Marrakech: 3-Day Private Erg Chigaga Sahara Experience

Day 1: Marrakech → High Atlas Mountains → Tizi n'Tichka Pass → Telouet Kasbah → Aït Ben Haddou (UNESCO) → Draa Valley → Agdz

1. Jemaa el-Fnaa
   Pass by
   Start your journey early from Marrakech, heading south toward the majestic High Atlas Mountains. Enjoy changing landscapes as villages, palm groves and ancient caravan routes slowly appear
2. Tizi n Tichka
   30m
   Climb through breathtaking mountain roads until you reach the famous Tizi n’Ticka Pass. Your guide will explain Berber symbols, local culture, and the history of the tribes who shaped these mountains. Prepare for panoramic views and fresh air.
3. High Atlas Mountains
   Pass by
   Continue through authentic Atlas villages, traditional adobe houses, shepherd routes, and unique rock formations.
4. Telouet Kasbah
   30m · Admission ticket included
   Visit the historic Glaoui Kasbah of Telouet — once the stronghold of the powerful Glaoui family. Wander through colorful halls, hand-painted ceilings, ancient doors, and stories passed down through generations. A real hidden gem rarely visited by tourists.
5. Trek Ounila Valley
   Pass by
   Drive through the breathtaking Ounila Valley, once a main caravan route. Clay villages, hanging gardens, palm groves, and red-rock canyons accompany your journey.
   Your guide brings them to life with personal memories of visiting Amazigh families, baking traditional bread in earth ovens, and harvesting saffron in the autumn.
6. Ait Ben Haddou
   2h
   plore the ancient ksar of Aït Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Morocco’s last standing desert fortresses. Wander through its narrow mud-brick alleys, learn how families lived here for centuries, and climb to the panoramic lookout used in movies like Gladiator and Game of Thrones. After the visit, enjoy a relaxing lunch in a traditional rooftop restaurant overlooking the old kasbah and the palm grove below.
7. Anti-Atlas Mountains
   Pass by
   As you continue the journey, landscapes shift again into the dry, rugged Anti-Atlas — the gateway to the Sahara.
8. Agdz
   12h
   Arrive in Agdz, a timeless village where the Draa Valley opens its arms.
   
   Settle into your authentic Berber Kasbah, hidden among palm groves and ancient mud-brick walls. Your evening unfolds beautifully:
   
   • A warm traditional dinner
   • Stories and legends from your guide
   • A peaceful walk beneath a sky full of stars
   • The soothing sound of the oasis at night
   
   Here is where the real Sahara begins.

Day 2: Agdz → Draa Valley → Zagora → Tamgrout → Tagounite → Erg Chigaga Dunes

1. Agdz
   35m
   Breakfast & Departure from Agdz
   After breakfast, drive along the heart of the Draa Valley, following its endless line of palm groves, fortified kasbahs, and small Berber villages. This valley is one of Morocco’s most scenic and fertile oases.
2. Tamgrout
   30m
   Discover Tamegroute, a historic village near Zagora, famous for its green pottery workshops and one of Morocco’s oldest Koranic libraries.
   Watch local artisans shape and fire their iconic olive-green ceramics using traditional techniques passed down for generations.
   Visit the underground pottery ovens and explore the narrow alleys of the village for a glimpse of authentic Saharan craftsmanship.
3. Tagounite
   2h
   Arrive in Tagounite (The Gate to the Sahara)
   Stop in Tagounite, a peaceful desert village where the paved road ends.
   Visit a local Berber family for Moroccan tea and experience true desert hospitality inside a traditional mud-brick house.
   Then stop at a local shop to buy your desert turban (cheche) — the perfect souvenir and protection from the sun.
4. Erg Chigaga
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Off-road drive through the Sahara tracks
   Begin your off-road adventure in a 4×4 across the stone plateau and desert dunes toward Erg Chigaga.
   Your driver will prepare a relaxing picnic lunch in an oasis surrounded by tamarisk trees — a beautiful quiet moment in nature.
5. Erg Chigaga
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Camel Ride & Sunset at Erg Chigaga
   
   Arrive at the magnificent Erg Chigaga dunes, stretching over 40 km of golden sand.
   Take a camel ride across the endless desert, feeling the rhythm of the Sahara as the light changes.
   Climb to the top of the dunes to admire a breathtaking sunset, painting the sand in gold and crimson.
   
   Camel Trekking at Sunrise or Sunset
   Glide through soft dunes, hear only the wind, and reconnect with Morocco’s timeless desert soul a moment that stays with you forever.
6. Erg Chigaga
   12h · Admission ticket included
   Dinner & Overnight in Erg Chigaga Desert Camp
   
   Experience an unforgettable night deep in the Sahara.
   Enjoy a traditional Moroccan dinner (tagine and mint tea) served under the stars, then gather around the campfire for live Berber drumming, storytelling, and dance a rhythm that connects you to the soul of the desert.
   Stargazing Under Desert Skies
   Far from city lights, the Milky Way, constellations, and countless shooting stars light up the night a breathtaking moment of silence and wonder.
   Warm Nights & Rhythmic Vibes
   End your evening with laughter, music, and serenity around the fire a true taste of nomadic life and Moroccan hospitality.
   
   Sleep comfortably in your private or shared Berber style tent, equipped with cozy beds and ensuite or shared bathrooms depending on your option.

Day 3: Erg Chigaga → Lake Iriki (Dakar Rally track) → Foum Zguid → Ouarzazate → Marrakech

1. Erg Chigaga
   1h · Admission ticket included
   Sunrise, Yoga & Sandboarding at Erg Chigaga
   
   Wake up early to witness the sunrise spreading golden light over the vast dunes a peaceful, unforgettable start to your Sahara morning.
   Join your Berber guide and driver for a gentle desert yoga session, reconnecting your mind and body as the sun warms the sand.
   After a delicious traditional nomad breakfast, try sandboarding down the golden slopes fun, freeing, and perfect for all ages.
   
   Slide into serenity: breathe, move, and feel the magic of Morocco’s most authentic desert.
2. Foum Zguid
   Pass by
   Breakfast & 4×4 Off-Road Adventure to Foum Zguid
   
   Enjoy a fresh desert breakfast and morning shower before starting your thrilling 4×4 off-road journey across the wild landscapes toward Foum Zguid.
   Drive through fossil plains, dry lakebeds, and rocky desert tracks, feeling the transition from dunes to mountains a scenic adventure few travelers experience.
3. 15m
   Off-Road Adventure through Lake Iriki National Park
   
   09:00 AM Begin your 4×4 off-road journey across the wild, moon-like landscapes of Lake Iriki National Park.
   Drive over the vast dry lakebed where ancient fossils, mirages, and endless horizons create a surreal desert scene.
   A paradise for photography and adventure lovers, this stretch captures the raw beauty and silence of the Sahara.
4. Shop Espace Taznakht
   1h
   Visit Taznakht The Berber Carpet Town
   
   Continue your journey through the ever changing desert landscapes to Taznakht, a vibrant Berber town famous for its handwoven carpets.
   Visit a women’s weaving cooperative and watch artisans transform natural wool and dyes saffron, henna, and indigo into Morocco’s most authentic and colorful rugs.
   A perfect stop to connect with local craftsmanship and Berber heritage.
5. 30m
   Photo Stop at “Gas Haven” – The Hills Have Eyes Film Location
   
   Make a short stop at the eerie Gas Haven, the abandoned desert gas station featured in the Hollywood film The Hills Have Eyes.
   Capture cinematic photos and experience the surreal atmosphere of this iconic movie landmark set amid Morocco’s vast desert roads.
6. Atlas Mountains View
   Pass by
   Drive through the Anti-Atlas & High Atlas Mountains
   Enjoy scenic roads, rocky canyons, and mountain villages as you head back toward Marrakech.
7. Pass by
   Arrive in the evening, your heart full of memories of dunes, stars, and Berber rhythms — the perfect finale to your 3-day Sahara expedition from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga.
   A journey of landscapes, culture, and adventure that stays with you long after the desert fades behind you.

Pickup details

Pickup included from all hotels and riads within Marrakech city.
If your riad is inside the Medina, we will send the nearest accessible meeting point.
Our driver will contact you the evening before your tour (via WhatsApp or email) to confirm pickup time and details.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels