Erg Chigaga 3 Days Desert Tours

For travelers seeking raw, untamed beauty and true desert solitude—far from crowds and Wi-Fi—our 3-Day Erg Chigaga Desert Tour is an extraordinary escape into Morocco’s last wild frontier. Known as the “Desert of Silence,” Erg Chigaga lies deep in the Sahara, accessible only by 4x4 and camel: no roads, no lights, no sound but wind and stars. This is real desert immersion—rustic, soul-stirring, and unforgettable.

Unlike the more accessible Erg Chebbi, Chigaga remains untouched by mass tourism. Here, dunes stretch for 40km, Berber camps are hand-built from palm wood and cloth, and nights are lit only by firelight and the Milky Way. Perfect for adventurers, photographers, and seekers of profound stillness.

Important: Due to extreme summer heat, this tour runs September to June only. (July & August: we recommend Erg Chebbi instead.)

Travel with Koutoubia Tours, your trusted Marrakech-based experts, and journey with local drivers and desert guides who know every dune, well, and hidden oasis in this remote region.

🔹 Duration: 3 Days / 2 Nights
🔹 Departure: Daily from Marrakech (Private tour only—for safety & off-road capability)
🔹 Destinations: Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou → Agdz → Draa Valley → Tamegroute → M’Hamid → Erg Chigaga → Iriki Lake → Taznakht → Marrakech
🔹 Includes: Private 4x4 SUV (off-road capable), English/French-speaking driver-guide, 2 nights accommodation (Agdz kasbah + rustic Berber desert camp), daily breakfast & dinner, 2-hour camel trek, guided visits in Aït Ben Haddou & Tamegroute, bottled water, Marrakech pickup/drop-off, 24/7 support
🔹 Best For: Adventurous souls, solo travelers, photographers, and those craving true remoteness

🌟 Tour Highlights

✔️ Aït Ben Haddou – UNESCO kasbah rising from the red earth
✔️ Agdz & Tamnougalt Kasbah – 17th-century fortress on the ancient Timbuktu caravan route
✔️ Draa Valley – Morocco’s longest oasis: 100km of date palms, mud-brick villages & kasbahs
✔️ Tamegroute – 11th-century Sufi center: ancient Koranic library & iconic green-glazed pottery
✔️ M’Hamid El Ghizlane – Gateway to the deep Sahara; last village before the void
✔️ 60km Off-Road to Erg Chigaga – Traverse fossil fields, dry riverbeds & shifting dunes
✔️ Rustic Berber Camp – Traditional nomadic-style tents, open fire, zero electricity (solar lamp provided)
✔️ Sunset & Sunrise in Solitude – No other camps in sight—just you, the dunes, and the infinite sky
✔️ Iriki Dry Lake – Cross the legendary Paris-Dakar Rally route across this surreal salt flat
✔️ Taznakht Carpet Cooperative – Meet Berber women weavers preserving ancestral patterns

Note: This is a rustic experience—camp has shared eco-toilets (dry composting), no showers (warm water for washing provided), and limited solar lighting. Luxury here means space, silence, and stars.

🗺️ Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech → Aït Ben Haddou → Agdz (≈6 hrs)

• 8:00 AM pickup from your Marrakech riad/hotel
• Cross the High Atlas via Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260m), with panoramic stops
• Guided visit to Aït Ben Haddou—UNESCO kasbah; learn its role in trans-Saharan trade
• Continue south through the Draa Valley, Morocco’s longest palm oasis
• Stop in Agdz; visit Tamnougalt Kasbah, a 17th-century riverside fortress on the Timbuktu route
• Dinner & overnight in Agdz (authentic kasbah-style riad with courtyard & rooftop views)

Day 2: Agdz → Tamegroute → M’Hamid → Erg Chigaga (≈5 hrs drive + 2 hrs off-road)

• Breakfast at the kasbah
• Drive deeper into the Draa Valley; stop in Tamegroute:
  • Visit the historic Koranic Library (manuscripts dating to the 13th century)
  • Tour the famous green pottery workshop—Morocco’s oldest ceramic tradition
• Arrive in M’Hamid El Ghizlane, the last village before the deep desert
• Switch to 4x4 for the 60km off-road journey into Erg Chigaga: fossil fields, dune corridors, silent horizons
• Arrive at your Berber desert camp by late afternoon
• Sunset camel trek (2 hours) over golden dunes—no other tourists in sight
• Dinner under the stars: tagine cooked over open fire, dates, mint tea
• Overnight in Erg Chigaga Camp (traditional nomadic tents, shared facilities, pure silence)

Day 3: Sunrise → Iriki Lake → Taznakht → Marrakech (≈8–9 hrs)

• Pre-dawn: Sahara sunrise in total solitude—dunes glowing rose-gold
• Breakfast at camp (bread, jam, eggs, tea—cooked on the fire)
• Depart across the Iriki Dry Lake, once a vast water body, now a surreal salt-and-sand expanse (famous Paris-Dakar Rally route)
• Stop in Taznakht, heartland of Berber weaving:
  • Optional visit to a women’s carpet cooperative—see dyes made from saffron, henna & pomegranate
• Continue north via the High Atlas foothills
• Cross Tizi n’Tichka Pass again in the afternoon
• Arrive in Marrakech by ~7:00–8:00 PM
• Drop-off at your riad or Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK)

⚠️ Important Notes: Is Erg Chigaga Right for You?

✅ You’ll love this tour if you:
• Seek true remoteness & silence—no Wi-Fi, no crowds, no light pollution
• Are comfortable with rustic camping (no showers, shared dry toilets, solar lighting only)
• Value authenticity over comfort—this is Berber nomadic hospitality, not glamping
• Are physically able for off-road travel & moderate camel trekking

❌ Consider Erg Chebbi instead if you prefer:
• Hot showers, private tents, and more amenities
• Shorter drives or family-friendly pacing
• Visiting in July or August

We’re here to match your spirit—not just sell a tour.

📞 Ready for the Wild Sahara?
Call or WhatsApp us to plan your Erg Chigaga adventure:
+212 666-449409 | +212 663-578729 | +212 637-500967
✉️ Email: contact@koutoubiatours.com

Runs September to June only. Limited departures—reserve early.

We reply within 1–2 hours—because true wilderness waits for no one… but we do.

[👉 Yes! I Want This 3-Day Erg Chigaga Wild Desert Tour]