3 days Marrakesh Erg Chigaga Tour
“South Sahara Sampler”
3 days, 2 nights
Starts: Marrakesh
Ends: Marrakesh
Overnight stays in: AGDZ – ERG CHIGAGA
Introduction
If you just have a few days available and want something a bit different, then our 3 days Marrakesh Erg Chigaga “South Sahara Sampler” Tour might be just what you’re looking for. While most tours head to the popular Merzouga region of the Sahara Desert, this 3 day desert tour heads instead to Southern Morocco. You’ll travel to the south Sahara and the vast dunes of Erg Chigaga for an amazing desert adventure & more!
This 3 day, 2 night tour starts & ends in Marrakesh and really shows off some of Morocco’s beautiful & diverse scenery. Travel over the High Atlas Mountains through the lush Dra’a Valley to the secluded dunes of Erg Chigaga in the south Sahara Desert. Once there, your unforgettable desert adventure includes camel-trekking & off-roading to explore this vast ocean of sand.
Although short, the 3 days Marrakesh Erg Chigaga Tour is filled with a wide variety of sights & activities. During your tour, you’ll also visit 3 of Morocco’s historic kasbahs, including the famous Ait Ben Haddou. In addition, you’ll visit various villages along the way to see local artisans making traditional Moroccan handicrafts such as pottery & carpets.
Outline
Your 3 days Marrakesh Erg Chigaga “South Sahara Sampler” Tour leaves from Marrakesh on Day 1. Head towards the High Atlas Mountains and cross over the Tizi-n-Tichka pass before arriving at the famous 17th century Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After exploring the Kasbah, travel to Ouarzazate, the “Hollywood of Morocco” for a stop at the picturesque Taourirt Kasbah. Then continue to the village of Agdz for the night.
On the second day of your 3 day desert tour to Southern Morocco, go further southwest, following the lush, green Dra’a Valley to Zagora. Your next stop is Tamghroute, where you’ll see local artisans making pottery. Turn south towards M’Hamid, where you’ll go off-road to reach the dunes of Erg Chigaga for a sunset camel-trek. Afterwards enjoy a traditional Moroccan meal and African drumming entertainment.
Onthe final day of your 3 day tour, travel off-road through 90km of desert to the dry lake-bed of Lake Iriki. Next, head back into the High Atlas Mountains, stopping in the village of Taznakht to see weavers making Berber kilims & carpets. Visit Telouet Kasbah before crossing back over the mountain pass and descending to Marrakesh.
We’ll reach Marrakesh in the evening, bringing your 3 days Marrakesh Erg Chigaga “South Sahara Sampler” tour to an end.
Tour Highlights
- Cross the Tizi-n-Tichka pass over the High Atlas Mountains
- Explore Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Follow an ancient caravan route in Tansikht in the Dra’a Valley
- See artisans making pottery in Tamghroute
- Go camel-trekking in Erg Chigaga at sunset
- Enjoy African drumming entertainment
- Explore off-road in the South Sahara
- Look for fossils in a dry lake-bed at Lake Iriki
- See weavers making Berber carpets & kilims in Taznakht
- Tour Telouet Kasbah (Palace of the Glaoui)
For more information…
For more details about this tour, see the tabs further down this page. You’ll find a detailed itinerary, a route map, & a list of what’s included & excluded in the cost.
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Other 3 day tours from Marrakesh
3 days to Fes Desert Tour – “Green Valleys, Golden Sands”
This 3 day Sahara tour from Marrakesh to Fes features camel-trekking in the dunes of Erg Chebbi. You’ll also travel through the breathtaking High & Middle Atlas Mountains.
3 days Dades Sahara Tour – “Monkey Toes & Camel Humps”
This 3 day Marrakesh desert tour showcases Morocco’s diverse scenery as you head to the Sahara for a camel-trekking adventure.
4 day tours from Marrakesh
Can you spare an extra day? Check out these 4 day tours from Marrakesh:
4 days Marrakesh to Fes Desert Tour – “Cool Kasbahs, Hot Sands”
This 4 day tour from Marrakesh combines exotic kasbahs with an unforgettable 2-night desert adventure in the Sahara.
4 days Marrakesh Sahara Tour – “Winding Roads & Camel Tracks”
This 4 day desert tour from Marrakesh includes historic Kasbahs, camel-trekking in the Saharan dunes & stunning scenery.
Details
3 days Marrakesh Erg Chigaga Tour - "South Sahara Sampler"
Your 3 days Marrakesh Erg Chigaga "South Sahara Sampler" Tour starts from Marrakesh when we pick you up from your hotel/riad after an early breakfast. We’ll head into the High Atlas Mountains, crossing over Morocco’s highest road pass – the Tizi-n-Tichka pass at 2260m. We’ll stop at the top of the pass to rest, enjoy some refreshments & take pictures of the panoramic mountain views.
We’ll then drive to Ait Ben Haddou, the oldest Kasbah in the south of Morocco, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although the village was originally built in the 17th century, people still live and work there today, their homes built right into the rock or with mud bricks, which are made locally using the same methods as in ancient times. Ait Ben Haddou has also featured in many films, including The Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven.
We’ll have lunch in the village, and you’ll have time to explore the Kasbah. It’s a gentle climb through winding streets to the top, where you can see in all directions.
Our journey continues to Ouarzazate, known as the "Hollywood of Morocco" because of its thriving film industry. Ouarzazate is home to several film studios, both Moroccan and international, and the surrounding barren landscape is a popular site for on-location filming.
After a brief stop at the kasbah of Taourirt, we’ll drive to Agdz, where we’ll have dinner and spend the night.
The next day, your 3 day Marrakesh desert tour takes you further southwest into Southern Morocco to the rippling dune sea of Erg Chigaga.
After breakfast in Agdz, we’ll drive through the lush, green Dra’a Valley Oasis – the longest valley in Morocco. We’ll cross the Dra’a River to Tansikht, where we’ll go off-road to follow the ancient caravan route along the palm-filled valley.
After stopping for lunch in Zagora, we’ll head to the village of Tamghroute to see local artisans making pottery, such as the iconic cone-shaped tagine, which is used for both cooking & serving traditional Moroccan meals.
Turning south, we’ll drive to M’Hamid, a village on the edge of the Sahara Desert. M’Hamid hosts the International Nomad Festival each March, which celebrates Bedouin (Sahrawi) and Berber nomad lifestyles, handicrafts, and music.
After M’Hamid, there’s no more road, so we’ll drive off-road to reach the dunes of Erg Chigaga. After mounting the waiting camels, you’ll leave civilization behind and camel-trek into the dunes, watching the sands change colour as the sun moves across the sky. You’ll have time to explore, take pictures, and watch the sunset before camel-trekking to the desert camp near the dunes.
After enjoying a traditional Moroccan meal, you’ll be entertained with African music – drumming and singing and dancing – around a campfire. You’ll spend the night in tents in the quiet of the desert.
On the final day of your 3 days Marrakesh Erg Chigaga Tour, we’ll head back to Marrakesh, but we have a full day of activities first. After breakfast in the desert, we’ll travel offroad by 4x4 across another 90km of desert, following a winding track through the gradually changing landscape, as we leave the dunes behind and start seeing more rocks and vegetation.
Our first stop will be at the dry Lake Iriki, where we’ll look for fossils, followed by lunch in Foum Zguid, which is the first village after leaving the desert.
Winding our way into the High Atlas Mountains, our next stop will be the village of Taznakht, which is known for its Berber kilims and carpets. You’ll have a chance to see local artisans weaving these beautiful floor coverings.
Just before reaching the top of the High Atlas Mountains, we’ll stop to visit the ruins of Telouet Kasbah (Palace of Glaoui) in the traditional Berber village of Telouet. Afterwards, we’ll cross back over the mountain pass & descend towards Marrakesh.
We’ll arrive in Marrakesh in the evening and drop you off at your hotel/riad, bringing your 3 days Marrakesh Erg Chigaga "South Sahara Sampler" Tour to an end.
