'Tea in the Sahara' Morocco Desert Tours are the shortest 4x4 desert tours we run and include camel trekking in Morocco through the Erg Chebbi dunes at Merzouga or the desert wilderness of Erg Chigaga from Mhamid. However, camel treks to sleep overnight in a desert camp are optional in Erg Chebbi where you can also spend the night in a hotel with pool at the dune line. Erg Chigaga only offers desert camps in the dunes.

Authentic Desert Tours of Morocco and 4x4 Sahara excursions run from Marrakech, Fes, Casablanca, Tangier, Agadir, Ouarzazate, Fes to Marrakech, Marrakech to Fes or elsewhere on request. Our tailor made Morocco Tours, in Toyota Land Cruisers with driver, are suitable for couples, friends, large or small groups and family tours with children.

Quick Links for ‘Tea in the Sahara’ Morocco Desert Tours

• Best Morocco Desert Tours – Erg Chebbi vs. Erg Chigaga
• Morocco Tours to Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi Dunes
• Morocco Tours to M’hamid and the Erg Chigaga Dunes
• Overnight Camel Treks - What to Expect
• 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days - Marrakech Camel Trek Tours
• 3 days, 4 days, 5 days - Fes to Marrakech / Marrakech to Fes Tours
• 6 days, 7 days and longer - Desert Tours in Morocco
• Bonded Morocco Tours – Pricing, Confirmation and Payment
• Testimonials

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Best Morocco Tours to the Sahara – Erg Chebbi vs. Erg Chigaga

There are two significant sand masses (ergs) in Morocco with high desert dunes: the Erg Chebbi at Merzouga and the Erg Chigaga at Mhamid. In addition there are smaller dunes around Zagora.

The Erg Chebbi sand dunes at Merzouga are accessible from Marrakech, Fes, Agadir, Casablanca and Ouarzazate.

The Erg Chigaga sand dunes at M’hamid are accessible from Marrakech, Agadir, Casablanca and Ouarzazate.

The smaller dunes at Zagora are recommended if you have limited time or want to keep travel times to a minimum e.g. family tours. Whilst a great introduction to Morocco, in 2 or 3 days from Marrakech, Zagora does not offer the same 'desert’ experience.

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Morocco Tours to Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi Dunes

The Erg Chebbi dunes, close to the village of Merzouga, are accessible from Marrakech, Fes and Ouarzazate. They can also be reached from Tangier, Casablanca and Agadir.

For a Marrakech to Marrakech, Marrakech to Fes or Fes to Marrakech desert trip we recommend at least 4 days to break the journey each way and discover the sites along the route – a 3 day tour involves one very long day’s drive (10hrs). For a desert tour from Ouarzazate we recommend 3 days and 2 nights.

Our 'Tea in the Sahara' desert tours to Merzouga can include the following highlights:

• Tizi n’Tichka (2260m), the highest Atlas road pass
• World Heritage Site of Kasbah Ait Benhaddou
• Glaoua Kasbahs of Taourirt and Tifoultout in Ouarzazate
• Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate
• Rose Valley (Kelaa Mgouna); buy a garland of roses in Spring
• Valley of Dades Gorge with ruined hilltop kasbahs
• Todra Gorge, the highest gorge in Morocco; just 20m wide
• Valley of One Thousand Kasbahs
• Traditional Berber souk; buy tagine spices
• Overnight Erg Chebbi camel treks from Merzouga to sleep in the dunes
• Sunset Erg Chebbi camel rides with a night in a hotel at the dune line
• Fossil Mines; hunt for your own fossil
• Seasonal lakes around Merzouga; if the rains arrive
• Gnawa Musicians; dance to the rhythm of the desert
• Old Caravan Trade Route through Ounila Valley
• Abandoned Kasbah of el Glaoui, former Pasha of Marrakech

Merzouga and Erg Chebbi Camel Treks: 'Erg Chebbi Camel Treks'

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Morocco Tours to M’hamid and the Erg Chigaga Dunes

The Erg Chigaga dunes, close to the desert town of M’hamid, are accessible from Marrakech and Ouarzazate. They can also be reached from Casablanca and Agadir.

For a Marrakech to Marrakech trip we recommend at least five days so you can travel at your leisure, break the journey each way to discover the sites along the route, and spend a full day and two nights in the desert. From Ouarzazate we recommend four days.

We believe that the most authentic desert experience is available on Morocco desert tours to the dunes of the Erg Chigaga, a protected desert wilderness that is home to the semi-nomadic Ait Atta Berbers who live here. This 4x4 desert adventure safari, with some off-road driving, can include the following highlights:

• Tizi n’Tichka (2260m), the highest Atlas road pass
• World Heritage Site of Kasbah Ait Benhaddou
• Glaoua Kasbahs of Taourirt and Tifoultout in Ouarzazate
• Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate
• Lush palmeries of the Draa River Valley
• Tamegrout and Zagora
• An experience of desert life – nomad wells, school and families
• Sunset Erg Chigaga camel trekking
• one night or two nights under the stars at a comfortable desert camp
• The Sacred Heart Oasis
• The salt flats of Lake Iriqui
• The desert oasis of Foum Zguid
• Old Salt Route across the Tizi-n-Telouet
• Abandoned Kasbah of el Glaoui, former War Lord and Pasha of Marrakech

M’hamid and Erg Chigaga Camel Treks: 'Erg Chigaga Camel Treks'

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Overnight Camel Treks - What to Expect

Camel trekking in Morocco, across the sandy dunes of the Sahara, is the highlight of many Morocco desert tours. For one night ‘overnight’ Erg Chebbi camel treks - meet the camels and desert guide, at the edge of the dunes, in time to set off for a sunset camel trek across the sands to a desert camp where accommodation is in traditional camel and goat hair tents.

On arrival the camels are hobbled and mint tea is served. After a freshly prepared evening meal, served under the stars, it is usual for the camel guides to sing and drum.

Wake early to greet the sunrise and camel trek back across the dunes to freshen up. Or continue Chebbi camel trekking, with your desert guide, for another day or days.

A personal account of Camel Trekking in Morocco: 'Morocco Camel Treks'

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Organised Short Desert Tours - Marrakech Camel Trek Tours

2 days, 3 days, 4 days and 5 days Sahara Trips

Morocco desert tours from Marrakech are popular and camel trekking in Morocco is the highlight of Sahara trips. Erg Chebbi camel treks to a desert camp, to sleep in a nomad tent, are optional and you can stay in a hotel at the dune line with sunset camel ride.

2 day or 3 days – Marrakech to Zagora Tours

A good choice for short tours or family tours with less travelling and a camel trek to sleep in a nomad tented camp. Although a great introduction to Morocco, Zagora does not offer a real desert experience in comparison to Merzouga or Mhamid.

3 days – Marrakech Desert Tours to Erg Chebbi

Please note that it is a 10 hour drive each way from Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi dunes and 3 day desert trips from Marrakech involve what many people find to be an exhausting 10 hour drive on the third day. We recommend 4 days for this trip if you have time.

4 days – Marrakech to Erg Chebbi Desert Tours

See the spectacular dunes of Erg Chebbi at Merzouga with an overnight camel trek to sleep at a desert camp or sunset camel ride and a night in a hotel at the dune line. This tour breaks the journey each e.g. Dades Gorge and Ait Benhaddou.

5 days – Marrakech to Erg Chebbi Desert Tours

Extra days mean a more leisurely pace and can include a day in the desert exploring with your driver e.g. Merzouga, seasonal lakes, fossil beds, Rissani, Gnawa musicians. There is also the option to return to Marrakech via Zagora and the Draa Valley.

4 days or 5 days – Marrakech to Erg Chigaga

We recommend at least four days for this trip. From Mhamid, the Erg Chigaga dunes can only be reached in a 4x4 or 3 days on a camel. A desert tour to Erg Chigaga is recommended for anyone wanting a more ‘off the beaten track’ experience.

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Short Desert Tours - Fes to Marrakech, Marrakech to Fes

3 days, 4 days and 5 days Sahara Trips

Desert Tours and Sahara Excursions from Marrakech to Fes or Fes to Marrakech are a great way to experience the best of Morocco. For this trip we recommend 4 days or 5 days to include the Erg Chebbi sand dunes. It is a straight 7hrs drive from Merzouga to Fes or Fes to Merzouga via Ziz Valley Gorge, Cedar Forests where Barbary Apes live, Ifrane and Azrou.

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Off the Beaten Track and Berber Trail Desert Tours in Morocco

6 days, 7 days and longer Sahara Excursions

For 6 day, 7 day and longer Sahara trips there is the option of a more rugged ‘Off the Beaten Track’ experience or our Berber Trail Desert Tours of Morocco.

To get ‘Off the Beaten Track’: 'Morocco Desert Tours Off the Beaten Track'

To see more of the Berber Heartlands: 'Berber Trail Desert Tours of Morocco'

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Bonded Morocco Tours – Pricing, Confirmation and Payment

Please refer to: 'Private Morocco Tours - Pricing'

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Testimonials

To read our clients’ feedback please refer to: 'Tours of Morocco - Testimonials'