3-Day Marrakech to Erg Chigaga Desert Tour with Camel Ride

Summary

Marrakech to Sahara: Ait Benhaddou & Erg Chigaga Adventure

You’ll cross mountains and palm valleys, wander ancient kasbahs, ride camels across real Saharan sand dunes, share tea with locals under acacia trees, and sleep beneath more stars than you thought possible—all in just three days.

What’s the experience like?

The first light barely touched the city when we left our riad in Marrakech, the air still cool and carrying that faint scent of mint tea from breakfast. The road twisted up into the High Atlas—Tizi n’Tichka Pass is no joke, especially if you’re not used to mountain roads. Our driver, Hassan, pointed out Berber villages clinging to hillsides, their mud-brick homes almost blending into the landscape. We stopped at Tamnougalt for a quick stretch; you could hear chickens somewhere behind the kasbah walls. But it was Ait Benhaddou that really made us pause—standing there, I recognized the view from old movies but it felt different in person: quiet, sun-baked, and somehow timeless. After wandering through narrow alleys and catching a glimpse of local kids playing football in the dust, we pressed on through the Draa Valley. Rows of date palms lined the riverbed all the way to Zagora, where we sipped sweet tea in tiny glasses before heading south. By sunset, we reached Mhamid—the edge of everything familiar—where dinner was waiting at camp and the sky was already thick with stars.

Morning in Mhamid comes early; you can hear camels grumbling before you even open your tent flap. After breakfast (flatbread still warm), we climbed onto our camels—mine was called “Ali Baba,” which made me laugh—and set off into the dunes. The silence out here is something else; just wind and soft footsteps in sand. Lunch back in Mhamid was simple but filling—tagine with olives—and then we switched to 4x4s for a bumpy ride deeper into the desert. Somewhere along a dry riverbed, we stopped at a tiny oasis where an old Berber man poured us tea so strong it nearly knocked me over (in a good way). By late afternoon, those massive Chegaga dunes finally came into view—rolling waves of gold as far as you can see. We watched sunset from up top; sand got everywhere but I didn’t care. Dinner at camp was lively—drums, laughter, someone singing an old song I didn’t recognize—and I fell asleep listening to wind rattling the tent flaps.

Sunrise over Chegaga is worth waking up for—even if you’re not a morning person like me. The colors shift fast: pinks and oranges melting into blue while everything’s still cool and quiet except for birds darting overhead. Breakfast was quick (coffee never tasted so good) before piling back into 4x4s for the long drive out via Foum Zguid. The old Paris-Dakar track is rough but there’s something wild about crossing Lake Iriqui’s cracked salt flats—you feel tiny out there. Lunch in Taznakht meant fresh bread and saffron-scented stew at a roadside café where locals chatted about last night’s football match on TV. Rolling back into Marrakech by evening felt surreal after all that open space—a jumble of horns and voices welcoming us home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Marrakech to Mhamid via Ait Benhaddou

• Depart Marrakech early morning
• Drive through High Atlas Mountains via Tichka Pass
• Visit kasbahs including Ait Benhaddou
• Travel through Draa river valley
• Tea break in Zagora
• Continue to Mhamid, dinner and night in camp

Day 2 — Mhamid to Chegaga Sand Dunes

• Camel ride into Sahara desert
• Lunch in Mhamid
• 4x4 drive through desert to sacred oasis
• Berber tea break
• Arrive at Chegaga dunes, dinner and camp

Day 3 — Chegaga to Marrakech via Taznakht

• Sunrise at sand dunes
• Breakfast
• 4x4 drive via old Paris-Dakar road to Foum Zguid
• Cross Iriqui lake
• Lunch in Taznakht
• Return to Marrakech by evening

Top questions

Is this Marrakech to Erg Chigaga tour suitable for families?

Absolutely! Kids love riding camels and exploring kasbahs—the pace is relaxed and there are options for strollers or infant seats if needed.

How much walking is involved at Ait Benhaddou?

You’ll do some gentle walking through narrow alleys and up steps inside the kasbah—it’s manageable for most fitness levels.

What should I pack for this desert trip?

I’d bring layers (the desert gets chilly at night), sunscreen, sunglasses, comfy shoes for sand, and maybe a scarf for dust or sun.

Are vegetarian meals available during the tour?

Yes! Just let your guide know ahead of time—they’re happy to arrange vegetarian options throughout the journey.

What’s included

This trip includes all transport by air-conditioned vehicle (wheelchair accessible), camel ride through Sahara dunes, overnight stays in guesthouse and nomad tents, most meals (including Berber tea breaks), plus friendly guides who know every shortcut and story along the way.