Ouarzazate to Erg Chigaga by the Saghro Mountains, 5 Days
From Ouarzazate to Erg Chigaga, this five-day loop takes the long way, by the Valley of Roses and the Todra Gorge and over Jebel Saghro on a mountain road to N’Kob and Zagora, then to a night in the dunes. It comes back by Foum Zguid, a kasbah night in Agdz and Aït Benhaddou.
- DURATION
- ROUTE
- TOUR TYPE
- PICKUP
- PRICE
Ouarzazate to Erg Chigaga trip at a glance
- 5 days / 4 nights
- Ouarzazate · Skoura · Kelaat M'Gouna · Todra · Tizi n'Tazazert · N'Kob · Zagora · M'hamid · Erg Chegaga · Foum Zguid · Agdz · Aït Benhaddou · Ouarzazate
- Private tour
- Riad or hotel pickup
- Best time: October to April
Across Jebel Saghro to Zagora
To link the Todra Gorge with the Draa Valley, the route crosses the Jbel Saghro by the Tizi n’Tazazert pass, a mountain road few tours use. From Zagora you go on to the dunes of Erg Lihoudi and Erg Chegaga.
The way back goes through Foum Zguid and Taznakht to Agdz, where you sleep in an old kasbah, and the last morning is at Aït Benhaddou.
Highlights
- The Valley of Roses at Kelaat M'Gouna
- The Tizi n'Tazazert pass over the Saghro
- A camel ride in Erg Lihoudi
- A night in Erg Chegaga
- A night in an old kasbah at Agdz
Read more: Jebel Saghro and Erg Chigaga.
Day-by-day itinerary
How the five days go, from your pickup in Ouarzazate to the drop-off.
Day 1 · Ouarzazate to the Todra Gorge
Skoura, Kelaat M’Gouna and the Dades to the Todra Gorge.
- Overnight: Hotel near the Todra Gorge
Day 2 · Todra to Zagora
Off-road over the Tizi n’Tazazert pass to N’Kob, then to Zagora.
- Overnight: Hotel in Zagora
Day 3 · Zagora to Erg Chegaga
A camel ride in Erg Lihoudi, lunch in M’hamid and the 4×4 track to the dunes.
- Overnight: Desert camp in Erg Chegaga
Day 4 · Erg Chegaga to Agdz
Across Lake Iriki to Foum Zguid, then by Taznakht to Agdz.
- Overnight: Kasbah hotel in Agdz
Day 5 · Agdz to Ouarzazate
Over the Tizi n’Tinififft pass to Aït Benhaddou and back to Ouarzazate.
What is included and not included
Included
- Private vehicle and driver for the five 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: hotel in Zagora, dinner and breakfast
- One night: desert camp in Erg Chegaga, dinner and breakfast
- One night: kasbah hotel in Agdz, 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 to Erg Chigaga trip
What is Jebel Saghro?
A dry volcanic range between the High Atlas and the Sahara, with dark rock, flat-topped hills and Ait Atta villages. The Tizi n’Tazazert road crosses it on the way to N’Kob.
Can we add a Saghro trek?
Yes. Walking days in the Saghro can be added between the Todra Gorge and N’Kob; tell us how many.
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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