Duration
Tour Type
Location
Daily Departures
4.9 Excellent
A private 4×4 adventure from Marrakech across the High Atlas to the remote, towering
dunes of Erg Chigaga — the wildest and most untouched dune field in Morocco —
passing Telouet, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate and the palm oases of the Draa Valley.
High Atlas Mountains & Tizi-n-Tichka pass
Telouet Kasbah
Ait Ben Haddou (UNESCO World Heritage)
Ouarzazate & Taourirt Kasbah
Draa Valley palm oases
Off-road 4×4 to the great dunes of Erg Chigaga
Lake Iriqui mirage, Foum Zguid & Taznakht carpets
Your private desert tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga starts early in the morning (8:00 AM) by 4×4 vehicle, with a pick up from your hotel/riad by our English-speaking driver/guide. Drive east of Marrakech crossing the windy High Atlas Mountains and the Tizi-n-Tichka pass, with numerous stops along the way to enjoy the views, take photos, stretch your legs or drink a cup of coffee. Leave the main road for a side road to the Telouet Kasbah, which belonged to the lords of the Atlas, the Glaoui family; each addition to the building now stands in ruins exposed to the wind and rain. Next drive through Ait Ben Haddou village, where *Gladiator* and *The Jewel of the Nile* were filmed, classified by UNESCO as one of the world's cultural treasures. After a tasty lunch in Ait Ben Haddou you continue to Ouarzazate, the door of the Sahara desert. Visit Taourirt Kasbah, a former Glaoui residence on the edge of town. Continue south over the Tizi-N-Tinfifte pass to Agdez. Descending from the pass you are amazed by the extensive oasis and palm trees marking the beginning of the Daraa Valley, with thousands of date palms producing 44 varieties of dates. Spend your first night in Agdez.
Today leads you from Agdez to the beautiful Sahara desert camp at the amazing dunes of Erg Chigaga. The route follows the Draa River Valley (Morocco's longest river, surrounded by palm oases and historical kasbahs) to reach the end of the tarmac at M'hamid El Ghizlane. From M'hamid, drive off-road for two hours to arrive at the desert camp, with a chance to freshen up in your tent. Watch the sunset from a beautiful spot in the dunes and enjoy traditional Berber music next to the campfire after dinner. Overnight at the desert camp.
After breakfast, your desert trip takes you west through another 90 km of desert with varying scenery: Lake Iriqui, where you are likely to see a wide mirage in the heat, the mountains and the fossils. Lunch will be in Foum Zguid, the first village after the desert. From here the drive goes north along paved roads and past amazing rock formations to the small town of Taznakht, famous for its Berber carpets and rugs. From there cross the High Atlas again to reach Marrakech at the end of the afternoon, having had the best possible Saharan desert trip in Morocco. ## Highlights - High Atlas Mountains & Tizi-n-Tichka pass - Telouet Kasbah - Ait Ben Haddou (UNESCO World Heritage) - Ouarzazate & Taourirt Kasbah - Draa Valley palm oases - Off-road 4×4 to the great dunes of Erg Chigaga - Lake Iriqui mirage, Foum Zguid & Taznakht carpets ## Gallery       