Embarking on 3 Days tour from Marrakech that will take you through the stunning High Atlas Mountains, where you’ll enjoy panoramic views of Berber villages. You’ll visit the well-preserved Ksar of Ait BenHaddou before continuing through the Draa Valley, passing typical Sub-Saharan villages.
Overnight in Zagora, the next day before we reach El M’Hamid El Ghizlane, we will stop at the small town of Tamegroute, which is famous in Morocco for its green pottery artisans. Reach your desert camp in Erg Chigaga in the afternoon and embark on a camel trek to the highest sand dunes to catch the spectacular sunset over the Erg Chigaga dunes, spending a night in tents in the desert. The next day, you’ll witness a breathtaking desert sunrise before journeying back to Marrakech, crossing the Anti-Atlas Mountains and visiting Taznakht along the way. This customizable tour offers a memorable desert experience for families and can be tailored to fit different timeframes.
We will meet you at your Riad/Hotel in Marrakech and then we set for our desert tour. We start slowly heading into the peaks of the High Atlas Mountains. This drive known as Tizi N’ Tichka Pass is very dramatic drive crossing the mountains. It is full of sharp turns, but the high elevations present us with rewarding views of many peaks of the mountains that look like sprinkled by several Berber villages. Upon our descent we reach the small village of Ait Benhaddou.
This is one of the most visited and probably the best-preserved Ksar (not Kasbah) in Morocco. There time will be set aside to walk the steep streets of the Ksar view the old homes and get inspired by the mind-blowing images spreading from the top of the Ksar.
No wonder, it inspired so many moviemakers. Then after lunch, we pass the city of Ouarzazate and set towards the Draa Valley. At first, we need to cross another mountain region and then descend into the first palm trees by Agdz. The views will be getting more and more impressive as we will be passing many typical villages of the Sub Sahara. Night spent either in a hotel or tent in Zagora, breakfast and dinner.
Today’s driving distance: Approximately 349 Km / 216 miles
Today’s driving time: Approximately 5 h 43 minutes
Today the impressive sand dunes are waiting for us. Our first stop will be the small town of Tamegroute which is famous in Morocco for its green pottery artisans. All different types of dishes, vases, and others are handcrafted with beautiful natural paints. Here you can visit the underground Kasbah and possibly the Coran library featuring very old books even from the 13th century. One of the oldest Korans can be found here written on the animal’s skin. Then onto M’hamid and Erg Lihoudi where we might have lunch. After M’hamid, we say goodbye to the road as we set into the desert Sahara trips fully trusting our driver’s knowledge of the area as there are no routes.
It is only sand, patches of rocky area, and eventually tall sand dunes that are spreading over 40 km. Here we saddle our camel trekking around Morocco, perhaps visiting the highest sand dune in the region. Challenge yourself and claim on top for the views of the never-ending sea of sand on the horizon. Night in tents with entertainment, half boarding included.
Today’s driving distance: Approximately 120 Km / 74 miles
Today’s driving time: Approximately 2 hrs
Wake up from your celestial sleep and welcome the sun rising and coloring the desert into the spectacle of colors. It is one of the days when we are thankful to be alive. Here we enjoy a good breakfast and then depart in 4×4 vehicles. We will be traveling by another road that will easily transport us back in time and that makes us see how the landscape has changed over the centuries. We will view the dried salt lake bed of Lake Iriqui, and the road will line many strange rock-creation mountains.
Then at Foum Zguid we meet again our civilized world and head across the Anti-Atlas Mountains to Taznakht (a Berber town full of rug cooperatives). You are welcome to visit one if you are interested, and then again cross the Atlas to Marrakech. Expected late arrival after 6 pm. Drop off at your preferred location. This 3-day tour is recommended for families with kids. If you are familiar with a long drive, it’s simply possible to customize this trip to 4 days instead of 3 days.
Today’s driving distance: Approximately 421 Km / 260 miles
Today’s driving time: Approximately 7 hrs
Once you book your 3 days Marrakech to Erg Chigaga desert tour with us, you should expect to stay at authentic hotels and luxury camps in the Sahara desert, including private rooms and ensuite tents with essential amenities, complete with private showers and flush toilets, ensuring a comfortable and private stay. Our guests can choose from various accommodation options, from luxurious suites to all-inclusive resorts. We have narrowed down the best accommodation options to suit all preferences, budgets, services, decorations, and locations. We gathered the top-rated hotels and desert camps in Morocco based on our deep experiences and we’ve organized them by luxury, mid-range, and budget to help you choose the best hotel for your group.
All our accommodations are decorated in Moroccan style. The rooms are clean and well-maintained, providing a truly outstanding experience such as complimentary breakfast, and guests praise the helpful staff, which is the perfect place to unwind after an exploration day full of activities. We constantly allow our guests to match between Our best-selected accommodations also. In case, these accommodations are not available on your requested dates, we’ll book the alternative ones in the same category and let you know in advance. If you have a preferred alternative accommodation in mind, just let us know and we’ll be happy to accommodate your request, ensuring it aligns with your travel plans and preferences. Your comfort and convenience are our priority! We invite you to get in touch with us, selecting the accommodation level and our local team will share the accommodation links.
The price of our 3 day tours from Marrakech varies depending on several factors, including accommodations, the size of your group, and the season of your travel. The more participants in your group, the lower the cost per person, making it ideal for larger groups seeking affordability.
For those who prefer to travel in October, April or the end of December, we highly recommend contacting us in advance. This will not only help you avoid peak season fees but also provide a greater chance of securing your preferred accommodations during these popular travel periods.
For a pricing quote, we invite you to get in touch with us as soon as you know your dates. Our expert team shall provide the best price that meets your requirements and budget.
Mohammed was our driver/guide for the 3 day tour to Erg Chigaga – picking us up in Marrakesh, bringing us for a night in the Draa valley, 1 night in the Sahara of Erg Chigaga. He was wonderfully polite, funny, answered all our questions and provided insight into the places and culture. He continued to check in with us even after we left. An amazing experience and service!
We had a fantastic visit in the desert. Traverse Morocco is the best. Our guide is very polite and knowledgeable. The meals served were excellent, authentic, and abundant. Our driver Lahcen, did a super job navigating through a windstorm. The camel drivers were fun, ensuring that we didn’t fall off the camels. The tent was large and almost too warm. My only suggestion is that a fan would have helped in circulating the air. The night sky was unbelievable, so many constellations to be seen. Sunrise over the dunes was beautiful. I loved the silence. I wish that we had stayed two nights instead of one. The staff was really helpful. We are glad that we chose Traverse Morocco, which offered us a comfortable Toyota Prado equipped with a strong A/C. Do NOT miss this unique experience.
The distance between Marrakech and Erg Chigaga is approximately 500 kilometers/300 miles.
The best time to visit the Erg Chigaga Desert is during the cooler months, from September to June, when temperatures are milder and more comfortable for exploring.
The electricity that is provided at the camp is from the solar panels, and it’s weak.
Yes, all the desert camps in our three packages provided are authentic and luxury accommodations, featuring ensuite tents with private bathrooms, except the Classic Comfort, where the bathroom is outside.
For the Marrakech desert tours to Erg Chigaga, we use comfortable 4WD vehicles, ensuring your journey is smooth, either on road or off-road.
Definitely! This 3 day tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga contains 1 hour off-road from M’Hamid El Ghizlane to Erg Chigaga and 2 hours from Erg Chigaga to Foum Zguid. Please bear in mind that the last day involves a lot of driving.
Do not hesitage to give us a call. We are an expert team and we are happy to talk to you.
+212 663 606 413
contact@traversemorocco.com