Camel Trekking in Morocco: 4-Day Desert Trek from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga

A four-day private trip from Marrakech to the Erg Chigaga dunes: two days walking beside camels between M’Hamid and Erg Chigaga, three nights in desert camps, and a private 4×4 with driver for the road days. You leave Marrakech at 7 am on day 1 and are back at your hotel on the evening of day 4.

The trek at a glance

Route summary

Day 1, Marrakech to M’Hamid by 4×4. Over the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m) to the kasbahs of Tamdakht and Aït Benhaddou, then lunch in Ouarzazate. In the afternoon you follow the Draa valley through Agdz, with a stop in Tamegroute for the Koranic library, the underground kasbah and the pottery workshops if you wish. Dinner and the first night are at the camp in M’Hamid, with music around the fire.

Day 2, first walking day. You set off at 8 am with the camels, your guide and the camel driver. Lunch is in the Ras Nkhal palm grove. In the afternoon you cross small dunes to the camp at Douib, where you sleep.

Day 3, walking, then the big dunes. A second morning on foot with the camels, lunch and a rest, then a 4×4 transfer of about one hour to Erg Chigaga. You climb the main dune for sunset and spend the night at the Erg Chigaga camp.

Day 4, back to Marrakech. The 4×4 crosses the dry bed of Lake Iriqui between Erg Chigaga and the Draa, then joins the road at Foum Zguid. Stops in Taznakht (carpet cooperatives) and along the way before arriving at your hotel in Marrakech in the evening.

The day-by-day programme below has the full details of each stage.

What’s included

• Private 4×4 with driver for days 1 and 4, including fuel
• Guide and camel driver for the two walking days; camels carry the luggage and water
• Three nights in desert camps: M’Hamid, Douib and Erg Chigaga
• Meals during the trip, from lunch on day 1 to lunch on day 4
• Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation in Marrakech

What’s not included

• Drinks other than water and mint tea at the camps
• Entrance fees and tips (Aït Benhaddou kasbah, Tamegroute library)
• Tips for the guide, camel driver and driver

Who this trek suits

You walk for most of the morning and part of the afternoon on days 2 and 3, on flat stony ground and small dunes. No climbing or technical terrain, but you need to be comfortable walking several hours in the sun. The camps are simple: tents with mattresses and blankets, shared facilities, no electricity beyond what the camp generates for the evening. The large dunes come on day 3; days 1 and 2 are about the Draa valley and the open desert around M’Hamid.

When to go

October to April is the walking season. Days are warm and nights can drop close to 0 °C in December and January, so bring a warm layer. May and September are possible with early starts. We do not run the walking days in June, July and August, when daytime temperatures pass 45 °C.

What to bring

• Walking shoes or trainers you have already worn in
• Scarf (chech) for sun and wind, sun cream, sunglasses, hat
• Warm fleece or jacket for the nights, a small day pack, head torch
• A refillable bottle; the camels carry the water supply
• Cash for crafts in Tamegroute and Taznakht and for tips

Price per person

* Prices are per person for a private trip. Travelling alone? Ask us for a quote.

Other desert treks and Erg Chigaga trips

• Camel trekking Morocco, 5 days: one more walking day in the same area
• Camel trekking Morocco, 6 days: the longest version
• 3-day Marrakech to Erg Chigaga with sandboarding and quad biking: same dunes, no walking days
• 2-day sandboarding trip to Erg Chigaga: the short option

Camel Trekking in Morocco: 4-Day Desert Trek from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga

1. 1 Marrakech – Ouarzazate – Agdz – Zagora – M’Hamid Meeting at 7 am for departure by 4x4 to M’Hamid through the Tizi n’Tichka pass, we’ll keep going to join Tamdakhte Kasbah and Aït Benhaddou Kasbah to arrive in Ouarzazate where you’ll take the lunch.. Departing to Zagora, you’ll visit the town of Agdz, which has a panoramic view to the Draa valley. Then, we’ll keep going along the Tanskhirt valley; we’ll arrive at the end of the track. To M’Hamid, on the road we’ll stop in Tamegroute to visit (if there are interested persons) the Koranic library, the underground Kasbah and the pottery workshops. We’ll keep driving to the desert. When we’ll arrive at the M’Hamid bivouac, we’ll have time to take your place and to diner. The evening will be spent around the fire with Sahraoui folklore. The night will be spent under nomad tents
2. 2 Departure from M’Hamid at 8 am( Trekking) We’ll go for a hike with the camels, escort by your guide and your camel driver. The lunch will be spent at the palm grove (Ras Nkhal) in order to leave it on the afternoon, we’ll walk on little dunes to a lovely place where we’ll set up the camp to spend the night (Douib).
3. 3 Camels Trekking On the morning, always on foot with the camels, you’ll have plenty of time to admire the desert with its majestic simplicity, to spend time in spectacular landscapes. After the lunch, you’ll have some time to rest. On the afternoon, you’ll join quickly, in 1 hour, the Chigaga grand dunes by 4x4 in order to have the time to climb the dune and witness the sunset on the golden dunes waves. The evening and the night will be spent at Chigaga bivouac.
4. 4 Erg Chigaga – Iriqui lake – Foum Zguid – Taznakht – Marrakech We’ll depart to Marrakech by track between Erg Chigaga and the dry bed of Draa through the Lake Iriqui (vast surface of sand). Then, we’ll keep driving on the road through Foum-Zguid to Taznakht, the carpet cooperative town. Next, heading for Marrakech, many breaks will be done between Taznakht and Marrakech before we’ll arrive at the hotel.