3 Days  Tour From Marrakech to Erg Chigaga Desert

Overview of 3 Days Tour From Marrakech to Erg Chigaga:

Erg Chigaga Sahara dunes is a much younger and less-frequented destination. Erg Chegaga dunes are in the southeast of Marrakech, towards the Algerian border, and are located over 60 kilometers from the nearest town, Mhamid.

The desert is somehow more vast and wild here. Those opting for an Erg Chigaga desert tour should expect a rustic experience, without access to nearby hotels. This desert tour requires at least 3 days of travel through Ait Benhaddou, Draa Valley Palm Grove, and a rocky desert landscape before reaching the Sahara dunes.

The Erg Chigaga desert tour is fascinating, the Sahara desert trip that offers you the opportunity to ride a camel, climb Sahara dunes, run the cinnamon-and-sugar sand grains through your fingers, admire picturesque views, and sleep in tents or under the stars.

The other Sahara dunes are the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga. Erg Chebbi dunes are more popular and reach a height of up to 150 meters in places and span over 50 kilometers.

Hotels align on the edge of the desert, allowing travelers to spend the night in the comfort of a traditional hotel room or a luxury camp and then explore the Merzouga desert and its surroundings by day.

Erg Chigaga Morocco desert tour 3 Days Itinerary:

Day 1: Marrakech – Ait Benhaddou – Draa Valley – Mhamid

We start our Chegaga 3-day Morocco desert tour with an air-conditioned 4×4 vehicle at 08:00 am from Marrakech. We cross the High Atlas Mountains- Tizi-n-Tichka Pass driving along a scenic area to reach the world heritage site of Ait Benhaddou, Morocco’s most famous ksar ( ksar = old village of kasbahs).

Lunch will be in Ouarzazate or Agdez. The trip goes through Draa Valley with its palm trees and old Kasbahs. Night with dinner will be either in a Hotel in Zagora or under the Tent.

Day 2: Zagora – Mhamid – Sacred Oasis – Erg Chigaga Dunes

After breakfast, our Erg Chigaga desert adventure continues through the palm groves of the Draa Valley. After a short break in the panoramic view of Draa Palmeraie, we will have a stop at Tamgroute to visit the famous Koranic library (Closed on national and religious holidays) and an underground Kasbah, we will continue to M’Hamid, a small village.

The last town and the major Draa oasis before the big wasteland of Erg Chegaga Sahara. Next, we continue our 3-day desert tour from Marrakech another 60 km off-road from M’hamid to Erg Chegaga dune.

This largest group of Sahara dunes in the region reaches a height of 300 m and spans an area of 40 km. Dinner and night in a Berber tent camp after a 40-minute camel trek to enjoy the golden sunset of the desert.

Day 3: Erg Chigaga Dunes – Foum Zguid – Taznakht – Marrakech

After breakfast in Erg Chegaga Bivouac, departure with 4×4 via the old Paris – Dakar race road to Foum Zguid crossing the natural dry Iriqui lake, and lunch break in the Berber village of Taznakht. We arrive in Marrakech in the late afternoon around 6 pm and you will be dropped off in your Riad.

3-Day Trip From Marrakech to Erg Chigaga Desert on The Map: