3-Day Erg Chegaga Desert Tour from Marrakech
Erg Chegaga is the largest dune field in Morocco and the hardest to reach: you drive past M'Hamid, then leave the tarmac for two hours of desert track. That is what has kept it empty. Three days to cross the High Atlas, follow the Draa Valley and sleep below hundred-metre dunes, well away from the coach routes.
Trip highlights
- The Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 m and the Berber villages of the High Atlas
- Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage ksar
- 200 kilometres of palm groves and kasbahs along the Draa Valley
- M'Hamid el Ghizlane, the last village before the Sahara
- Two hours of 4x4 track out to the dunes of Erg Chegaga
- Sunset, dinner around the fire and a night in camp under the stars
Day by day
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Day 1
Marrakech – Ait Ben Haddou – Ouarzazate – Draa Valley
An early start from Marrakech by private vehicle and up the Tizi n'Tichka, the highest road pass in the High Atlas, through Berber villages and terraced fields. We stop at Ait Ben Haddou, cross the river and climb through the ksar to the collective granary that looks out over the valley. The road continues past Ouarzazate, climbs the Tizi n'Tinififft and drops into the Draa Valley at Agdz, where the palm grove begins. We follow the valley south between earthen kasbahs and old villages to your accommodation near Zagora or M'Hamid, depending on the route. About six hours of driving including stops.
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Day 2
Draa Valley – M'Hamid – Erg Chegaga dunes
After breakfast we drive on to M'Hamid el Ghizlane, the last village before the desert and the old departure point for caravans to Timbuktu. The tarmac ends there: roughly two hours of 4x4 track across stony reg, acacias and low sand ridges bring you to Erg Chegaga, a dune field some forty kilometres long with crests reaching a hundred metres. We reach camp in the early afternoon — time to rest, then climb a dune for sunset. Moroccan dinner around the fire and a night under canvas, in a silence you do not forget.
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Day 3
Erg Chegaga – Draa Valley – Marrakech
Up before dawn to watch the light move across the crests, breakfast at camp, then back along the track to M'Hamid and up the Draa Valley. We pass Ouarzazate and cross the Atlas one last time, with a lunch stop and photo halts as time allows. We reach Marrakech in the evening and drop you at your hotel or riad. This is the long day of the tour: expect nine to ten hours on the road.
What is included
- Private air-conditioned 4x4 with fuel
- Local driver-guide speaking English, French, Spanish, Italian or Dutch
- Two nights: comfortable accommodation in the Draa Valley, then a desert camp at Erg Chegaga
- The 4x4 crossing from M'Hamid to Erg Chegaga
- Dinner and breakfast at both stops
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Marrakech
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Monument and site entrance fees
- Local guide at Ait Ben Haddou (optional, around 150 MAD per group)
- Camel ride at the camp (optional)
- Tips
Places you will visit
Questions about this trip
Erg Chegaga or Merzouga — which desert should I choose?
Both are fine ergs and both need three days from Marrakech. Merzouga is easier to reach: the dunes start at the roadside, which also means more camps and more people. Erg Chegaga has to be earned — two hours of track — and stays far wilder. If this is your first desert and comfort matters most, take Merzouga; if you want silence and isolation, take Chegaga.
Is the track out to the dunes rough?
It is safe with a driver who knows it, but it shakes you about: two hours of sand and stone in a 4x4. Tell us if anyone has back trouble or gets carsick and we will slow the pace and stop more often.
What is the camp like?
Standard camps have Berber tents with real beds and shared bathrooms. Luxury camps give you a tent with a private bathroom and hot water. Tell us which you prefer and we will price both.
Can this be done in four days instead?
Yes, and we recommend it when your schedule allows. One extra day removes the nine-hour drive on the last day and leaves time for Lake Iriqui, the sacred oasis of Oum Laalag or a second night in the Draa Valley.
Can the tour start somewhere other than Marrakech?
Yes. We also run it from Ouarzazate, Agadir and Essaouira, and we can finish in a different city from the one we start in. The price is adjusted accordingly.
Ask about 3-Day Erg Chegaga Desert Tour from Marrakech
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