Erg Chigaga Desert Tour: Sandboarding & Starlight

Sixty kilometers of off-road desert, two sunsets, sandboarding on the dunes, and a night under the stars

This 2-day tour departs Mhamid at 3 pm and travels 60 km by 4x4 across the Erg, Reg and Hamada terrain to Erg Chigaga's big dunes. You'll sandboard, watch the sunset, sleep in a desert camp, wake for sunrise, and return by 10:30 am the next day. The tour includes transport, one night's accommodation, dinner, breakfast, and a Berber music gathering around the fire.

Step-by-step itinerary

Desert tour from Mhamid to Erg Chigaga

• Depart M’hamid around 3 pm
• Drive 60 km off-road by 4×4
• Enjoy desert panoramas and landscapes
• Experience sandboarding at Erg Chigaga dunes
• Watch sunset over big dunes
• Dinner and Berber music by fire
• Sleep in tent at Erg Chigaga
• Wake early to watch sunrise
• Have breakfast at dunes
• Drive back off-road to M’hamid
• Arrive M’hamid around 10:30 am

The experience

The 4x4 leaves Mhamid in the afternoon and heads into terrain far from any settlement. The piste crosses different desert features (sand dunes, gravel plains and rocky plateaus) over 60 kilometers of off-road driving. You'll see the landscape change as the vehicle climbs toward Erg Chigaga's massive dunes, stopping to take in the panoramas along the way. By late afternoon you reach the camp at the base of the dunes.

Sandboarding happens on the slopes before sunset, then you gather around the fire after dinner to listen to Berber music under a sky full of stars. The night is spent in a tent at the camp. The next morning starts early: you climb the dunes to watch the sunrise, have breakfast, and then ride back toward Mhamid, arriving around 10:30 am. The whole route is covered by private 4x4 transport included in the price.

What’s included

• Private 4x4 transport for the full 60 km route.
• one night in a desert camp tent at Erg Chigaga.
• sunset and sunrise viewing at the dunes.
• sandboarding on the slopes.
• dinner and breakfast.
• and a Berber music gathering around the campfire.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 15:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 20 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomeNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Desert Space Tour

Is this one for you?This tour suits travelers who want a full overnight desert experience and don't mind spending most of two days in a 4x4 vehicle and sleeping in a tent. The private transport and small-group setup mean you travel with the operator's own family business, generating direct income for the local families who run it.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What is Erg Chigaga and why is it 60 km from Mhamid?

Erg Chigaga is a vast sand dune field in the Sahara. It sits far from any town or road infrastructure, which is why the journey from Mhamid requires 60 kilometers of off-road 4x4 driving across open desert terrain to reach it.

What happens if I'm not comfortable with the long drive or the desert conditions?

The tour involves 60 km of off-road 4x4 driving each way and a night sleeping in a tent at the camp. The operator notes the tour is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health, and a minimum age of 12 applies. If either the drive or the overnight camp setup concerns you, a shorter day trip or a different tour may suit you better.

What time does the tour end on day two?

The return journey to Mhamid takes the morning after sunrise and breakfast. You arrive back in Mhamid around 10:30 am on day two, ending the experience at that time.