From Marrakesh: Mhamid and Erg Chigaga Desert Tour with Camel Trek and Camp

Journey from Marrakech to the remote Sahara at Mhamid with private transport, camel trek, and 1-night Berber desert camp stay.

Getting started

Depart Marrakech by private 4x4 or minivan with your professional English-speaking driver, starting your 2-day journey toward the Sahara. Settle into your seat as you leave the city and head toward the mountains. Your round-trip transfers are arranged in advance, so you can focus on the road unfolding in front of you rather than logistics.

What to expect

High Atlas Mountains and Tizi n'Tichka pass

Cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n'Tichka pass as you travel from Marrakech toward southern Morocco. This road links the city to the desert regions and sets the tone for the rest of the journey.

Features

• From the vehicle you see panoramic views over valleys and traditional Berber villages, with the road climbing through the Tizi n'Tichka pass.
• Travel in a private 4x4 or minivan with air-conditioning, included as part of your round-trip transfers between Marrakech and the desert.

Ouarzazate and the Draa Valley

Continue toward Ouarzazate, often called the "door to the desert" and known for its film studios, before following the route into the Draa Valley. This is the transition zone between mountain landscapes and oasis scenery.

Features

• Pass through Ouarzazate, a key gateway town that has hosted many film productions, then watch the landscape open up as you head further south.
• Drive along the Draa Valley, one of Morocco's most notable palm-lined oases, where you can see dense palm groves and ancient kasbahs scattered along the river course.

Mhamid and approach to the Sahara

Reach Mhamid, the last town before the true Sahara and a quieter alternative to busier desert hubs. This is your stepping-off point from paved roads to the sands.

Features

• Experience Mhamid as a far less touristy endpoint compared with Merzouga or Zagora, giving you a sense of being at the edge of the Sahara.
• Your professional English-speaking driver manages the route and timings all the way from Marrakech to Mhamid and back, so navigation and local driving conditions are handled for you.

Erg Chigaga dunes and camel trek

From the outskirts near Mhamid, you leave the vehicle and continue toward the Erg Chigaga dunes by camel. This leg shifts the pace from driving to a slower, desert-focused approach.

Features

• Take a camel trek to and from the desert camp, which is described as a real journey into the desert rather than a short photo-stop ride.
• Watch the sunset over the dunes, seeing the sand shift through shades of gold, orange, and red as daylight fades.
• A camel trek to the desert camp is included in your experience, and the return camel trek from the camp is also part of the package.

Berber desert camp overnight stay

Arrive at your Berber desert camp set among or near the Erg Chigaga dunes for your 1-night stay. This is your base in the Sahara for the evening and early morning.

Features

• Sleep in 1 night accommodation in a Berber desert camp, in either a shared or private tent depending on your booking configuration.
• Sit down to dinner at the camp in the evening and enjoy breakfast at the camp the following morning, both included with your stay.
• Optional activities such as sandboarding, a 4x4 dune excursion, or arranging a private camel guide can be added on site at extra cost if you choose to take part.
• Alcoholic beverages are not included and are not typically available in desert camps, so you should plan accordingly if this is important to you.

Sunrise over the Sahara and return to Marrakech

Wake early to experience the desert at first light before starting the journey back to the city. The route retraces your path through the oasis and mountain landscapes.

Features

• Wake up for sunrise over the Sahara, a quiet moment as the first light reaches the Erg Chigaga dunes around the camp.
• After breakfast at the camp, your camel trek returns you to the vehicle, and your round-trip transfers by private 4x4 or minivan bring you back through the Draa Valley, past Ouarzazate, over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, and on to Marrakech.