Zagora to Erg Chigaga, 2 Days from Zagora or M'hamid
From Zagora to Erg Chigaga is a short trip if you are already in the Draa Valley, with about 95 km of road to M’hamid and then around 60 km of track. You go by 4×4 or partly by camel, spend a night at a camp in the dunes and can stay longer.
- DURATION
- ROUTE
- TOUR TYPE
- PICKUP
- PRICE
Zagora to Erg Chigaga trip at a glance
- 2 days / 1 night
- Zagora · Tamegroute · Tagounite · M'hamid · Erg Chigaga · M'hamid · Zagora
- Private tour
- Riad or hotel pickup
- Best time: October to April
From M'hamid to Erg Chigaga by 4x4 or camel
From M’hamid it is about two hours by 4×4 to Erg Chigaga; from Zagora, add another hour and a half. The trip suits travellers who have made their own way to Zagora or M’hamid.
You can ride part of the way from M’hamid by camel and arrive slowly, and you can add nights at the camp.
Highlights
- The end of the Draa Valley at M'hamid
- The 4x4 track to Erg Chigaga
- A camel ride in the dunes
- A night at a desert camp
- Extra nights on request
Read more: Erg Chigaga and Tamegroute.
Day-by-day itinerary
How the two days go, from your pickup in Zagora or M’hamid to the drop-off.
Day 1 · To Erg Chigaga
Pickup in Zagora or M’hamid, then south through Tamegroute and Tagounite to M’hamid and by 4×4 into the dunes, with a camel ride at sunset.
- Overnight: Desert camp in Erg Chigaga
Day 2 · Back to Zagora or M'hamid
Sunrise and breakfast, then back to M’hamid or Zagora.
What is included and not included
Included
- Private vehicle and driver for the two days, with a 4x4 for the desert tracks
- Pickup and drop-off at your riad or hotel in Zagora or M'hamid
- One night: desert camp in Erg Chigaga, dinner and breakfast
- Camel ride 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 or guesthouse in Zagora or M’hamid.
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 Zagora to Erg Chigaga trip
How long does it take from M'hamid to Erg Chigaga?
About two hours by 4×4 on sand and stone tracks. Going the whole way by camel takes two to three days, so most people combine the two.
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.
Is the camel part optional?
Yes. You can go the whole way by 4×4, ride a camel for the last part into the dunes, or walk beside the camels at sunset.
Can we start from M'hamid?
Yes. M’hamid is closer to the dunes, so the drive is shorter, and we pick you up at your guesthouse there.
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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