Sahara Desert Tours · Sahara Desert

5 Days Sahara Desert Trekking in Morocco: Draa Oases to Chegaga

5 days / 4 nights
Moderate
Private or small group (from 2 people, up to 16)
Marrakech

At a glance

Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
Difficulty: Moderate
Group: Private or small group (from 2 people, up to 16)
Start: Marrakech
End: Marrakech
Max altitude: 2,260 m
Price: On request (depends on dates & group size)

Overview

Designed for travellers who want to feel the desert under their feet rather than just see it from a car window, this five-day trip mixes short walks, camel trekking and time with nomads in the south of Morocco. The walking is gentle and suitable for beginners, and comfortable transport covers the long distances between the High Atlas and the dunes.

Your journey starts over the High Atlas by the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m), the highest point of the trip, through the Berber villages of the Ounila valley. Beyond Ouarzazate you leave the road at Agdz to walk among the kasbahs, earthen douars and date palms of the Draa valley. Next comes Tamegroute, home to potters and an old library of Quranic manuscripts, before an afternoon on foot through the gardens, springs and irrigation canals of the oasis of Oulad Driss, near M’hamid.

The third day is spent entirely in the desert. A 4×4 crosses the dunes to a nomad encampment where you are invited to lunch, then you set off on a camel trek into the Erg Chegaga as the sun goes down, ending at a bivouac with dinner under the stars. The return route follows the dry Lake Iriki and Foum Zguid, passes Taznakht, and finishes with the Fint oasis and the Taourirt kasbah before you cross back to Marrakech.

Full board, camels, 4×4 transport and entrance fees are included. Travel between October and May for the most comfortable temperatures; price on request.

Highlights

Gentle desert and oasis walks suited to beginners
Camel trek at sunset into the dunes of Erg Chegaga
Lunch with a nomad family in their desert encampment
Night in a Saharan bivouac with dinner by the campfire
Palm-grove walks in the Draa valley at Agdz and Oulad Driss
Tamegroute's potters and historic Quranic library
Return via Lake Iriki, Taznakht and the Fint oasis

Day-by-day itinerary

1
Day 1: Marrakech – Tizi n'Tichka (2,260 m) – Ouarzazate – Agdz – Zagora
Departure from Marrakech towards the High Atlas. The road snakes up past the villages of the Ounila valley to the Tizi n'Tichka at 2,260 m, then drops to Ouarzazate for a coffee break. Continuing south, you stop at Agdz to stretch your legs on a first walk through the Draa valley palm grove, where earthen douars and old kasbahs stand among the date palms. Overnight at a hotel in Zagora.
2
Day 2: Zagora – Tamegroute – Oulad Driss oasis walk
You follow the Draa south towards M'hamid, the gateway to the desert. In Tamegroute you visit the potters' workshops and the Quranic library, whose manuscripts have been preserved for centuries. Lunch is served in Oulad Driss. In the afternoon you set out on foot through the oasis, walking between palm gardens, springs and the irrigation canals that share water between families. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Oulad Driss.
3
Day 3: 4×4 across the dunes – nomad lunch – camel trek to Erg Chegaga
A full day in the Sahara. After breakfast a 4×4 takes you over the dunes to a nomad encampment, where you share lunch in the tent and discover how families live with their herds. You rest at the bivouac while the heat peaks, then set off on a camel trek across the sand of Erg Chegaga to watch the sunset from the dunes. Dinner and overnight in a desert bivouac.
4
Day 4: Erg Chegaga – Lake Iriki – Foum Zguid – Taznakht – Fint oasis
Rise early for sunrise over the dunes, then cross the vast dry bed of Lake Iriki, a historic stopover for camel caravans, framed by long mountain ridges. After lunch in Foum Zguid, you drive north through Taznakht, famous for saffron and woollen carpets, to Ouarzazate. Dinner and overnight at a riad in the area of the Fint oasis. It is a long but varied day on the road, ideal for photographs.
5
Day 5: Fint oasis – Taourirt kasbah – Marrakech
A morning walk takes you through the palm grove of Fint, a secluded oasis about 10 km from Ouarzazate. Next you explore the Taourirt kasbah in Ouarzazate, with its courtyards and carved ceilings. After lunch you cross the High Atlas once more via the Tizi n'Tichka and reach Marrakech in the late afternoon, where the tour ends. Your driver drops you at your hotel or riad in the city.

What’s included

Full board from Marrakech to Marrakech
Overnight stays in hotels, a riad and a desert bivouac
Tourist transport throughout the tour
Local guide
Camels for the desert trek
4×4 vehicles in the Sahara
Entrance fees to sites and monuments

Meals and accommodation in Marrakech
Drinks and personal expenses
Tips for guides and staff
Travel insurance (recommended)
Optional activities not in the itinerary

What to bring

Comfortable shoes for walking on sand
Light-coloured, loose clothing
Hat or scarf, sunglasses and sunscreen
Fleece or warm layer for the evenings
Reusable water bottle
A full packing list is sent after booking

Good to know

Travel from October to May for daytime temperatures of about 15–30°C; summer can exceed 40°C.
Walks are short and easy, and the camel trek suits complete beginners; a little walking before the trip helps.
Nights are spent in hotels in Zagora and Oulad Driss, a desert bivouac in Erg Chegaga and a riad near Ouarzazate.
Dress modestly in villages and ask before photographing people.
Price on request, depending on season, group size and comfort level.

Questions about this tour

Yes, it is a moderate tour with gentle desert walks and an easy camel trek. You do not need trekking experience, just good general health.

October to May is the best time, with comfortable days of around 15–30°C. Summer is very hot, with temperatures often above 40°C.

Walks are short and relaxed, through palm groves at Agdz, Fint and Oulad Driss and on the dunes of Erg Chegaga. Longer distances are covered by vehicle or by camel.

Erg Chegaga is a large, remote dune field beyond M'hamid, wilder and less visited than Erg Chebbi near Merzouga. It is the setting for your camel trek and night in a bivouac.

You spend nights in hotels in Zagora and Oulad Driss, a bivouac in the desert and a riad near Ouarzazate. Accommodation in Marrakech is not included.

Dress modestly in villages and nomad camps and always ask before taking photos of people. Your guide will advise you on local customs.

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