5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga
The Great Southern Loop: Iriqui National Park, Wild Dunes, and the Ancient Caravan Route.
5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga at a Glance
| Private tour, price per person | From |
|---|---|
| 2 travellers | $690 per person |
| 3 to 4 travellers | $620 per person |
| 5 to 6 travellers | $520 per person |
| 7 or more travellers | Ask us |
About the 5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga
A 5-day 4×4 expedition to Erg Chigaga, Morocco’s largest and most isolated dune field. Leave the tarmac behind to cross the dry Lake Iriqui, follow the legendary Paris-Dakar track, and camp in the remote wilderness. Discover the Draa Valley, Foum Zguid, and the saffron fields of Taznakht on this ultimate off-grid adventure.
Highlights
Venture 60km off-road into the Sahara to reach Erg Chigaga, the "Sea of Sand," accessible only by 4x4 and far from the paved road tourist crowds.
Drive across the flat, dried surface of Lake Iriqui in Iriqui National Park, a haunting landscape famously used as a stage in the original Paris-Dakar Rally.
Visit the Sacred Oasis (Oum Lâalag), a miraculous spring hidden among the dunes that has served nomadic tribes for centuries.
Explore the M'Hamid El Ghizlane oasis, the historic "end of the road" where caravans once departed for a 52-day journey to Timbuktu.
Search for ancient fossils in the rocky plains near Foum Zguid and visit the carpet-weaving cooperatives in Taznakht.
Experience a full immersion in the Draa Valley, exploring the crumbling ksar of Tamnougalt and the pottery traditions of Tamegroute.
Why Book the 5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga with MoroccoMagics?
5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga: Day-by-Day Itinerary
The Journey
"We depart Marrakech at 08:00 AM, crossing the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka pass. We take the scenic minor road to visit the crumbling Kasbah Telouet, the former palace of the Glaoui Pasha. After exploring the UNESCO site of Aït Benhaddou, we cross the volcanic Anti-Atlas Mountains to reach Agdz, the gateway to the massive Draa Valley palm grove."
The Journey
"We follow the Draa River south to Zagora and Tamegroute (pottery stop). At M'Hamid El Ghizlane, the tarmac ends. The Adventure Begins: We deflate the tires and engage 4WD. We drive 60km across the sandy tracks (pistes) to reach the massive dunes of Erg Chigaga. Arrive in time for a sunset camel ride into the "Sea of Sand.""
The Journey
"A full day disconnected from civilization. We explore the desert ecosystem by 4x4. Highlights: Visit a nomadic family to learn about survival in the Sahara, search for fossils, and have a picnic lunch at the Sacred Oasis (Oum Lâalag), a spring surrounded by palm trees and legend. In the afternoon, try sandboarding or hike the highest dune (300m) for a panoramic view."
The Journey
"The "Grand Crossing." We leave the dunes and drive west across the vast, flat, dried mud surface of Lake Iriqui. This surreal landscape is a favorite for photographers. We re-emerge onto the paved road at Foum Zguid. We continue to Taznakht, the capital of saffron and Berber rugs, before crossing the Anti-Atlas back to Ouarzazate."
The Journey
"A relaxed morning. You can visit the Atlas Film Studios (where The Mummy and Game of Thrones were filmed) or the Oasis Fint. We cross the High Atlas Mountains one last time, with plenty of stops for coffee and photos, arriving at your Marrakech hotel/riad in the late afternoon (~05:00 PM)."
Places on this route: Marrakech · Ouarzazate
What to Expect on the 5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga
Marrakech Return Protocol
We typically arrive back in Marrakech around 17:30. Unlike group buses that drop everyone at a central square, we drop you directly at your hotel reception.
Your Private Vehicle
Your Driver & Guide
"Your driver is more than a chauffeur; he is your local host."
5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga: Price and What Is Included
We believe in clear, honest pricing with no hidden fees. Your private tour includes all transportation, fuel, accommodation, and selected activities. You only pay extra for your personal lunches, drinks, and discretionary tips.
What is Included
- Private Transportation4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (2022–2025 models) with A/C and fuel included.
- Local ExpertEnglish-speaking driver/guide dedicated to your group for 5 days.
- Door-to-Door ServicePick-up from your Marrakech riad, hotel or Menara Airport (RAK) and drop-off at your Marrakech hotel or riad (including luggage porter coordination).
- Premium Accommodation
- • Night 1: Agdz Kasbah (Half-Board).
- • Nights 2 & 3: Wild Desert Camp Chigaga (Half-Board).
- • Night 4: Ouarzazate Riad (Half-Board).
- Experiences
- • 90km Off-road crossing of Lake Iriqui.
- • Tamegroute Pottery & Taznakht Carpet stops.
- • Visit to Sacred Oasis & Nomad families.
- • Sunset Camel Trek.
What is Not Included
- LunchesAllow approximately €10–€12 (100–120 MAD) per person, per meal. (We stop at clean, local restaurants).
- DrinksWater, soda, and alcohol at hotels.
- TipsDiscretionary tips for your driver and porters.
- FlightsInternational or domestic flights.
Know Before You Go: 5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga
Hot days and cold nights, even in spring: a warm layer for the camp, a scarf against sun and sand, sunglasses and sun cream.
Keep what you need for the night in a small bag; the main luggage stays in the vehicle.
The desert is far from the cities, so expect several hours on the road each way, broken by stops in the gorges and kasbahs.
Lunches, drinks and tips are paid in dirhams, so take out cash before you leave the city. See the money guide.
March to May and September to November are the most comfortable; summer passes 40°C and winter nights are close to freezing. More in our Sahara guide.
Compare the 5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga with Similar Tours
| Tour | Length | From, per person |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga (this tour) | 5 days | $690 |
| 7 Days Morocco Tour from Marrakech | 7 days | $1,090 |
| 10 Days Tour from Tangier to Casablanca via the Sahara | 10 days | $1,550 |
| 6 Days Tour from Casablanca to Marrakech via Fes & the Sahara | 6 days | $950 |
Before and After the 5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga
A day in Marrakech
- Imlil & Atlas Mountains Day Trip from Marrakech$80
- Ourika Valley Day Trip from Marrakech$70
- Essaouira Day Trip from Marrakech$125
- Ouzoud Waterfalls Day Trip from Marrakech$105
- Agafay Desert Camel Ride and Sunset Dinner from Marrakech$95
- Marrakech Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise$230
- Marrakech City Tour & Medina Walk with a Licensed Guide$50
Every route we run to the dunes, with the nights in the desert and prices side by side: Morocco desert tours from Marrakech and Fes.
Want a different route or extra days? With a private driver in Morocco you set the itinerary, from a day trip to two weeks across the country.
Booking, Payment and Cancellation
- Price basis
- Prices are per person, based on two travellers sharing. Larger groups pay less per person; a solo traveller pays more. The final price is confirmed in your written quote.
- Currency
- Tour prices are in US dollars. Meals, entrance fees and tips during the trip are paid in Moroccan dirhams (MAD).
- Deposit and balance
- A 15% deposit confirms the booking (PayPal, bank transfer or credit card). The balance is paid on arrival in Morocco.
- Cancellation
- Tell us in writing. Your deposit is fully refundable.
- Travel insurance
- Required, covering medical expenses, emergency repatriation and personal liability.
Full details: booking terms and how tour prices work.
5 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga: Your Questions
Erg Chigaga is reached by off-road tracks from M'Hamid, with no paved road to the dunes, so it is quieter and more remote than Erg Chebbi near Merzouga. This tour spends two nights at a wild camp in the dunes. For the easier, paved route to Erg Chebbi, see the 3 Days Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga.
About 60 km of sandy tracks on day 2 from M'Hamid to the camp, about 40 km of desert driving on day 3, and about 90 km across the dry Lake Iriqui to Foum Zguid on day 4. The rest is paved road over the High Atlas.
$690 is per person, based on two travellers sharing. It includes the private 4x4 with fuel, your driver-guide for 5 days, four nights with dinner and breakfast (a kasbah hotel in Agdz, two nights at the wild desert camp and a riad in Ouarzazate), the sunset camel trek, the Lake Iriqui crossing, the Tamegroute and Taznakht stops, and a visit to a nomad family. Lunches, drinks and tips are extra.
At your riad, hotel or Menara Airport in Marrakech. You are back in Marrakech at around 17:30 on day 5 and dropped at your hotel reception.
March to May and September to November. In summer the open desert around Erg Chigaga passes 40°C and there is little shade; in winter the nights at the wild camp are cold, close to freezing.
It is Route 2 of our 5 day Morocco itinerary: the remote dunes, two nights at a wild camp. The guide compares it with a route to Fes via Merzouga and a desert loop with two days in Marrakech.
Tour Details
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