8-Day Sahara Trekfrom Marrakesh | M'Hamid & Erg Chigaga

Your Sahara adventure begins with your arrival in Marrakesh. You will be welcomed at the airport and transferred to your traditional riad in the city. After settling in, enjoy some free time to explore the Medina, relax at the riad, or experience the atmosphere of Marrakesh before your journey into the desert begins.

Overnight

Marrakesh

Transfer

Airport transfer

Leave Marrakesh early and travel south through the spectacular High Atlas Mountains, crossing the Tizi n'Tichka Pass before continuing towards Ouarzazate. From here, the route follows the beautiful Draa Valley through Agdz, with its palm groves, kasbahs, and traditional villages, before continuing towards M'Hamid. As you approach the desert, the landscape becomes increasingly arid and open. M'Hamid marks the end of the road and the beginning of the deeper Sahara. Here you will meet your local camel team before settling into an auberge for the night.

Overnight

Auberge in M'Hamid

Meals

Breakfast

Driving

Approximately 8 hours

After breakfast, your desert trek begins. Leave M'Hamid on foot and gradually enter the open Sahara, crossing the first stretches of dunes and wide desert plateaus. Walk through the peaceful landscape before stopping beneath a tamarisk tree for lunch and a welcome break from the desert sun. Continue towards the historic Sidi Naji area, where you'll discover the remains and mausoleum associated with this isolated desert site. As evening approaches, the camel team will prepare your first desert bivouac.

Overnight

Desert bivouac

Meals

Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Walking

Approximately 5–6 hours

Today's trek takes you deeper into the Sahara as you cross the reg, a vast desert landscape covered with stones and gravel. Gradually, the terrain begins to change as the towering dunes of Erg Zahar appear on the horizon. Known locally as the "howling dunes," these dramatic sand formations create one of the most spectacular landscapes of the trek. Reach the dunes in time to watch the changing colors of the Sahara at sunset before settling into your remote bivouac.

Overnight

Desert bivouac

Meals

Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Walking

Approximately 5–6 hours

Continue your journey through an immense ocean of sand as you make your way towards Erg Chigaga, home to some of the highest and most impressive dunes in Morocco. The vastness of the landscape becomes increasingly apparent as you cross the sandy terrain alongside your camel team. Once you reach the Erg Chigaga dunes, take time to relax, explore the surroundings, or simply enjoy the silence of the Sahara. As night falls, gather around the campfire for traditional music and an authentic desert evening beneath the stars.

Overnight

Desert bivouac

Meals

Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Walking

Approximately 5 hours

Leave the great dunes of Erg Chigaga behind and continue trekking through a changing desert landscape of dunes and rocky regs. Keep an eye out for signs of desert wildlife and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of this remote part of the Sahara. As the day progresses, continue towards the isolated Bougarn area, where your camel team will prepare another private bivouac away from the more visited desert routes.

Overnight

Desert bivouac

Meals

Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Walking

Approximately 5–6 hours

Today marks the final stage of your desert trek. Continue across the Saharan landscape, gradually making your way back towards M'Hamid. Enjoy your final hours walking through the dunes and desert plains before reaching the oasis town. After several days in the wilderness, a hot shower and a comfortable meal at the auberge provide a welcome return to everyday comforts. Spend your final evening reflecting on the unforgettable landscapes and experiences of the Sahara.

Overnight

Auberge in M'Hamid

Meals

Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Walking

Approximately 4–5 hours

After breakfast, begin the return journey towards Marrakesh. Follow the Draa Valley north through its palm-filled landscapes and traditional villages before continuing through Ouarzazate and crossing the High Atlas Mountains once again. Arrive in Marrakesh in the late afternoon, or continue directly to the airport depending on your departure schedule.

Meals

Breakfast

Transfer

Approximately 8 hours