Private 3-Day Marrakech to Erg Chigaga Desert Tour by 4x4 & Camel

Summary

Atlas Mountains, Ait Benhaddou & Erg Chigaga Sahara Adventure

If you want to see Morocco beyond postcards—real kasbahs, wild desert tracks, camel rides at sunset—this tour gives you all that and more. You’ll meet locals, eat simple food under open skies, and sleep where you can hear nothing but wind and drums.

What’s the experience like?

The morning air in Marrakech always feels a bit cool before sunrise, but by 8 am we were already on the road, weaving up into the High Atlas Mountains. The Tizi-N-Tichka pass is no joke—hairpin turns, tiny Berber villages clinging to the slopes, and that dry mountain wind sneaking through the car window. Our driver, Youssef, pointed out crumbling kasbahs tucked behind olive trees. We stopped at Telouet Kasbah—honestly, it’s not as polished as Ait Benhaddou but you can almost feel the stories in those faded tiles and empty halls.

Lunch at Ait Benhaddou was simple—grilled chicken skewers and mint tea at a café just outside the mud-brick walls. Walking through the old ksar felt like stepping onto a movie set (which makes sense since they filmed Gladiator here). Ouarzazate flashed by with its big cinema studios signs. The landscape changed again as we hit the Draa Valley: endless palms, dusty air, and kids waving from donkey carts. By sunset, we rolled into Zagora. The guesthouse had that faint smell of woodsmoke and fresh bread drifting in from the kitchen.

Next morning, after a quick walk through Zagora’s palm groves (the birds are loud at sunrise), we wandered into Amzerou’s old Jewish quarter. The kasbah there is quieter than others—our guide said most families left decades ago. Tamegroute was a surprise: green pottery everywhere and a library with ancient Qurans stacked behind glass. Lunch was a choice—either at a roadside spot in Mhamid or picnic-style under an acacia tree (we went for the picnic; sand gets everywhere but it’s worth it).

The real adventure started when we left the paved road behind. Two hours bumping over stones and sand dunes in a 4x4—windows down, dust everywhere. We stopped at a tiny oasis where a local shepherd waved at us with his stick. Just before sunset, camels waited at Erg Chigaga’s edge. Riding over those dunes as the sky turned orange-red—honestly, it’s hard to describe. Sand gets cold fast after dark. Dinner at camp was tagine cooked over coals; later some Berber guys played drums around a fire while we tried to clap along (badly).

Waking up before dawn in the desert is something else. The sand felt cool under my feet as I climbed up a dune to watch sunrise—the colors shift so quickly from gray to gold. After breakfast (flatbread and strong coffee), we set off across more wild tracks toward Foum-Zguid. There’s a stop at Lake Iriqui—it’s just cracked earth now but you can see mirages if you stare long enough. Fossil beds nearby are fun to poke around; I found a shell fossil half-buried in sand. Lunch in Taznakht village came with a look inside a women’s carpet cooperative—those looms are bigger than you’d think. By late afternoon we were winding back through the Atlas toward Marrakech, dusty and tired but kind of wishing it wasn’t over yet.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Marrakech to Zagora via Atlas Mountains

• Drive over High Atlas Mountains via Tizi-N-Tichka pass
• Visit Kasbah of Telouet
• Visit Ait Benhaddou UNESCO Mud-brick Castle
• Pass Ouarzazate, optional Cinema Studios visit
• Drive through Low Atlas Mountains and Draa valley
• Arrive and overnight in Zagora

Day 2 — Zagora to Erg Chigaga Desert Dunes

• Walk through Palm grove and Jewish quarter, visit Kasbah of Amzerou
• Visit Tamegroute: Koranic school, library, Underground Kasbah, pottery makers
• Lunch in Mhamid or picnic in desert
• Off-road drive through stones and sand dunes
• Stop at Oases
• Arrive Erg Chigaga dunes before sunset
• Camel trek on sand dunes at sunset
• Check-in desert camp, dinner, campfire with Berber music

Day 3 — Erg Chigaga to Marrakech via Off-road

• Sunrise from dunes and breakfast
• Off-road drive to Foum-Zguid
• Stop at Iriqui Lake and fossil beds
• Drive along Jebel Bani mountain ridges and acacia groves
• Break at Foum-Zguid village
• Lunch at Taznakht village, optional carpet cooperative visit
• Drive through Atlas Mountains back to Marrakech
• Tour ends at accommodation

Top questions

Is this Marrakech to Erg Chigaga tour suitable for families with kids?

Yes! Kids love riding camels and exploring dunes. Infant seats are available and you can bring a stroller for little ones.

What should I pack for this desert trip?

Bring layers—it gets chilly at night but hot during the day. Sunglasses, sunscreen, comfy shoes for walking on sand, and maybe a scarf for dust.

Are meals included? What kind of food can I expect?

All main meals are included. Expect Moroccan classics like tagine, couscous, grilled meats—and plenty of mint tea.

Is there Wi-Fi or phone signal in the desert camp?

Signal is patchy once you leave Mhamid and there’s usually no Wi-Fi at camp. It’s a good chance to unplug for a night.

What’s included

Your own private 4x4 with AC and fuel is included for all three days. All main meals (lunches and dinners), camel trek at Erg Chigaga dunes, overnight stays in a palm grove guesthouse and desert camp with private tent are covered too. Guides will help along the way—and if you need infant seats or have special requests, just let us know.