Ouarzazate Desert Tour to Merzouga and Erg Chegaga, 6 Days
This Ouarzazate desert tour visits both of Morocco’s big dune fields in six days. You go to the gorges and Erg Chebbi first, then cross to the Draa Valley, M’hamid and Erg Chegaga, and come back to Ouarzazate across the dry Lake Iriki.
- DURATION
- ROUTE
- TOUR TYPE
- PICKUP
- PRICE
Ouarzazate desert tour at a glance
- 6 days / 5 nights
- Ouarzazate · Skoura · Dades · Todra · Merzouga · Tazarine · N'Kob · Draa Valley · M'hamid · Erg Chegaga · Foum Zguid · Ouarzazate
- Private tour
- Riad or hotel pickup
- Best time: October to April
Ouarzazate to Merzouga, then Erg Chegaga
Ouarzazate sits between the two deserts, which makes it a good base for seeing both. The loop runs east to the gorges and Erg Chebbi, comes back along the edge of the Saghro to the Draa Valley, and ends with a night in Erg Chegaga.
In the middle there is a night at a riad in the Draa Valley and a slow morning before you go on to M’hamid.
Highlights
- The Dades and Todra gorges
- A night in the Erg Chebbi dunes
- A day of rest in a Draa Valley riad
- M'hamid and a night in Erg Chegaga
- The crossing of Lake Iriki
Read more: Erg Chebbi and Erg Chigaga.
Day-by-day itinerary
How the six days go, from your pickup in Ouarzazate to the drop-off.
Day 1 · Ouarzazate to the Todra Gorge
Skoura, the Valley of Roses and the Dades Valley to Tinghir and the Todra Gorge.
- Overnight: Hotel near the Todra Gorge
Day 2 · Todra to Merzouga
A walk in the palm grove, then to Merzouga and a camel ride to camp.
- Overnight: Desert camp in Erg Chebbi
Day 3 · Merzouga to the Draa Valley
Through Tazarine and N’Kob to a riad in the Draa Valley.
- Overnight: Riad in the Draa Valley
Day 4 · Draa Valley to M'hamid
A slow morning, then down to M’hamid and a camel ride at sunset.
- Overnight: Guesthouse in M'hamid
Day 5 · M'hamid to Erg Chegaga
The old village of M’hamid, then by 4×4 to the dunes.
- Overnight: Desert camp in Erg Chegaga
Day 6 · Erg Chegaga to Ouarzazate
Across Lake Iriki to Foum Zguid and back by Taznakht to Ouarzazate.
What is included and not included
Included
- Private vehicle and driver for the six days, with a 4x4 for the desert tracks
- Pickup and drop-off at your riad or hotel in Ouarzazate
- One night: hotel near the Todra Gorge, dinner and breakfast
- One night: desert camp in Erg Chebbi, dinner and breakfast
- One night: riad in the Draa Valley, dinner and breakfast
- One night: guesthouse in M'hamid, dinner and breakfast
- One night: desert camp in Erg Chegaga, dinner and breakfast
- Camel rides in the dunes
- 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
Pickup at your hotel in Ouarzazate or at Ouarzazate airport.
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 Ouarzazate desert tour
How far is Merzouga from Ouarzazate?
About 360 km, around six hours of driving by the Dades Valley and Tinghir. The tour stops near the Todra Gorge on the way.
Can we start the tour in Marrakech?
Yes. Marrakech to Ouarzazate is about four hours over the Tizi n’Tichka pass, so we can add a first day from Marrakech.
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.
Can we change the route or the hotels?
Yes. We can add nights, change hotels or swap the order of the stops, since only your group is on the tour. Tell us what you have in mind when you enquire.
Can we bring children?
Yes. Tell us how old they are and we plan the driving, the stops and the pace around them.
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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