Get ‘Off the Beaten Track’ to experience a traditional way of life as you journey across the ever-changing landscapes of Morocco. Travel over high mountain passes and along old trade routes to see oasis valley gorges, abandoned Kasbahs and Berber villages.

Reach the road’s end at Mhamid and cross a desert wilderness to drink tea in the Sahara with a family of Ait Atta Berber nomads and sleep at a desert camp. 4x4 desert tours to Mhamid include Erg Chigaga camel treks at sunset and one or two nights at a desert camp with dinner served under the stars.

Authentic Morocco Desert Trips, Tours and Excursions in 4x4 Toyota Land Cruisers with driver are suitable for couples, friends, groups and family tours with children.

Quick Links for 4x4 Desert Adventure Tours in Morocco

• Sample Itinerary: Off the Beaten Trask from Marrakech
• Sahara Camel Trekking in Morocco at Erg Chigaga with a Desert Guide
• Short Morocco Desert Tours
• Bonded Morocco Tours – Prices, Confirmation and Payment Options
• Testimonials

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‘Off the Beaten Track’ Desert Tour from Marrakech

This is a sample itinerary for an ‘Off the Beaten Track’ desert tour that runs from Marrakech to Marrakech. There are other options and each tour itinerary depends the number of days you have and where you want to be dropped off i.e. Marrakech or Fes.

Marrakech to Ait Benhaddou via Telouet and the Tizi-n-Telouet

Transfer over the highest Atlas mountain road pass of Tizi n’Tichka (2260m) to the Berber village of Telouet and visit the Kasbah of el Glaoui, former Pasha of Marrakech. Take the original trade route (unpaved road) over the Tizi-n-Telouet to Ait Benhaddou and visit the World Heritage Site of Ait Benhaddou, a fortified village (ksour or ksar) that once stood on the route of the trans-Saharan caravans.

Ait Benhaddou to Dades Gorge via Rose Valley Circuit (off-road)

Transfer to Kelaa Mgouna (Rose Valley) where, in Spring, children sell garlands of perfumed roses grown for their essential oil. Leave the highway and take the Old Rose Valley Circuit (off-road) and perhaps see nomads on the move - their camels heavily laden with the weight of black wool tents, cooking pots and small children. Re-join the tarmac in the Dades valley and continue past the rock formations of the Tamnalt hills.

Dades Gorge to Tamtattouchte across the Atlas Mountains

Transfer to Msemir and cross the piste (off-road) towards Todra Gorge. Witness a nomadic way of life as you pass through the rugged beauty of these mountains and stop to drink mint tea with a nomad family in their thick wool tent.

Tamtattouchte to Ncob via Todra Gorge and the Tizi-n-Tazazert

Transfer along the Todra Gorge, the highest gorge in Morocco, to Tinghir and cross (off-road) one of the most fabulous mountain passes in the Jbel Sarhro - the Tizi-n-Tazazert, with far-reaching views, stunning rock formations, Berber settlements and fertile valleys.

Ncob to Erg Chigaga via Draa River Valley and Mhamid

Transfer along the Draa River Valley through lush palmeries and Berber villages to Mhamid and, from here, cross (off-road) the desert wilderness of Erg Chigaga that is home to semi-nomadic Ait Atta Berber nomads. Reaching the desert camp is always a wonderful experience as is walking in the sand dunes at sunset.

Desert Exploration and Erg Chigaga Camel Treks

Spend a day relaxing to the pace of desert life. Walk in the immediate dunes or explore with your driver e.g. visit a family of nomads and wonder how they survive here. Late afternoon meet your guide and camels for an Erg Chigaga camel trek at sunset.

Erg Chigaga to Ouarzazate via Iriqui Salt Lake and Foum Zguid

Wake early to watch the sunrise and, after breakfast, cross the Iriqui salt flats on your journey to the desert oasis of Foum Zguid. After lunch pick up the paved road and continue to Ouarzazate.

Ouarzazate to Marrakech

Transfer to Marrakech and arrive in time for a guided tour of the Djemaa El Fna and the bustling souks. The contrast between the pace of life in the desert and Marrakech could not be more extreme so take a day or two to explore before heading home.

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Sahara Camel Trekking in Morocco at Erg Chigaga

As part of an Off the Beaten Track 4x4 Morocco Tour it is possible to include a camel trek from Mhamid to the Erg Chigaga Dunes over 3 days. The route, with wild camping under the stars, crosses the hammada (black desert) via small dunes, knarled tamarisk trees, nomad wells and the traditional camel-hair tents of the Ait Atta Berbers who live here. Arrive in the tall dunes of the Erg Chigaga sand sea, on day three, to spend a night in a desert camp before continuing, in the 4x4 with driver, off-road across the Iriqui Salt Flats to the oasis town of Foum Zguid.

Erg Chigaga Camel Treks: 'Camel Trekking in Morocco at Erg Chigaga'

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Short Morocco Desert Tours

Short tours of Morocco, to include the Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga desert dunes, run from Marrakech, Agadir, Ouarzazate, Casablanca, Fes, Marrakech to Fes or Fes to Marrakech and include the highlights of the route. However, to get off the beaten track you need more than 3-4 days.

Tea in the Sahara Desert Tour: 'Tea in the Sahara Morocco Tours'

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Bonded Morocco Tours – Prices, 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'