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Camel Trek in Morocco, 9 Days on Foot from M'hamid to Erg Chigaga
This camel trek in Morocco spends seven days walking through the desert from M’hamid to Erg Chigaga and back, with camels carrying the gear and a nomad team cooking for you. You sleep in tents or under the stars, with a night in M’hamid at each end and the drive from and to Marrakech.
- DURATION
- ROUTE
- TOUR TYPE
- PICKUP
- PRICE
Camel Trek in Morocco at a glance
- 9 days / 8 nights
- Marrakech · Ouarzazate · Agdz · Zagora · M'hamid · Erg Lihoudi · Erg Chigaga · M'hamid · Marrakech
- Private tour
- Riad or hotel pickup
- Best time: October to April
A Sahara camel trek with a nomad team
You walk four to five hours a day beside the camels, which carry the water, food and tents, and you can ride when you get tired. The route crosses dunes, stony plains and oases between M’hamid and Erg Chigaga.
The team sets up simple bivouac camps each night. There are no showers for a week, so the trek suits walkers who care more about quiet than comfort.
Highlights
- Seven days walking with camels
- A nomad cook and camel team
- Nights in bivouac camps far from roads
- The dunes of Erg Lihoudi and Erg Chigaga
- Oases and wells on the old caravan routes
Read more: M’Hamid El Ghizlane and Erg Chigaga.
Day-by-day itinerary
How the nine days go, from your pickup in Marrakech to the drop-off.
Day 1 · Marrakech to M'hamid
Over the High Atlas, through Ouarzazate and down the Draa Valley to M’hamid.
- Overnight: Guesthouse in M'hamid
Day 2 · Into the desert
Meet the camel team and walk out past Erg Lihoudi.
- Overnight: Bivouac camp
Day 3 · Across the plains
A day across stony desert and dry riverbeds to a well.
- Overnight: Bivouac camp
Day 4 · Oasis day
Walking to a small oasis with palms and a spring.
- Overnight: Bivouac camp
Day 5 · Towards Erg Chigaga
Into the first dunes of the erg.
- Overnight: Bivouac camp
Day 6 · Erg Chigaga
A day in the high dunes, with time to climb and rest.
- Overnight: Bivouac camp
Day 7 · Return route
Back east by a different line through dunes and plains.
- Overnight: Bivouac camp
Day 8 · Back to M'hamid
The last walk to M’hamid and a shower at the guesthouse.
- Overnight: Guesthouse in M'hamid
Day 9 · M'hamid to Marrakech
The long drive back up the Draa Valley to Marrakech.
What is included and not included
Included
- Private vehicle and driver for the nine days
- Pickup and drop-off at your riad or hotel in Marrakech
- Two nights: guesthouse in M'hamid, dinner and breakfast
- Six nights: bivouac camp, dinner and breakfast
- Camels, camel men and a nomad cook for seven days
- All meals on the trek
- Tents and mattresses for the bivouacs
- Fuel and road costs
Not included
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees and local guides at the sites
- Tips
- Travel insurance
Pickup, best time to go and what to bring
Pickup points
We pick you up at your riad or hotel in Marrakech at the time you choose. If your riad is in a lane cars cannot enter, the driver waits at the nearest square or gate and someone from the riad walks you there.
Best time to go
October to April is the most comfortable time. Days are warm and nights cool, and in December and January the desert can drop close to freezing at night. From June to August the afternoons are very hot, so we start early and rest in the middle of the day.
What to bring
Layers, with a warm jacket for the desert night from November to March; a hat, sunglasses and sun cream; a scarf against wind and sand; shoes you can walk in on sand; a head torch; a small bag for the camp night, since your main luggage stays in the vehicle; cash in dirhams for drinks and tips; a power bank.
Good to know
Carry cash in dirhams: camps and small villages rarely take cards, and the last cash machines are in towns such as Ouarzazate, Zagora and Erfoud. Phone signal is often weak in the dunes. Camps have toilets and showers, shared at standard camps and private at luxury ones. Keep cameras and phones in a bag when the wind lifts the sand, and ask before you photograph people in the villages. Your main luggage stays locked in the vehicle overnight.
Price, deposit and cancellation
Prices are per person and depend on the size of your group. You book with a 20% deposit by card or PayPal and pay the balance on the first day of the tour.
If you cancel 30 days or more before the start, we refund the deposit in full; after that the deposit is kept. You can change the date once for free if you ask 14 days or more before. The details are in our Cancellation Policy.
Questions about the Morocco camel trek
How far do we walk each day?
Usually four to six hours, split by a long lunch stop in the heat of the day. You can ride a camel for part of the way if you get tired.
When is the best time for a Sahara camel trek?
October to April. Days are warm and nights can be cold in December and January; from May to September the heat makes long walks hard.
How hard is the walking?
Four to five hours a day on sand and stony ground, at a slow pace. You can ride a camel when you want to rest.
Where do we wash?
There are no showers on the trek. Water is carried for drinking and cooking, with a little for washing. The guesthouse in M’hamid has showers at both ends.
What is the desert camp like?
You sleep in a tent at a camp in the dunes, with dinner and breakfast. Camps range from simple to comfortable tents with a private bathroom; tell us the level you want and we suggest camps that fit.
How do I book?
Send an enquiry with your dates and group size and we reply with availability and a quote. When online booking is open for this tour, you can also reserve with a deposit by card or PayPal.
Book this tour
Send your dates and group size and we reply with a quote.
- Private tour, only your group
- Free enquiry, no obligation
- Private tour, only your group
- Free enquiry, no obligation
- Route and stays adjusted to you
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