Marrakech to Erg Chigaga Desert Tour – 4 days

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Private Erg Chigaga Desert Trip from Marrakech

Morocco Sahara desert trip to Erg Chigaga from Marrakech via Zagora, Mhamid, and Foum Zguid is for serious desert amateurs who admire the desert’s silence and majesty and forget about the hectic city lives!
Marrakech to Erg Chigaga desert tour can be tailored into a 5-day desert tour. This desert trip is run in Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles, including half-board accommodation.

Marrakech to Erg Chigaga Desert Tour Highlights:

Cross the High Atlas Mountains and Tizi Ntichka pass.
Visit the Berber Village of Ait Ben Haddou with its world heritage Kasbah.
Drive along Draa Valley passing by Berber fortified Kasbahs.
Ride a camel in Erg Chigaga and watch the sunset.
Spend the night at your Sahara desert camp nestled in the middle of nowhere.
Enjoy a scenic drive across the salt dry lake of Iriqui and meet real Berber nomads.

Marrakech to Erg Chigaga Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Marrakech - Ouarzazate - Zagora

Your Marrakech to Erg Chigaga Morocco desert tour will start at 07h30 AM with a pick up from your Marrakech hotel / Riad.
Depart Marrakech, winding up through the Atlas Mountains over the Tichka Pass, where the views are pretty splendid. A few stops are made to take in the scenery and photography.
We arrive at Ouarzazate for lunch before we continue to Zagora crossing the Draa river, which has given life to a huge oasis spreading for about 200 Km at the foothill of the anti-Atlas mountains. Several Palmeraies will bring their shades between Kasbahs and fortified villages dotted with fields of corn, barley, Vegetables, and henna plantations.
Dinner and Overnight at your Zagora hotel.

(7 Hours Drive)

Accomodation Details:

Day 2: Zagora - Mhamid - Erg Chigaga

After breakfast, we drive to M'hamid (where the paved road ends), passing by the village of Tamagroute where we will have the opportunity to visit one of the oldest Quranic libraries in Morocco, then the nearby kasbah famous for its potters' factory.
Lunch will be served in M'hamid at leisure. Early afternoon, we depart for Erg Chigaga dunes crossing different features of the desert; 'Erg,' 'Reg,' 'Hammadas, and oases. Erg Chigaga dunes are far away from civilization, and the silence of the sand is overwhelming.
Ride your camels across the dunes and enjoy one of the most dramatic sunsets over the color-changing sands dunes.
Enjoy a splendid dinner under the stars next to the campfire while entertained by the local nomads playing local music.

Overnight at your Sahara desert camp.

(4 Hours Drive)

Accomodation Details:

Day 3: Erg Chigaga - Foum Zguid - Ouarzazate

After breakfast, the road takes us through another 90km of the desert with varying scenery: we first cross the flat dried salt lake of Iriqui and the Anti Atlas mountains, following the old track of “Rally Paris Dakar.”
Then to Foum Zguid, the first village after the desert, where the paved road begins.

After lunch, continue to the Berber village of Taznakht, famous for its Berber carpets and rugs.
We arrive at Ouarzazate late in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Ouarzazate.

(6 Hours Drive)

Accomodation Details:

Day 4: Ouarzazate - Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou - Marrakech

After breakfast, we can enjoy a visit to the film studios located just outside Ouarzazate, which is known as the Hollywood of Africa.
We then continue to visit the world heritage site of Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou, previously used as a set for more than 20 Hollywood blockbusters, including “Gladiator,” “Indiana Jones,” and “Lawrence of Arabia.” Enjoy a walk to explore the traditional Moroccan style of architecture in which the Kasbahs are built.
We continue our way to Marrakesh through the High Atlas Mountains and Tizi n’Tichka pass. Depending on time, lunch can be served in Ait Ben Hadou or the Atlas Mountains on the way to Marrakech.
Arrival at Marrakech by 17h00 PM.
Your Marrakech to Erg Chigaga 4 days desert tour will end with a drop off at your Marrakech hotel / Riad, or a location of your choice.

(4 Hours Drive)

4 Days Erg Chegaga Desert Trip from Marrakech Prices:

Number of Participants:	1	2	3	4	5
Price per person:	792€	449€	369€	299€	275€

Number of Participants:	Price per person:
1	792€
2	449€
3	369€
4	299€
5	275€

What is included in this 4-Day Marrakech to Erg Chigaga Desert Tour:

A/C modern 4×4 driven by an English speaking driver /guide

Pick up from your Marrakech hotel / Riad

First night at hotel La Fibule de Draa including dinner and breakfast (Private A/C ensuite room)

Sunset camel ride in Erg Chigaga

Overnight at a Sahara desert camp in Erg Chigaga (Private tent) with shared bathrooms and showers. Dinner and breakfast are included.

Upgrade to a deluxe camp with an ensuite tent available upon booking your desert tour (€125 per person)

Sunrise camel ride

Overnight at hotel Les Jardins De Ouarzazate (Private A/C ensuite room) including dinner an breakfast

Drop off at your Marrakech hotel or the closest accessible location to your riad if not car accessible

Not included

Beverages

Entrance fees if any

local guides if any

lunches on the way

Know Before You Go:

The tour price per person depends on how many participants there are in your party.
Driving times above do not include stops for sightseeing, photos, lunch, and cafe.
A 4x4 can seat up to 4 adult passengers comfortably. Families of 6 with small children can fit in a 4x4.
Local guides and entrance fees (if any) are not included. You pay for those directly to the suppliers.
Pick-up time for your desert tour can be flexible. Between 07h30 and 08h00 AM is highly recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Erg Chigaga and Erg Chebbi?

Erg Chigaga is remote. It is only accessible by 4x4s driven by very experienced drivers. That makes it less touristy. On the other hand, Erg Chebbi is accessible by all vehicles, and the roads are less adventurous. That makes Erg Chebbi more touristy as it is full of groups of tourists all year long.
Are bathrooms in Erg Chigaga desert camp private?

Bathrooms are shared and located outside your tent in the comfortable desert camp ( already included in the tour price ). Luxury camp bathrooms are private inside your tent.
Can we skip the camel ride in Erg chigaga to the desert camp?

Yes, you can. your 4×4 can take you to your Erg Chigaga desert camp if you choose to skip the camel ride.
can we hire quad bikes in Erg Chigaga?

Yes, you can. Your guide will assist you in hiring ATVs in Erg Chigaga, and you will pay the supplier in Mhamid directly.
How long is Erg Chigaga camel ride ?

It is roughly 1 hour for a sunset camel ride in Erg Chigaga dunes and another hour for a sunrise camel trek the following day. Time depends on the season, Daylight saving time, and sunset/sunrise time.

Reviews

Memorable Marrakech to Erg Chigaga tour

Justin A – Dec 2020:

The 4-day trip from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga is excellent since it allows you to view the contrasts of Morocco through different cities and places. The desert experience is fantastic and, in my view, a must-do if you visit Morocco. Said, our driver has taken us to some excellent restaurants along the way. You have provided us with excellent service. Thank you!

Erg Chigaga tour with the best guide!

Melissa N – April 2019:

I travel frequently and can confidently state that having Ali as my Morocco Sahara desert guide provided me with a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience. Learning about the desert and mountains through the eyes of a Berber who has the empathy and linguistic skills to anticipate a foreigner's interest and trepidation was the highlight of my (so far) lifetime journey.

Ager G – March 2019:

My stay in the Sahara was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Mohamed, our guide, was fantastic. He never failed to satisfy our demands and ensure that our experience in the desert was the best it could be! Our entire vacation was straightforward, from becoming familiar with the camels we would ride to the tent area to stargazing in the darkest of nights. The sleeping quarters were really comfortable, the food and entertainment were excellent, and cultural/historical queries were expertly handled.