Sample Itineraries for Tours in Morocco
Marrakech Camel Treks
Camel Treks and Camel Trekking Tours from Marrakech (2 Days +)
Marrakech, the vibrant pink walled City at the foothills of the High Atlas Mountains, is just a day's drive to the Sahara. Both the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga and the Erg Chigaga dunes at M'hamid are close enough to make camel trekking in the desert a real possibility.
Your desert adventure begins when you leave Marrakech. The journey, that crosses the highest Atlas road pass of Tizi-n-Tichka, takes you along oasis river valleys, through Berber villages and past abandoned kasbahs. Arrive at the edge of the dunes to meet your desert guide and the camels that will carry you across the dunes to your desert camp where dinner is served under the stars.
Quick Links – Marrakech Camel Treks
- Camel Treks - Erg Chebbi vs Erg Chigaga vs Zagora
- Camel Treks in Erg Chebbi and How to reach Merzouga
- Camel Treks in Erg Chigaga and How to reach Mhamid
- Camel Treks at Zagora and how to reach Zagora
- Organised Desert Tours from Marrakech
- Hints and Tips
- Tour Price Guide
- Testimonials
Camel Treks - Erg Chebbi vs. Erg Chigaga vs. Zagora
There two desert regions, easily accessible from Marrakech, where you can safely camel trek with a local guide - the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga and the Erg Chigaga dunes close to Mhamid. In addition there are smaller dunes in the region of Zagora.
The dunes of Erg Chebbi at Merzouga are undeniably the highest in Morocco and a spectacular sight. There is a paved road that runs straight to the base of the dunes; useful if you are driving a rental car. Over 70 hotels, many with swimming pools and mostly with ensuite rooms, line the West facing edge of the dunes.
The dunes of Erg Chigaga at Mhamid offer something unique. These dunes lie in a desert wilderness where the semi-nomadic Ait Atta Berber nomads live a traditional desert lifestyle with their herds of wild camels. The road ends at Mhamid and the dunes can only be reached in a 4x4 or on a camel. Accommodation is in comfortable desert camps that offer solar lighting, hot showers and flushing loos.
The dunes at Zagora do not offer a real Saharan experience but, if you have limited time, these dunes are a great introduction to Morocco with a camel trek and overnight in a nomad tent.
Note: See 'Camel Trekking in Morocco' for my experience of 5 day camel treks in both Erg Chebbi and Erg Chigaga.
Camel Treks in Erg Chebbi and How to reach Merzouga
Camel Treks in Erg Chebbi
If you choose to visit the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga we offer the following camel treks:
- Camel Trek in Erg Chebbi at Sunset. If camping overnight in the desert is not for you, take an evening camel ride into the desert and watch the sunset. Return to your hotel with ensuite rooms at the edge of the dunes.
- Camel Trek to overnight in the Erg Chebbi Dunes. Overnight camel treks include a camel ride at sunset and a return trek in the morning. The night is spent in a tent at a desert camp and dinner is freshly prepared and served under the stars by your desert guide.
- Camel Journeys in Erg Chebbi with a desert guide offer you the opportunity to safely wander like a nomad and live the simplicity of desert life at the leisurely pace of a camel. Camel journeys are available from 2 days, 3 days, 4 days or 5 days to 15 days.
How to reach Merzouga
The dunes of Erg Chebbi are easily reached in a rental car as the paved road runs directly, from Rissani, to the base of the dunes. We can meet you on arrival in Merzouga or your desert guide will be waiting at a hotel outside of Rissani to accompany you to the dunes where your camels will be waiting.
If you do not have your own transport, or prefer not to drive in Morocco, we can provide a private 4x4 and local driver who will pick you up from your riad in the old medina or hotel in the palmerie of Marrakech.
See 'Tea in the Sahara Desert Tours' for camel trekking tours from Marrakech that include an Erg Chebbi camel trek.
Camel Treks in Erg Chigaga and How to reach Mhamid
Camel Treks in Erg Chigaga
The Erg Chigaga dunes and the desert wilderness that surrounds them offer a unique desert experience. A real desert adventure starts when the road runs out in the dusty village of Mhamid as the dunes can only be reached in a 4x4 or with camels and a desert guide (2 days each way).
Some clients prefer a 4 or 5-day round trip camel trek from Mhamid and others prefer to continue, in a 4x4 with local driver, across the piste (off-road) to a desert camp. From your desert camp in the dunes you can safely walk into the immediate dunes and camel trek with a desert guide for a full day, sunset or sunrise.
Comfortable desert camps have a tented restaurant and bedrooms constructed of adobe walls with reinforced camel-hair roofs to offer protection from sandstorms. The camps typically offer solar lighting, hot showers and flushing toilets.
How to reach Mhamid
The dunes of Erg Chigaga cannot be reached in a rental car unless it has 4x4 capabilities. We can however arrange for Mohammed, our extraordinary desert guide, to meet you on arrival in Mhamid and accompany you either in a local 4x4 or on camel. Mohammed features in the Man vs. Wild documentary that was filmed with the Berber nomads in Erg Chigaga when we acted as 'Desert Survival Experts'.
If you do not have your own transport, or prrfer not to drive in Morocco, we can provide a private 4x4 and local driver who will pick you up from your riad in the old medina or hotel in the palmerie of Marrakech.
See 'Off the Beaten Track Tours in Morocco' for desert tours from Marrakech that include an Erg Chigaga camel trek.
Camel Treks in Zagora and How to reach Zagora
Camel Treks in Zagora
In comparison, Zagora does not offer a real desert experience but is a great choice for families with small children or anyone with limited time. The dunes can be reached in a two day trip from Marrakech.
On arrival into Zagora our guide Omar will be waiting to greet you and the camels will carry you along the Draa River Valley to your nomad tent in the small dunes where dinner is served under the stars.
How to reach Zagora
The dunes at Zagora are easily reached in a rental car and Omar can meet you on arrival.
If you do not have your own transport we can provide a private 4x4 and local driver who will pick you up from your riad in the old medina or hotel in the palmerie of Marrakech.
Organised Desert Tours from Marrakech
Trains, buses and grand-taxis are an easy way of getting around Morocco; as is renting a car and driving at your own pace. If you have limited time, or prefer not to drive in Morocco, hiring a 4x4 and local Moroccan driver is the ideal way to discover Morocco and travel at your leisure.
Suggested desert tours from Marrakech, with a camel trek, include:
2 day – Zagora. This trip includes a sunset and morning camel trek and an overnight stay in a nomad tent. The circular tour, Marrakech to Marrakech, includes the Tizi-n-Tichka, Draa River Valley, Kasbah Ait Benhaddou and Berber village of Telouet.
3 day, 4 day or 5 day – Erg Chebbi and Merzouga. This trip includes a sunset and morning camel trek and a night in a nomad tent under the stars. The circular tour, Marrakech to Marrakech, includes the Tizi-n-Tichka, Skoura palmerie, Kelaa Mgouna (rose valley), Todra Gorge, Kasbah Ait Benhaddou and High Atlas village of Telouet. A 5 day trip includes a full day in Merzouga, a full day walking with a guide in the Atlas mountains or a return route that includes Ncob and the Jbel Sarhro.
4 day or 5 day – Erg Chigaga and Mhamid. This trip includes a sunset camel ride in Erg Chigaga and one or two nights in a desert camp in the dunes. This trip includes off-road tracks and the circular tour, Marrakech to Marrakech, includes the Tizi-n-Tichka, Draa River Valley, Zagora, Iriqui salt flats, Foum Zguid oasis, Kasbah Ait Benhaddou and Telouet.
4 day - Marrakech to Fes Atlas Desert Transfers. This trip includes a sunset and morning camel trek in Erg Chebbi from Merzouga. The tour, Marrakech to Fes, includes the Tizi-n-Tichka, Berber village of Telouet, Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, Skoura palmerie, Todra Gorge, Ziz Valley Gorge, Cedar Forests, Azrou and Ifrane.
Hints and Tips
- baggy trousers are essential for riding a camel
- in summer, a light-weight fleece or similar is recommended for nights in the desert when the temperature drops
- in winter, layers and a warm jacket are recommended
- A sleeping bag in winter and a liner in summer is suggested for your comfort; blankets are provided and most clients find these adequate
- a torch is a useful addition to your suitcase
- leave your luggage with your driver ande only carry essentials in a small bag
- alcohol (beer and wine) can be purchased en route and loaded on the camels
- dress respectfully e.g. long shorts OK as are short sleeved T-shirts
- For more suggestions see 'Country Information'
Tour Price Guide
The cost of a private tour, in your own 4x4 with aircon and a local Moroccan driver, depends:
- The number in your party e.g. couple, group of friends or family
- The number of days
- Preferred hotels and activities
- Family rates available
Price guide per person for private tours:
- 1 day tour with private 4x4 and driver from 400 Moroccan Dirhams
- 2 day tour with private 4x4 and driver from 1500 Moroccan Dirhams
- 3 day tour with private 4x4 and driver from 2800 Moroccan Dirhams
- 4 day tour with private 4x4 and driver from 3400D Moroccan Dirhams
- 5 day tour with private 4x4 and driver from 4100 Moroccan Dirhams
- Contact us or a free ‘no-obligation’ quote
To convert Moroccan Dirhams into the currency of your choice: 'Currency Converter'.
Testimonials
"We truly enjoyed the Atlas Desert Tour - the Sahara trek was certainly the highlight of our tour! We also loved Kasbah of el Glaoui in Telouet, it is spectacular. Thanks again for helping make our trip to Morocco very memorable indeed."
"The whole trip went like clockwork. We had no problems at all and we thoroughly enjoyed the itinerary. The driver was easy to get on with and good company. I liked the cafe breaks and the overnight stops. The countryside, towns and people were just amazing and the trip has whetted our appetite for Morocco. One day I hope to return to do some more exploring. Thanks for making it all so easy."
"We had a great time. Ali was lovely - very nice and easy to get on with, knowledgeable about his country obviously! The auberge - by the sahara was spot on - stunning, lovely people, excellent accommodation too. We also really enjoyed the desert excursion and camel ride - it was well organised and didn't feel too touristy."
"We had a wonderful time in Morocco. The tour was well-organised and the drive was not as long as we had thought. Our guide, Ali, was a good driver and did not rush us at all. Although he was a little quiet, he did point out the features and history behind each site we visited. The highlight of the trip was the camel trek and overnight stay in Erg Chebbi. Our desert guide, Hassan, was funny and very accommodating. He told us all about life in the desert. My daughters were fascinated by his stories and the experience of sleeping in a Berber tent under the stars is one that they will not forget (especially the family bathroom trek into the desert in the middle of the night). We hope to visit Morocco again. Maybe do a tour with you visiting the other imperial cities like Fes and Meknes."
"All went well; we had a great time. As a family, we have travelled a lot; this rates as one of our best ever trips. Arrangements that you made throughout were impressively reliable; no hitches. The riad was excellent; the children especially thought it was so cool! Staff there were very helpful and efficient; food excellent. Younis, our 4x4 guide looked after us really well without being intrusive; we enjoyed his company. Camel trek and overnight Berber camp was special; very memorable. Without a doubt, a great trip; will be in touch again definitely. Please pass on our details to anyone who would like any details or recommendation.
"The whole experience was really good, specially for the children and I am very pleased with the outcome. It was all really well managed and executed and I was particularly impressed by the people involved. Our driver was really good very friendly and helpful. The people at the Zogora end were absolutely marvelous; they were all very friendly and did what they could to enrich the experience. We experienced a freak torrential downpour the night we stayed in the desert and the local people we were with said they have not experienced something like that before – it was my luck that the one night in our lives when we were in the Sahara, we get soaked! The one aspect that will stick in my mind was the musical performance by the guys in the camp at the fire that evening. They obviously enjoyed it as much as we did. I have attached a picture of that as well as the water rushing through Zagora the next day."
"The whole experience was amazing from start to finish. Our driver Mbara was lots of fun, very knowledgeable (a geologist who was able to tell us all about the mountains and rocks on our way). We felt very safe with him driving and we chatted a lot about Berber life and our lives in the UK and he taught us some Berber language… he made us laugh all the way and seemed to know everyone in Morocco (which was reassuring). His choice of restaurants and places to stop for photographs were outstanding. Our time in the desert was magical. Our camel guide Ibrahim (not so sure about the spelling of his name I’m afraid) chatted to us about the agriculture of the area and his life in the desert. The tents and camp were everything we expected and wanted on our little adventure, we were treated so very well and sat round the camp fire baking bread in the fire, singing and clapping. The sites along the way were also breathtaking – but for us it was the people and culture we experienced along the way that made this trip. Many thanks for all of your help and assistance with this trip – I will certainly be recommending Authentic Morocco to everyone who is planning a trip over there."
"We had a superb trip and I’m delighted that we organised it through Authentic Morrocco and would definitely recommend to others."
