Overview
Overview of 4 Day Desert Tour From Marrakech to Erg Chigaga
The 4 Day Desert Tour From Marrakech to Erg Chigaga starts in the morning, picked up from your hotel in Marrakech then you pass through the spectacular Tizi N Tichka pass which is at 2260 meters in altitude. There are stunning views of landscape and other parts of Morocco and even barren land, as well as, distant is elated Berber terraced villages to give a hint of the kind of life in the mountains. Moving ahead, you’ll reach Ouarzazate, where a highlight awaits: culturally significant area pertaining to the UNESCO World Heritage Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah. Historical and well-architectured village from 16th century, the village is famous for it’s the elaborating construction and walls, the streets and houses are built from clay and mud.
Visiting Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah is a true discovery of how Moroccan old architecture is made and an understanding of cultural patronage of the desert junctions. This way it opens up narratives of Berber tribes, traders from the advance ancient era and the architectural heritage of north Africa.
Highlight of our4 Day Desert Tour From Marrakech to Erg Chigaga
- Scenic drive through Tizi N Tichka pass, showcasing Morocco’s landscapes.
- Explore UNESCO site Ait Ben Haddou for ancient mud-brick architecture.
- Immerse in Berber culture at local Draa Valley villages.
- A nice walk at Draa Valley and the village of Tamnougalte
- Learn about life in the deep south of Morocco and Desert region
- Explore the wild desert of Erg Chegaga
- Camel ride at Erg Chegaga, watch Sahara sunset in tranquillity.
- Enjoy traditional Moroccan tagine and mint tea under stars.
- Visit historic Tamgroute, see Quranic library and ceramics workshops.
- Cross Atlas Mountains via Tizi N’tichkapass, admire rugged beauty.
- Discover wild life atIriqui National Park: gazelles, lizards.
Tour Plan
Day 1 : Marrakech -> Ait ben haddou -> Ouarzazate -> Agdez-Draa Valley
For the first day of your 4 day desert tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga, begins in the morning at 08:30 am with a pick-up from your hotel in Marrakech, after briefing about the tour you are ready to go. The Berber villages that you get to see as you cross the Tizi N Tichka pass at 2260 meters have to beaming the most beautiful in this world. Our first call will be to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah which is an ancient fortified village, aged in the 16th century. Here you will walk through the tangled network of the streets and study its history and architecture.
Then, we proceed with the ride to our next destination, the city of Ouarzazate famous for its protruding filmmaking facilities, and momentarily stop for photos at the Kasbah Taourirte. We then move through the beautiful Drâa valley; the area where you’ll take a walk, and exercise interactions with the locals in Tamnougalte Village, where we spend the night.
Day 2 : Agdez -> Draa valley -> Zagora -> Tamegroute -> Erg Chegaga
For the second day of your 4 day desert tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga, in the morning after a special breakfast in the middle of the palmerie the journey will start with the driving through the largest valley of Morocco, Draa valley, in the direction to Zagora. From here a brief stop will be made at Zagora, and then continue to the original Saadian dynasty town of Tamgrout dating from the 16th Century. Here cultural and historical sites include the ancient Koran library and the famous local ceramics.
We then proceed to a Saharan village known as Mhamid and then proceed on an off-road heading to Erg Chegaga. Near Erg Chegaga we will take a camel ride Deeping to the desert to watch the sunset on the top of the sand dunes. A delicious tagine dinner is prepared for you, a mint tea which is served to us to drink and traditional Berber music to entertain us; while gazing at the stars and the rising moon in the powerful Sahara. As for the night accommodation, it will be in a tent in the sand – which is more representative of the Sahrawian hospitality.
Day 3 : Erg Chegaga – > Foum Zguide –> Taznakhet –> Tislday Village
A wake early in the morning with the sunrise over the sand dunes, have the breakfast and then get ready for a very interesting part of your sahara desert trip From Marrakech and drive to Foum Zguid following the Paris-Dakar track. Cross Iriqui pre-desert and stop at the dry salt lake through which runs the Iriqui National Park and turns to marshland during the rainy season. It is one of a kind park where you can see for instance; lizards, snakes, gazelles and if you are lucky, even hyenas.
Stop for lunch in Taznakht, a Berber’s village famous for its genuine handmade carpets’ production. Finally, get across the Atlas Mountains and arrive at Tislday; submerge yourself into an amazing village and spend a night in the mountains that you will remember for a long time.
Day 4 : Tislday Village –> Marrakech
For the last day of your 4 day desert tour from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga You may proceed to have Moroccan breakfast that is sumptuous and typically Moroccan before proceeding for an exciting hike and climb in the Atlas Mountain ranges. Have lunch with a predominant Berber family so as to witness that side of the Moroccan culture in a very close and personal way. Later, proceed back to Marrakech through the striking Tizi N’tichka pass. You will be transferred to your hotel in Marrakech, bringing to an end this rewarding Atlas mountains tour in the colourful tapestry that is Morocco.
