The 3-day Erg Chigaga desert tour from Marrakech is the fastest way to reach Morocco's most remote sand dunes. Cross the High Atlas and the Draa Valley to Zagora on Day 1, go off-road via M'Hamid to Erg Chigaga for a sunset camel ride and desert camp on Day 2, then return direct to Marrakech via the Iriqui dry lake and Foum Zguid on Day 3. Same remote dunes as the 4-day tour — one day less. From €285/person.
At a Glance
Tour Highlights
Erg Chigaga in 3 Days
The fastest route to Morocco's most remote dunes. Same off-road tracks, same silence, same camp as the 4-day version — one day less.
3 Days · ExpressThe Draa Valley — 200km Oasis
Day 1 drives the full length of Morocco's longest river valley — date palms, fortified kasbahs, and Berber villages stretching toward the desert.
Day 1 · ScenicOff-Road to the Deep Sahara
Day 2 leaves the paved road at M'Hamid and crosses erg, reg, hammada, and oases to reach Erg Chigaga — accessible only by 4×4. No tour buses, no crowds.
Day 2 · Off-RoadSunset & Sunrise Camel Treks
Ride across the Erg Chigaga dunes at sunset, sleep under the stars, and ride back at sunrise. Both treks included.
Day 2–3 · IncludedIriqui Dry Lake — Paris-Dakar Track
Day 3 crosses the flat, otherworldly Iriqui dry salt lake — following the old Paris-Dakar rally route. Once full of water and birdlife, now an eerie, empty lakebed.
Day 3 · Off-RoadHigh Atlas — Two Crossings
Cross the Tizi n'Tichka Pass (2,260m) on both Day 1 and Day 3 — Berber villages, panoramic viewpoints, and a landscape that changes every kilometre.
Day 1 & 3 · AtlasPhoto Gallery
Day by Day
Three days from Marrakech to the deep Sahara and back — via the Draa Valley, the off-road tracks of M'Hamid, and the Iriqui dry lake.
Pickup from your Marrakech hotel or riad at 07:30 AM. Drive southeast through the High Atlas Mountains, climbing through Berber villages and almond groves to the Tizi n'Tichka Pass (2,260m). Photo stops along the way.
Descend into the Draa Valley — Morocco's longest oasis stretching over 200km. Hundreds of thousands of date palms, fortified kasbahs, and fields of corn, barley, and henna line the road toward Zagora.
Arrive in Zagora late afternoon. Check into Hotel La Fibule — ensuite rooms, AC, pool, and garden. Dinner at the hotel.
After breakfast, drive south from Zagora to M'Hamid — where the paved road ends and the Sahara begins. Lunch in M'Hamid at leisure.
Early afternoon, your Land Cruiser leaves the tarmac and heads off-road into the desert — crossing erg (sand), reg (gravel), hammada (stone plateau), and oases. The landscape shifts every few kilometres. Erg Chigaga dunes emerge on the horizon — far from civilisation, the silence overwhelming.
Mount your camel for a sunset trek across the Erg Chigaga dunes. Arrive at your desert camp for Moroccan dinner under the stars, campfire music with local nomads, and a sky full of stars. The silence is total.
Wake before dawn for a sunrise camel ride over the Erg Chigaga dunes — a peaceful start to a long but scenic day. Breakfast at camp.
Your Land Cruiser crosses 90km of varied desert — the flat, otherworldly Iriqui dry salt lake, the Anti-Atlas foothills, and the old Paris-Dakar rally track. Arrive at Foum Zguid, the first village after the desert. Lunch.
Continue north via Taznakht (famous for Berber carpets), then cross the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka Pass. Arrive in Marrakech early evening. Drop-off at your hotel or riad.
Tour Pricing
Price per person decreases as your group size increases.
| Participants | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price / person | 940€ | 510€ | 385€ | 325€ | 285€ |
Prices verified March 2026 · +212 615 346 108
Inclusions & Exclusions
✓ Included in Your Tour
- Private AC Toyota Land Cruiser with English-speaking driver-guide — 3 days
- Pickup and drop-off at your Marrakech hotel or riad
- Night 1: Hotel La Fibule, Zagora — half-board, ensuite, AC
- Night 2: Erg Chigaga desert camp — private tent, shared bathrooms, dinner & breakfast
- Sunset camel trek (Day 2) and sunrise camel ride (Day 3)
- Luxury ensuite camp upgrade available (+€125/person)
Not Included
- Lunches and beverages
- Entrance fees to sites (pay directly)
- Local guides (pay directly if required)
- Tips for driver-guide
- Travel insurance (recommended)
Traveller Reviews
"We only had 3 days and wanted the real Sahara — not the touristy Merzouga. Erg Chigaga delivered. The silence at the camp was extraordinary. Yes, Day 3 is a long drive, but the Iriqui lakebed was surreal and the Atlas crossing was beautiful."
"I'd already done Merzouga on a previous trip and wanted something different. Erg Chigaga in 3 days was perfect — the off-road section from M'Hamid felt like a real expedition. Our driver navigated the tracks with incredible confidence."
"The Day 3 drive was long but honestly never boring — the dried lake, the carpet village, the Atlas pass. We napped some and watched some. Got back to Marrakech by early evening. Totally worth it to save a day and still see the remote dunes."
"We upgraded to the luxury camp and it was worth every cent. Hot shower in the middle of the Sahara. The sunset camel ride was magical, the campfire with nomads was unforgettable, and the sunrise was one of the most peaceful moments of my life."