4 Days Marrakech to Erg Chigaga Desert Tour
Erg Chigaga is the wilder set of dunes, out past M’Hamid where the tarmac ends and you go the last stretch by 4×4. This private Marrakech to Erg Chigaga tour takes four days with your own driver and vehicle, crossing the Atlas and following the Draa valley down to the edge of the Sahara. Fewer people make it here, so the camp nights feel properly remote.
Trip highlights
- Private trip with your own driver and an air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan
- Explore the UNESCO kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, the mud-brick ksar from the films
- Reach the remote Erg Chigaga dunes by 4×4
- Camel trek into the Zagora dunes
- Follow the palm groves of the Draa valley
- Visit the film studios and kasbahs of Ouarzazate
Day 1: Marrakech to Agdz and the Draa
We collect you after breakfast and drive south over the Tizi n’Tichka pass. Ait Ben Haddou is the first proper stop, with time to walk up through the old kasbah, then Ouarzazate before the road climbs the Tizi n’Tinififft and drops into Agdz. From there the Draa valley opens up, a long green ribbon of palms down to Zagora.
Route: Marrakech, Tizi n’Tichka, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Agdz, Draa valley, Zagora. Night in a Zagora guesthouse.
Day 2: M’Hamid and 4×4 to Erg Chigaga
A morning through the last of the palm groves brings us to M’Hamid, the end of the road. We swap to desert tracks and drive out across the reg and the smaller dunes to Erg Chigaga, the tallest chain in this part of the Sahara. A camel carries you over the sand to camp for the sunset.
Route: Zagora, M’Hamid, 4×4 across the desert to Erg Chigaga. Sunset camel ride, night in a desert camp.
Day 3: Chigaga back to Ouarzazate
Sunrise over the dunes, then we take the piste west toward Foum Zguid, a rough and empty crossing that’s part of the appeal. Back on tarmac we pass Tazenakht, known for its rugs, and follow the road through Taliouine’s saffron country before reaching Ouarzazate in the evening.
Route: Erg Chigaga, Foum Zguid, Tazenakht, Ouarzazate. Night in an Ouarzazate hotel.
Day 4: Ouarzazate to Marrakech
On the last day we visit the Taourirt kasbah in town and, if you didn’t get enough of it, look again at Ait Ben Haddou before the climb back over the Tizi n’Tichka. We reach Marrakech in the afternoon and drop you at your accommodation.
Route: Ouarzazate, Ait Ben Haddou, Tizi n’Tichka, Marrakech.
Included
- Private 4×4 with air-conditioning and an experienced driver
- Pick-up and drop-off at your Marrakech accommodation
- Camel ride into the Erg Chigaga dunes at sunset
- Three nights: Zagora, desert camp and Ouarzazate
- Breakfasts and dinners along the way
Not included
- International flights and airport taxes
- Lunches and drinks
- Monument and site entrance fees
- Tips for the driver and guides
- Travel insurance and personal expenses
- Anything not listed under “Included”
Hotels, standing and route match our operated tour; exact accommodation and the full list of what’s included are confirmed when you book.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a private tour?
Yes. You travel with just your own group, your own driver and vehicle. Nobody else joins, so the stops and the pace are yours to set.
Where do we sleep along the way?
You spend a night in a desert camp in the dunes, reached by camel, plus nights in kasbah hotels or guesthouses on the road. The standing is the same as our operated tour, and we confirm the exact places when you book.
When is the best time to go?
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable. Summer days get very hot and winter nights in the desert are cold, so bring layers whatever the season.
Can we change the itinerary or the pick-up point?
Yes. Because it is private, we can add nights, swap stops, or start from a different city or airport. Tell us what you have in mind and we will adjust the plan.
Book the trip
Price on request. Send us a message on WhatsApp for dates and a quote, or hold your spot online with a deposit.