Sahara tour Ouarzazate to Erg Lihoudi: Camel ride sunset

Anti-Atlas mountains, Drâa Valley oasis, camel ride at the dunes, and a night under the stars at Erg Lihoudi

A 2-day tour from Ouarzazate to the Erg Lihoudi dunes in the Sahara, traveling through the Anti-Atlas and Drâa Valley with stops at Tizgui Waterfalls, Zagora, and M'hamid before a camel ride at sunset and overnight in a private tent at the bivouac. The return route crosses the ancient caravan trail and includes a visit to Tamegroute's pottery workshops and Koranic library. Private air-conditioned transport with an experienced driver-guide, meals, accommodation, camel ride, and entry fees are all included. The operator holds Moroccan Ministry of Tourism approval and full insurance.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Ouarzazate to Erg Lihoudi dunes

• Cross Anti-Atlas mountain range
• Stop at Tizgui Waterfalls
• Pass through Agdz town
• Lunch in Zagora riad with pool
• Drive to M’Hamid village
• 4x4 to Erg Lihoudi dunes bivouac
• Camel ride at sunset
• Traditional dinner at bivouac
• Overnight in desert bivouac

Day 2: Erg Lihoudi to Ouarzazate return

• Explore M’Hamid village and kasbahs
• Visit Tamegroute pottery workshops and library
• Lunch in Zagora riad with pool
• Cross Drâa Valley via ancient caravan route

The experience

How do you get from Ouarzazate into the deep Sahara in two days without losing the landscape in between? This tour threads through the Anti-Atlas and the Drâa Valley on the way down, so you see the transition from mountains to desert rather than just arriving there. Day one starts with the drive through Anti-Atlas reliefs and Berber villages, then stops at Tizgui Waterfalls in the mountains before dropping into the Drâa Valley. Lunch happens in Zagora at a traditional riad with a pool, and from there a 4x4 takes you the final 35 minutes through desert tracks to the bivouac at Erg Lihoudi. The camel ride comes at sunset, about an hour across the dunes, followed by dinner and the night in a private tent with shared sanitary facilities at the foot of the dunes.

Day two reverses the route but adds cultural stops the descent skipped. You visit M'hamid's adobe kasbahs, then spend time in Tamegroute's pottery workshops where artisans work with the famous green enamels. The Koranic library there holds ancient manuscripts. Another lunch break in Zagora gives you the pool and quiet again, and the drive back to Ouarzazate follows the ancient Trans-Saharan caravan route through the Drâa Valley's palm groves and earthen fortified villages. The whole journey (transport, driver-guide, meals, accommodation, camel ride, entry to monuments, welcome tea and water at the bivouac) is included. Luggage handling and possible stops for photos or breaks are arranged as you go.

The bivouac offers Berber animation in the evening with songs and drums around the fire. Sandboarding in the dunes is available if you want it. The operator, Sahara Desert Dreams Trips, holds a Moroccan Ministry of Tourism license and carries full AXA insurance. The driver-guides speak English, Spanish and French.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with experienced driver-guide speaking English, Spanish or French.
• camel ride of about one hour at sunset.
• overnight in a private tent at the bivouac with shared sanitary facilities.
• breakfast and dinner.
• lunch breaks in Zagora with pool access both days.
• welcome tea and mineral water at the bivouac.
• Berber animation with songs and drums around the fire in the evening.
• entry to historic monuments and Tamegroute Koranic library.
• luggage handling throughout.
• all fuel, parking and vehicle costs.
• AXA multi-risk and liability insurance.
• tourist taxes.
• possible stops for photos, breaks and toilets on request.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (19 to 60 years) · Senior (71 to 95 years) · Youth (13 to 18 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 18 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot for heart conditions

Operated by DESERT DREAM

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the full Sahara experience (mountains, oasis, desert and cultural stops) in a single two-day journey with a private guide and all logistics arranged. The shared bivouac accommodation and group camel ride keep costs down while the private vehicle and guide give you flexibility to stop and explore at your own pace.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 18 years); Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 5 years).

What is the Drâa Valley like, and how much time do we spend there?

The Drâa Valley is a vast oasis famous for its palm groves and earthen fortified villages called ksour. You pass through it twice (once on the way south through Agdz and Zagora, and again on the return following the ancient caravan route), so you see different parts of it and get a real sense of the landscape and the history of trade that shaped it.

Is the camel ride at Erg Lihoudi included, or do I pay extra?

The camel ride is included in the tour price. It runs about an hour at sunset, which is when the light on the dunes is strongest and the temperature has dropped from the day's heat.

What are the sleeping arrangements at the bivouac?

You stay in a private tent at Erg Lihoudi (single, double, triple or quadruple depending on your group) with beds inside. Sanitary facilities are shared across the bivouac. The tents are comfortable and the setting is peaceful, with the dunes around you and stars overhead at night.

Do I need a high level of fitness for this tour?

The operator recommends at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The camel ride and walking in the desert and valleys are part of the experience, though the pace is set by the group and stops are arranged as needed. Travelers with poor cardiovascular health should check with the operator before booking.

What does the Tamegroute pottery workshop visit involve?

Tamegroute is famous for its artisanal pottery with distinctive green enamels. You visit the workshops to watch artisans at work, see the traditional kilns used for making the pottery, and visit the Koranic library, which houses valuable ancient manuscripts. It is a cultural stop on the return journey through the Drâa Valley.

Are meals and water provided throughout the tour?

Yes. Breakfast and dinner are included, along with lunch breaks in Zagora both days at a traditional riad. Welcome tea and mineral water are provided at the bivouac. Drinks in restaurants beyond what is included, and tips, are not covered.