Sahara · 4 days
Sahara Luxury — Erg Chigaga & M'hamid | Maison Atlas
Four private days to Morocco's wildest dunes via the Draa Valley and Zagora
Duration
4 days
Group size
2–6 travellers
Difficulty
Moderate
Languages
English, French, Berber
From / person
$1,560
Overview
Four private days to Erg Chigaga — Morocco's most remote luxury dunes, 40km past the last paved road south of M'hamid. High Atlas crossing, Draa Valley palms, a night in Zagora, two nights at a solar-powered private camp in the deepest Sahara.
Erg Chigaga is the Sahara almost nobody reaches. While Erg Chebbi at Merzouga sits beside a tarmac road, Chigaga lies a further 40km of piste (off-road track) beyond the last village of M'hamid — a three-hour 4x4 crossing of stone desert, dry riverbeds and isolated oases with no other vehicle in sight. The result is a silence and a darkness that the more-visited Merzouga erg simply cannot offer.
We have worked with the same Berber family camp at Chigaga for nine years. It is plastic-free, solar-lit and genuinely off-grid. The tents have real beds with linen, en-suite bathroom facilities and a covered dining area — but the experience is entirely wild. On this four-day circuit we take the scenic route: over the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka pass, through the palm-fringed Draa Valley with a night in Zagora, then south to M'hamid and off the tarmac into the deep Sahara. Two nights at the camp give you a full free day on the dunes before the long drive home via a different valley route.
Trip highlights
- Cross the High Atlas via the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260m) with Atlas panoramas
- Drive the Draa Valley — a 200km corridor of date palms and ancient ksour
- Night in Zagora, gateway to the pre-Sahara and the Draa Desert
- Switch to a 4x4 for the off-road crossing to Erg Chigaga (40km of piste)
- Two nights at a private solar-powered luxury camp — the wildest dunes in Morocco
- Camel ride and sunset over 200m dunes with no other camp in sight
Photo gallery
Inside the trip.
Day-by-day itinerary
Marrakech → Marrakech
- 1
Day 1 · Marrakech → High Atlas → Aït Ben Haddou → Zagora
Tizi n'Tichka · Draa Valley · 380kmEarly pickup from your Marrakech riad. We climb the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260m with stops for argan oil and Atlas panoramas, then descend to the UNESCO kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou for a brief stop on the earthen towers. Continue south through Ouarzazate and into the Draa Valley — the corridor of date palms, fortified ksour and terraced villages running south to the Sahara. Arrive in Zagora by early evening. Dinner on a rooftop terrace with the desert air already warm and dry.
Kasbah guesthouse, Zagora L · D - 2
Day 2 · Zagora → Tamegroute → M'hamid → Erg Chigaga camp
Draa south · off-road to Chigaga · 160kmAfter breakfast we visit Tamegroute — a village famous for its 17th-century Quranic library (manuscripts in iron ink) and its distinctive green glazed ceramics, still produced by the same families. Continue south to M'hamid — the last town before the Sahara — where we switch to a 4x4 vehicle for the three-hour off-road crossing. The piste runs through flat hammada, dry oued beds and small oases before the dunes of Erg Chigaga rise ahead. Arrive at the private camp by late afternoon. Camel ride to the highest dune at golden hour. Berber dinner with gnaoua musicians around the fire.
Private luxury Sahara camp, Erg Chigaga B · L · D - 3
Day 3 · A full day in Erg Chigaga
Erg ChigagaPredawn dune climb for sunrise over the full 40km erg — no other camp, no other footprints. Breakfast in camp. A completely free day: sandboarding the steep slip-faces, a long 4x4 loop to the Iriki dry lake (a prehistoric lake bed with fossilised fish and ancient petroglyphs), or simply lying in the shade of a dune reading. The silence here is absolute — no road noise, no generators, nothing but wind and sand. Second sunset, second Berber dinner, fire and music.
Private luxury Sahara camp, Erg Chigaga B · L · D - 4
Day 4 · Chigaga → M'hamid → Draa Valley → Marrakech
Off-road return · 430kmFinal sunrise from the dune crest before the heat rises. Breakfast and farewells with the Berber camp family. Three-hour 4x4 crossing back to M'hamid; switch to the main vehicle and return to Marrakech via a different valley route — the Tizi n'Tiniffift pass and the Agoundis valley — for fresh scenery. Back in Marrakech by evening.
B · L
Cities & regions on this trip
You'll experience 6 destinations.
Each stop has its own deep-dive guide — geography, history, best season, things to see, and other tours that visit it. Tap any card to open its dedicated page.
Imperial city · Central Morocco
Marrakech
The red city: souks, riads, gardens and the gateway to the Atlas.
Open guideErg Chebbi · Southeast Morocco
Sahara & Merzouga
Real Sahara: 150m dunes, camel caravans, and luxury camps under more stars than you've ever seen.
Open guide
High Atlas · Imlil & Toubkal
Atlas Mountains
Berber villages, walnut groves and North Africa's highest summit — an hour from Marrakech.
Open guide
Pre-Sahara · Southern Morocco
Ouarzazate & Aït Ben Haddou
The Hollywood of Africa: kasbahs, film studios and the gateway to the dunes.
Open guideDraa Valley · Southeast Morocco
Zagora
Gateway to Erg Chigaga — a palm-lined oasis town at the threshold of the deep Sahara.
Open guideDraa Valley · Far south Morocco
M'Hamid el Ghizlane
M'Hamid el Ghizlane is the road's end — the last town before Erg Chigaga and the deepest, wildest desert in Morocco.
Open guideThe route
Map of Sahara Luxury — Erg Chigaga & M'hamid | Maison Atlas
8 stops across Sahara. Distances and timings are flexible — every itinerary is reshaped to your pace.
- 1
Marrakech
Start
- 2
Tizi n'Tichka
Pass 2,260m
- 3
Aït Ben Haddou
Day 1 stop
- 4
Zagora
Night 1
- 5
Tamegroute
Library stop
- 6
M'hamid
4x4 switch point
- 7
Erg Chigaga
Nights 2–3
- 8
Marrakech
End
What's included
- Private English-speaking driver-guide for the duration
- Vehicle (sedan, 4x4 or minivan) with fuel, tolls and parking
- All listed accommodation in hand-picked riads, kasbahs or desert camps
- Daily breakfast and meals as noted in the itinerary
- All listed entrance fees and guided activities
- Airport pickup and drop-off with flight tracking
- Bottled water and snacks on board
- 24/7 WhatsApp concierge based in Marrakech
- 4x4 vehicle and specialist off-road driver for the M'hamid → Erg Chigaga piste
- Camel ride at golden hour on arrival at camp
- Two nights at a private solar-powered luxury camp with en-suite facilities
- Gnaoua musicians on both camp evenings
Not included
- International flights to/from Morocco
- Travel insurance (we recommend a provider)
- Alcoholic drinks and personal shopping
- Optional activities marked “add-on” in your quote
- Tips for driver, guides and camp staff
- Sandboard hire (available at camp — $10 per session)
What to bring
Pack light, pack smart.
- Comfortable walking shoes (medina cobblestones)
- Layers — even desert nights can drop to 5°C
- Sun hat, sunglasses, SPF 30+
- Modest cover-up for mosques and conservative areas
- Reusable water bottle (we refill on the road)
- Adaptor for Type C/E plugs (220V)
- Warm layer for Sahara nights — Chigaga nights can drop to 5°C in winter
- Headlamp for the predawn dune climb
- Lightweight scarf or shemagh for the off-road crossing (dust)
Frequently asked
Questions about this tour.
Is "Sahara Luxury — Erg Chigaga & M'hamid" private or a group tour?
100% private. Just you and the people you book with — your own driver, vehicle and pace from start to finish. We never pool travellers.
Can I change the dates or itinerary?
Yes. Every itinerary is a starting point. Add a day, swap a riad, change the start city — we'll re-quote in 24 hours and lock the price in writing before any deposit.
How fit do I need to be?
Easy. Light walking on medina cobblestones, plus optional activities you can opt in or out of on the day.
When should I book?
For high season (Oct–Apr) and any trip involving the Sahara or hot-air balloon, book 8–12 weeks ahead. Last-minute (under 14 days) is usually still possible with a phone call.
How does Erg Chigaga differ from Erg Chebbi at Merzouga?
Erg Chebbi is larger (180m dunes) and easier to reach — a tarmac road runs right to the dune edge. Erg Chigaga is wilder and more remote: a 40km off-road crossing past M'hamid with far fewer visitors, a true sense of deep Sahara, and a night sky unaffected by any town light. Chigaga dunes reach 200m. If you want the more raw, uncrowded experience, Chigaga is the better choice.
Is the off-road crossing suitable for everyone?
The piste is driven in a well-maintained 4x4 Land Cruiser with a specialist desert driver. The crossing takes about three hours on tracks that are rough in places but not extreme. It is not suitable for travellers with severe back problems or those who are heavily pregnant. For everyone else — including children and older travellers — it is an adventure, not an ordeal.
Can we combine this with a stop at Ait Ben Haddou?
Absolutely — the outward route passes directly through Aït Ben Haddou after crossing the High Atlas. We include a one-hour sunset stop as standard; if you'd like a full overnight there instead, we re-quote the five-day version, which we also offer.
