We would like to thank you for amazing trip through Morocco. It was terrific experience to drive across the country especially Dades Valley, Dra Valley and Atlas Mountains. We could discover not only picturesque places but also wonderful kitchen at Dar Rihana - Dades Gorges- unforgettable dishes! We finished our wonderful travel at Sahara Erg Chigaga dunes with camel trekking and sunset on the desert which was the most spectacular feeling ever. Never seen before such true horizon of dark sky full of stars. All these adventures couldn’t be done without our experienced driver Khalid who not only showed us interesting places, described the history of Morocco but he was a great companion along the trip. Thank you, we will keep this in our memory!
Erg Chigaga Trek
6 day / 5 night small group trek to the heart of the Moroccan Sahara
Discover the beauty and solitude of Morocco’s Sahara on a six-day adventure from Marrakech to the remote dunes of Erg Chigaga.
Travelling with experienced desert guides and a small camel caravan, you’ll trace ancient riverbeds, wander through palm groves and abandoned settlements, and cross stony hamada plains before reaching vast, untouched sand seas.
Nights are spent in simple wild camps, tucked among dunes or beneath tamarisk trees, with star-lit skies and the quiet of the desert all around. The journey ends in style at a fixed camp in the Erg Chigaga dunes, where you’ll climb the highest peak for sweeping sunset views before returning to Marrakech.
Morocco's protected Iriqui National Park is the only national park in the Moroccan Sahara and lies between the Draa Valley and Anti-Atlas mountain chain. It hosts an abundance of desert biodiversity, offers unparalleled scenery, and the longest dune fields (including the 40 km-long Erg Chigaga dunes), yet remains largely isolated thanks to its remote nature.
Our team of experienced Sahrawi desert guides will share their nomadic heritage and their unique knowledge of the environment. Expect to learn about the fauna and flora, and how to respect the challenging conditions of desert life.
Meet your guide
Good to know
- Wild camping in the desert
- Experienced local guide
- Top rated by travellers
Duration
6 days
Price
£680 pp
We would like to thank you for amazing trip through Morocco. It was terrific experience to drive across the country especially Dades Valley, Dra Valley and Atlas Mountains. We could discover not only picturesque place…
Your specialist
Detailed itinerary
What you'll see and do
Day 1
Marrakech to the Sahara
Marrakesh
Early morning departure from Marrakech to travel south to the Sahara Desert frontier, Mhamid El Ghizlane (expect the journey to take approx. 8 hours, with comfort stops and a lunch stop). Cross both the High Atlas mountains (before lunch) and the Anti-Atlas mountains (early afternoon) to then descend the length of the palm-lined Draa Valley to reach the desert frontier by late afternoon. Check in to a comfortable auberge at Mhamid for the night.
Day 2
Enter the Sahara, hike to area of Sidi Naji
Sidi Naji
After breakfast, meet your desert guides and camel caravan when the camels are loaded with your luggage. Your guides will also help you to wrap your turban, ideal protection in the desert. The morning’s trek follows the southern banks of the Draa River, beyond the vast palm groves and original settlement of Mhamid (purported to be approx. 300 yrs old); take time to visit some of the ancient pise-mud buildings, now abandoned, and enjoy the partial shade offered by the trees. Once at the end of the palm grove, the palm trees open out and give way to desert scrub and stone (hamada), earth banks and tamarisk trees for the rest of the day’s trek. After lunch, under shade of trees, continue on a south-westerly course towards the marabout (the shrine of a holy man) of Sidi Naji, close to where overnight camp will be established, in the seclusion of small dunes.
Day 3
To The Erg Zahar Dunes
Erg Zahar
After breakfast camp is struck. Today takes us ever westwards to the isolated dunes of Erg Zahar, which lie to the south-east of the towering Erg Chigaga dune field (‘erg’ meaning sand sea). The hiking crosses undulating and gently changing terrain, with lots of small dune ridges to cross in the morning. We’ll walk through a surprising amount of desert flora – in winter the desert can be carpeted with wild roquette and brassica, which attract insect and bird life. Leaving the sand behind, we cross a broad earth flat (dried lake and stream beds which flood seasonally) and will be able to make out both the Erg Chigaga and Erg Sedrar dunes on the horizon. Expect to reach our base for the night at Erg Zahar by mid-afternoon, with far-reaching vistas from the dunes.
Day 4
Through Erg Smar to Erg Sedrar
Erg Smar
After breakfast, camp is struck. This morning, for the first time since leaving Mhamid, you will cross the bed of the Draa River, to its northern banks, to trek through to the abandoned desert settlement of Erg Smar (where, once, up to 35 families lived and farmed the land). The size of the Draa River bed is astonishing, given it now runs dry (apart from occasional floods), but once flowed in abundance through the desert. Water does still run deep underground here. Evidence of human existence is everywhere, the outline of agricultural plots and gardens, abandoned pise-mud buildings which were homes. Your day’s trek finishes beyond Erg Smar at the isolated cluster of dunes known as Erg Sedrar, to the east of Erg Chigaga dunes.
Day 5
Erg Chigaga dunes, the longest Erg
Erg Chigaga
After breakfast, camp is struck and you will walk for approx. 3 hours this morning northwards before lunch under shade of trees. Cross broad earth plateaux, with rolling dunes visible. After lunch you will be driven by 4x4 vehicle to reach the fixed camp at the Erg Chigaga dunes around mid-afternoon. Late afternoon, hike to the top of the tallest dune in the 40km-long Erg to enjoy unparalleled views at sunset to round off your desert trek. Once back at camp after dark, enjoy a final night under the stars with late evening music at the fire.
Day 6
Exit the Sahara, return to Marrakech
Marrakesh
We'll be met after an early breakfast by the 4x4 transport and driven out of the desert (approx. 90 minutes off-road) to reach the tarmac road at Mhamid. We'll complete the rest of the journey on good roads back to Marrakech, once more driving north along the Draa Valley, then through the Anti-Atlas mountains and High Atlas mountains. Expect to reach Marrakech by late afternoon (taking into account comfort stops, and a lunch stop).
-
Marrakesh
Morocco's cultural capital
Marrakesh can be bewitching... -
Sidi Naji
-
Erg Zahar
-
Erg Smar
-
Erg Chigaga
-
Marrakesh
Morocco's cultural capital
Marrakesh can be bewitching...
Emily
Wild Morocco · Africa
Usually responds within 4 hoursWhat's included
What you get for your money
|
Accommodation |
Single dome tent per person with sleeping mat, blankets. Twin room share at the first night’s auberge (single room on demand at extra cost). |
|
|
Expert guiding |
Highly experienced English-speaking guide, cook & camel handlers. Camels to transport kit, supplies and luggage. |
|
|
Local transport |
Return vehicle transfers from Marrakech. |
|
|
All meals |
All meals and drinking water/hot drinks on the trek. |
|
|
Camping equipment |
All necessary camping equipment, toilet facilities. |
|
|
Local support |
24/7 emergency support while in country. |
Where to stay
Some of our sample accommodation
We provide the essentials for the wilderness camps, and as far as possible we aim to emulate a nomadic journey. The camps are not pre-established, rather, the camel caravan carries all of the camping equipment, food and water from point to point. Camp is established each evening in the seclusion of small dunes and/or trees.
We use lightweight mobile dome tents, sleeping mats and heavy blankets. There is a dining tent in colder weather. We sit at ground level on blankets and cushions.
Water is a very precious resource in the desert. We don’t carry enough water with the camels to allow for showering/washing every day. We are able to provide water for hand and face washing in the evening once camp is established. Please ask your guide.
We suggest you bring dry soap (hand gel), a face/hand towel, and please ensure to bag your litter to hand to your guide.
Simple
Mobile desert camps
We use lightweight mobile dome tents, sleeping mats and heavy blankets. There is a dining tent in colder weather. We sit at ground level on blankets and cushions.
Simple
Mobile desert camps
We use lightweight mobile dome tents, sleeping mats and heavy blankets...
Upcoming departures
| Dates | Status | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6–11 Dec 2026 | Departure guaranteed | £680 | Check availability |
| 13–18 Dec 2026 | Sold out | £680 | Join waitlist |
| 20–25 Dec 2026 | Available | £680 | Check availability |
| 3–8 Jan 2027 | Available | £680 | Check availability |
| 17–22 Jan 2027 | Sold out | £680 | Join waitlist |
| 21–26 Feb 2027 | Available | £680 | Check availability |
Looking for a different date?
Not sure when you're travelling yet? Looking for a different date? Contact Wild Morocco for more information.
EnquireHow to book
This trip, booked according to the itinerary above, would cost from £680 per person. Final pricing can vary depending on seasonality and accommodation availability. Get in touch for a detailed quote and up-to-date availability.
This trip runs as a small group tour, with max 8-10 guests.
Alternate dates may be available, please get in touch for more details.
This trip is available as a private departure if you wish to customise the itinerary.
Once we have confirmed your departure dates, your place will be confirmed with a deposit of 25% of the total trip cost. The remaining balance can be paid by card or bank transfer within the month prior to your trip, or in person with your tour guide.
Reviews
What people are saying about Wild Morocco
Adam S
11/01/2026
Sabine K
09/01/2026
We took our family (we, 2 adult children with American partners) on a 6 day tour into the desert. It was a fantastic tour. Everything was super well organized, the guides and drivers were extremely competent, nice and reliable and really explained the country to us like good friends. The food was fantastic, the best omelette I ever ate was in the middle of the desert. The cars and equipment were in perfect condition and we didn't even feel that something was not going optimally.
We have done several tours of Africa, this was by far the easiest and best organized tour. We enjoyed every second and were very sad when we had to go back from the desert to civilization.
We are sure we will come back again and make the long desert crossing on foot
Thanks to the whole team!
Ujin S
04/06/2026
From the beginning to the end our journey to the Sahara with Wild Morocco was incredible. Their thoughtful and authentic itinerary made our trip unforgettable. Our tour guide, Miki from Wild Morocco, was simply the best we could ask for. He is very experienced with the route, has so much knowledge to share and clearly cares deeply about his job and the community. We could not imagine our trip without him. Many thanks!
B.P.
04/06/2026
I heard about Wild Morocco through a friend and booked the trip. M'hamid is not the easiest place in the world to get to, but WM were extremely helpful with adivising planes/buses/taxis/hostels etc.
The trip itself was phenomenal. Omar and Omar, two bedouins born and bred in the desert took myself and my mother across the dunes for three days, showing us a real nomad experience. Whether it was making fresh bread in the sand, singing nomad songs around the campfire, or showing us where to find fresh rocket in the desert, they were constantly suprising us.
The journey felt very authentic, we were alone with the Omars trekking through the desert and living in the elements, walking with the camels and sleeping under the stars. The pair managed to make the trek very comfortable and my mother, who is sixty, was well able for the trip, largely due to how friendly and helpful the pair were.
Other tours you might like
Iriqui National Park Expedition
9 day / 8 night small group expedition to the remote Sahara
9 daysFrom £940
Wild Morocco customer reviews
Adam
We would like to thank you for amazing trip through Morocco. It was terrific experience to drive across the country especially Dades Valley, Dra Valley and Atlas Mountains. We could discover not only picturesque places but also wonderful kitchen at Dar Rihana - Dades Gorges- unforgettable dishes! We finished our wonderful travel at Sahara Erg Chigaga dunes with camel trekking and sunset on the desert which was the most spectacular feeling ever. Never seen before such true horizon of dark sky full of stars. All these adventures couldn’t be done without our experienced driver Khalid who not only showed us interesting places, described the history of Morocco but he was a great companion along the trip. Thank you, we will keep this in our memory!
Guides Trusted specialist
Why we're different
- Hand-picked local specialists
- Honest advice from real experts
- Free to use, no hidden fees
Your details are safe and will not be used for any other purpose. By using this service you agree for us to share your details with your chosen tour operator according to our Privacy Policy.