Onilla Valley and the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou ksar
- Drive along the Valley of the Draa with its gigantic palm grove
- Enjoy the beautiful panoramic view of Kasbahs and small Berber villages along the bank of the Draa River with the high cliffs
- Experience a camel ride in Morocco’s highest sand dunes
- Special experience staying overnight in a camp in the desert and enjoying the sunset
- Experience the beautiful and varied landscapes of southeast Morocco
- Explore the Moroccan food and culture in a very short time
Tizi-n-Tichka: Tizi Nachka is a mountain pass that runs through the High Atlas and connects the city of Marrakech with the gateway to the desert, the city of Ouarzazate. The road is 2,260 meters high and has many ups and downs. It is considered the highest mountain pass in North Africa. At the highest point, there are several viewpoints over the mountains that one should not miss. During the winter season, the trail can sometimes be closed for short periods due to heavy snowfall.
Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou: Ait Ben Haddou is the most famous Moroccan Kasbah and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We plan to visit this beautiful walled city before heading to Ouarzazate to visit Kasbah Taourirt and the Atlas Film Studio, where you can see the sets of movies such as Kundun.
Draa Valley: Draa Valley is a long stunning oasis with the most beautiful Berber villages, palm groves, and lush kasbahs. It also offers stunning landscapes and distinctive rock formations.
Erg Chegaga: The sand dunes of Erg Chigaga Sahara in southern Morocco, about 60 kilometers from the desert town of M’Hamid El Ghizlane, are less visited as they can only be accessed by 4WD vehicles. The Erg Chegaga dunes are located 476 km southeast of Marrakesh, near the Algerian border. The desert landscape here is wilder and winding along the horizon for about 35 kilometers with some heights of up to 300 meters.
First day: The start of Our Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga
We will depart from your accommodation at 8:00 AM. We head towards Ouarzazate by crossing the highest mountain in North Africa, the Atlas Mountains. We pass the Tizi n’Tichka (2260 m) to reach the village of Ait Ben Haddou, the fortified old ksar with its beautiful Kasbahs. Ait Ben Haddou has served as a natural backdrop for many well-known films and TV series. After lunch in Ait Ben Haddou and visiting the kasbahs, we continue our journey through the village of Agdz and along the panoramic Draa Valley with lush palm groves to Zagora. Before reaching Zagora, we will make several stops along the way for photos and to visit a beautiful Kasbah known as Kasbah Oulad Othmane.
Later, we continue along the Draa Valley one of the largest palm oases in Morocco, and arrive in Zagora, a desert-like city where the ruins of the Almoravid fortress can be seen to this day. You will spend your first night in a regional typical accommodation in the middle of the palm oasis.
Second day: A trip from Zagora to M’Hamid and Erg Chegaga
After breakfast, we head for a short stroll in the oasis before heading southerly and passing the old town of Tamegroute. In this little village, you will visit one of the oldest libraries in Morocco where some ancient books and scripts can be found (Zawiya of Nasiriyya). The surrounding is dotted with palm trees and tamarisk trees. Along the way, you can visit one of the workshops around Tamegroute that bake stylish green pottery in an old-fashioned method.
Later, we continue our journey to the desert village of M’hamed. We will then cross a huge plateau where you will surely be impressed by the wide and huge sand dunes of Chigaga dotted with wild plants and trees. Here we will take a camel ride at sunset and enjoy the most fantastic views before reaching our nomad camp. Prepare for a special evening and enjoy the music of the local nomads by the campfire and the full clear starry sky. If the weather permits it, you can sleep under millions of stars if you wish as it is safe.
The third day: A journey from Erg Chigaga desert to Taznakht and Marrakech
After breakfast at your desert camp and enjoying the sunrise, we will drive from Erg Chegaga along sand dunes in a fascinating wilderness, also along the natural dried-up lake of Iriki. This lake was once full of water and was home to several species of birds.
After a long drive on a desert plateau that was once the rally Dakar route, we come to the paved road and pass the small oasis village of Foum-Zguid, a quiet Berber town, where we take a short break for a Moroccan tea.
On the way, we stop in Taznakht, a former trading center of this great region. This small Berber village is known for the cultivation of saffron and the largest woven carpets in an ancient way. From there we will drive for almost 90 km, through different landscapes, oases, and many traditional Berber villages to reach the intersection between Marrakech and Ouarzazate. We cross the High Atlas Mountains again to Marrakech and bring you to your accommodation or the airport.
Welcome to Desert Morocco Adventure Tours
Desert Morocco Adventure happily shows you the most beautiful locations in this beautiful part of Morocco and shares unforgettable moments with you during this desert tour from Marrakech to Erg Chegaga.
Additional Information
Tour package confirmation:
To confirm the booking, the customer must make a deposit of at least 20% of the total order value. Our travel agent will provide the customer with all available payment options. The deposit must be received and cleared before a tour package is confirmed.
Cancellation policy:
- Travelers can cancel up to 7 days before the travel start date to receive a full refund.
- Between 4-6 days, the customer will be charged a service fee of 50% of the total order value.
- Travelers who cancel a trip less than 4 days before the departure of the trip will not receive a refund.
- If the trip is canceled due to natural disasters or safety reasons, you will be offered an alternative date or a full refund.
- If a booking request was made in error and wants to cancel it while we have not received a deposit, the traveler can cancel the reservation request using the link in the first email we sent to confirm receipt of the reservation request. All information provided during the booking process will be deleted from our database in a very short time.
Traveling with children or more than 5 persons
If you are traveling with children or more than 5 persons and plan to book with us, please contact us in advance so that we can propose to you our best offers.
FAQs about Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chegaga
Is there a vegetarian/vegan option available on this desert tour?
Yes, sure, a vegetarian/vegan option is available on this desert tour. Please let us know in advance so we can arrange it.
Is this trip available without a camel ride?
Yes, this trip is available without the camel trek if you prefer. But please let us know when booking the trip
Are there beds in the desert camp?
Yes, our tour includes a bivouac with all the necessary equipment and even a private tent with a toilet and shower.
Can this tour always be booked?
The tour can be booked in almost all seasons, except in the summer due to the intense heat.
Can I get a discount?
Our prices as published are fixed prices and are not negotiable. If there is a discount on any of our services, we will publish it. There are no hidden costs. You can expect the best and fairest offers.
Where does the tour start?
On the first day of this desert tour, you can choose where to pick you up in Marrakech. Please specify the pickup location when booking.
Is this tour private?
Yes, it is a private tour and we do not run shared tours. You will travel alone with your driver/guide in a fancy 4×4 vehicle. Usually, it is Icho who will be your guide.
Any recommendation?
– If you have more days to spend on a Moroccan desert tour, we recommend doing this in a 4 or 5-day tour instead of 3 days, as it will be a long drive on the last day.
– Bring a light jacket, even if it is warm. Here are the things we recommend to bring: sunscreen, a hat or scarf, sunglasses, and comfortable walking shoes.
Where can we have lunch?
You can choose the restaurant where you want to have lunch or else it will be a nice restaurant where we stop regularly. Lunch is not included in our tour price.
The Price of the 3 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chegaga Includes
- The price of the tour includes a vehicle with a driver/guide, fuel, a camel trek, accommodation, breakfast, and dinner
- lunch and drinks are not included.
What The Travelers Are Saying About our Sahara Desert Tour Guide
I would recommend Youssef to anyone. He is a very knowledgeable guide and if you are looking for someone to show you the beauty of the desert then look no further than Youssef.
Rachid
Youssef is a great guy that I have traveled with on a few trips to the desert. He is always a pleasure to be around and his helpful nature makes him an excellent guide.
Zakaria
Driver/guide of this 3 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chegaga
Youssef is a young Berber man, born and raised in the desert. He is better known by his Amazigh name Icho. He works professionally as a driver/guide and expert in organizing and guiding adventurers throughout the whole kingdom of Morocco. He is passionate about learning different languages and the history of his country.
You can follow him on Instagram: desert_morocco_adventur
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Desert Morocco Adventure with guide Icho
Analisa Verified
Embarking on the “3 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chegaga” with Desert Morocco Adventure and our guide, Icho, was an absolute dream come true. From the moment we were greeted in Marrakech to our final farewell, every step of the journey felt like a page ripped from an adventure novel.
Icho, our incredible guide, was the heartbeat of our expedition. With his warm demeanor and wealth of knowledge about Morocco, he transformed each moment into a captivating tale. From sharing insightful stories about the desert’s history to guiding us through its majestic dunes, Icho made every experience feel personal and unforgettable.
For anyone considering this remarkable journey, I wholeheartedly recommend Desert Morocco Adventure and Icho as your trusted companions. As we bid farewell to Erg Chegaga, I couldn’t help but wish for more time to soak in the beauty of the desert and the camaraderie forged along the way.
Magical Morocco Tour: Personal Touches and Desert Adventures
Sara Verified
We had an absolutely enchanting experience on this tour in Morocco! I highly recommend it to anyone visiting. Our tour guide, Icho, was incredibly friendly and even took us to visit his family on the way to the desert. It added such a personal touch to our journey.