Our 3-Day Erg Chegaga Desert Tour from Marrakech is for travelers who want a quieter, more remote Sahara experience. We cross the High Atlas Mountains, visit Ait Ben Haddou and travel south through the Draa Valley before reaching the wide dunes of Erg Chegaga.
Erg Chegaga feels different from the more accessible desert areas. The final part of the journey is made by 4×4, and the landscape becomes wonderfully open and quiet. There are fewer buildings, fewer people and much more space to simply enjoy the desert.
3-Day Erg Chegaga Desert Tour from Marrakech highlights
- Cross the Tizi n’Tichka Pass
- Visit the UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou kasbah
- Explore Ouarzazate and the Draa Valley
- See palm groves and southern villages
- Ride camels across the Erg Chegaga dunes
- Spend the night in a remote desert camp
An evening in the Sahara
As the afternoon cools, we head into the dunes by camel. At the camp, dinner is followed by traditional music and a sky full of stars. It is a simple experience, but that simplicity is exactly what many people come looking for.
Breakfast and dinner are included, while lunches and drinks are not included unless mentioned in the itinerary. Bring warm clothes for the evening, comfortable shoes, sunscreen and a small overnight bag.
Erg Chegaga or Merzouga?
Choose Erg Chegaga if you value quiet, space and a more remote feeling. Merzouga is easier to reach and has the famous Erg Chebbi dunes. You can compare it with our 4-Day Private Merzouga Tour.
Still deciding which desert suits your trip? Our Zagora vs Merzouga comparison explains the dunes, travel days and private tour options, including Erg Chigaga.
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
- Private Vehicle Transportation
- Camel Ride Experience
- Professional Driver & Guide
- Accommodation
- Desert Camp
- Daily Breakfast
- Pick-up & Drop-off Service
- Dinner
Cost Excludes
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Lunches and drinks
- Personal expenses and tips
- Entrance fees to monuments and attractions (if applicable)
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Any items not specified in the inclusions section
Trip Info
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Available
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Private 4x4
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Erg Chegaga
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Hotel & Desert Camp
3 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chegaga Overview
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.
3 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chegaga Highlights
- 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
Pictures from Travelers
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2 Reviews
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Icho Ouarzazate
I had an amazing time in Merzouga, and Ismail made the experience truly special. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and always made sure everything went smoothly. From the stunning desert landscapes to the unforgettable moments in the dunes, every part of the trip was incredible. Thank you, Ismail, for your hospitality and for making this experience so memorable. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Morocco!
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.