Suggested Itineraries for Tours in Morocco
Erg Chigaga Camel Treks
Morocco Camel Treks in the Erg Chigaga
Erg Chigaga camel treks in Morocco across a desert wilderness that is home to semi-nomadic Ait Atta Berber nomads. Camel trekking at Erg Chigaga from sunset treks in the sandy dunes, with a night in a desert camp to 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days and 5 day camel treks from Mhamid. Marrakech Sahara trips include Erg Chigaga camel treks with a guide.
Make an Enquiry >
Price Guide & Payment Options >
Planning Your Holiday >
Camel treks in Morocco that take you out of the world as you know it to travel, as desert dwellers have traveled for untold generations, across the soft curves of sandy dunes and the flatness of the black hammada as dust devils whirl and mirages shimmer.
Where the paved road ends at M’hamid your desert adventure begins. The Erg Chigaga dunes can be reached in a 4x4, 3 days camel trek or 5 days camel trekking for a return trip. Trekking through this desert wilderness offers a unique opportunity to experience something of the lives of the Ait Atta Berber nomads who live here.
The Erg Chigaga, with a sunset camel trek in the tall dunes, can be included on an organized 4x4 desert tour from Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Agadir or Casablanca and elsewhere on request. If you have a rental car we can meet you on arrival in Mhamid or our desert guide can meet you off the bus from Marrakech.
Quick Links for Erg Chigaga Desert Tours and Camel Treks
- M’hamid and the Erg Chigaga Dunes
- How to reach the Erg Chigaga sand dunes
- What to do and What to see in M’hamid
- M’hamid and Erg Chigaga Camel Treks
- Organised Erg Chigaga Desert Tours
- Testimonials
M’hamid and the Erg Chigaga Dunes
M’hamid is where the paved road ends and the charm of the Erg Chigaga is that the tall dunes lie within a wilderness where the only accommodation is in desert camps.
This region is home to the Ait Atta Berber nomads who live here. Aside from the sand dunes and camels, there are nomad families, wells and a school, twisted tamarisk trees, sodom apple trees, the hammada (black desert), Iriqui salt flats and Sacred Heart Oasis.
How to reach the Erg Chigaga sand dunes
The Erg Chigaga sand dunes can be reached in a 4x4 (off-road vehicle) from M’hamid or Foum Zguid. From M’hamid it is also possible to camel trek to the dunes in 2-3 days.
Authentic Morocco 4x4 desert tours from Marrakech, and elsewhere on request, drive you out to the dunes for a sunset camel trek and one night or two under the stars at a desert camp. Alternatively, we can drive you to Mhamid and you can camel trek to Erg Chigaga over 2-3 days before continuing, on your organized tour, across the Iriqui Salt Flats to Foum Zguid and on to Marrakech via Ouarzazate and Ait Benhaddou.
M’hamid Tours - What to do and What to see in M’hamid
There is not a lot to do in M’hamid apart from relax to the pace of desert life:
- Relax in your hotel with a pool and laze around in a hammock
- Camel trek at the leisurely pace of a camel to the Erg Chigaga Dunes
- 4x4 out to the dunes for a sunset camel trek and to sleep overnight at a desert camp
- 4x4 day trip to lunch at the Sacred Heart Oasis and see the Erg Chigaga dunes
- Hire sand boards and go dune-boarding
M’hamid and Erg Chigaga Camel Treks
Mhamid and Erg Chigaga camel treks include:
M’hamid Camel Treks
- Sunset camel trek to camp amongst dunes and knarled Tamarisk trees (1 night)
- Camel treks from M’hamid to the Erg Chigaga dunes and 4x4 return (2 to 3 days)
- Camel treks from M’hamid to the Erg Chigaga sand dunes and back (4 to 5 days)
- 4x4 to the Erg Chigaga for a sunset camel ride and overnight at a desert camp
Erg Chigaga Camel Treks
- Sunset camel treks and sleep overnight at a desert camp in the dunes
- A full day’s camel trekking with a desert guide, returning to the desert camp at sunset
Organised Erg Chigaga Desert Tours
Organised Desert Tours of Morocco, to include camel trekking in the Erg Chigaga dunes, run from Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Agadir and Casablanca. The Erg Chigaga desert region can be included on an extended tour from Fes, Fes to Marrakech or Marrakech to Fes although the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga are a closer option for tours starting in Fes and Tangier.
Because of distances and drive times (minimum 10hrs drive from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga) we recommend at least 4 days for a Sahara trek that breaks the journey each way and includes a sunset camel trek and night in a desert camp. 5 day tours include a second night at a desert camp and a free day to relax and explore with your driver.
To get ‘Off the Beaten Track’: 'Morocco Desert Tours Off the Beaten Track'
Testimonials
To read our clients’ feedback please refer to: 'Testimonials'
