Erg Chigaga Desert tour from Zagora: Camel ride and Berber camp

Ride into the dunes and eat lunch where the nomads live

A private full-day tour from Zagora to Erg Chigaga Desert includes hotel pickup, off-road transport through the Draa Valley, a one-hour camel ride among the dunes, and lunch at a nomadic Berber camp, with a final stop at Tamagroute's Koranic library. The route covers roughly 2 hours of off-road driving to reach the big dunes, and the whole day runs from 8:00 in the morning until around 18:00 in the evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day trip to Erg Chigaga desert

• Leave Zagora at 8:00
• Travel through Tizi Anagame and Ben Selmane
• Go off-road to Erg Chigaga dunes
• Ride camel for one hour
• Have lunch at nomadic Berber camp
• Return to Zagora via Draa Valley villages
• Stop at Tamagroute Koranic library
• Arrive back in Zagora late evening

The experience

The tour leaves your hotel at 8:00 and heads south toward M'Hamid, climbing through Tizi Anagame and Ben Selmane before the road turns to sand. Two hours of off-road driving brings you to the Erg Chigaga dunes themselves: the landscape shifts from scrub and rock to open desert. You spend an hour on camel among the dunes, moving at the animal's pace across the sand.

Lunch happens at a nomadic Berber camp set up in the desert, where the meal is cooked and served by the people who live there. The afternoon reverses the route: you drive back through villages scattered across the Draa Valley, stopping in Tamagroute to visit the Koranic library before returning to Zagora around 18:00. Your driver or guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian or French and handles all the navigation and logistics. You bring only yourself and any dietary preferences you want to mention at booking.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Zagora.
• private vehicle transport.
• lunch at the nomadic Berber camp.
• one-hour camel ride.
• stop at Tamagroute's Koranic library.
• driver or guide in your chosen language.
• fuel surcharge.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 49 years) · Senior (50 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 15 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Zagora Desert Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private vehicle and guide handling the full off-road route to Erg Chigaga, rather than joining a group or driving yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 5).

How long is the camel ride in the Erg Chigaga dunes?

The camel ride lasts about one hour and happens once you reach the big dunes after the off-road drive.

What's included in the lunch at the Berber camp?

Lunch is served at a nomadic Berber camp in the desert and is included in the tour price. Vegetarian options are available if you request them when you book.

Does the tour include a stop at Tamagroute?

Yes, on the return to Zagora in the afternoon, the tour stops at Tamagroute to visit the Koranic library.

How much of the day is spent driving off-road?

The off-road section to reach the Erg Chigaga dunes takes roughly 2 hours. The full day from pickup to drop-off runs about 8 hours.