From €190
5 DAYS
5-Day Erg Chegaga — Private Tour
PRIVATE TOUR
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6-Day Grand South Tour · Private 4x4 · On Request
6-Day Grand South Morocco Tour from Marrakech
Six days, three deserts, one circuit. Zagora, Merzouga and Erg Chegaga — the full sweep of the Moroccan Sahara from the Draa Valley to the remotest dunes near the Algerian border. The most complete desert tour we offer.
6 Days / 5 Nights
Zagora · Merzouga · Erg Chegaga
On request — private only
2 to 8 people
Overview
The Complete Moroccan Desert — Three Regions in Six Days
Most travelers pick one desert and go deep. This tour goes wide. In six days it covers the three distinct desert regions of southern Morocco: the Draa Valley around Zagora, the Sahara dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga, and the remote wilderness of Erg Chegaga near M'Hamid — three very different landscapes separated by hundreds of kilometres of Anti-Atlas mountain roads and hammada plateau.
The logistics require a proper 4x4 and an experienced guide. The section from M'Hamid to Erg Chegaga on Day 4 is open desert — no road, no markers, navigation by GPS and local knowledge. This is not a tour for anyone who wants everything predictable. It is a tour for people who want to see what the Moroccan south actually looks like when you get off the main tourist circuit.
Six days also means real time in each place — not the rushed version where you arrive, take a photo and leave. You have a full day at Erg Chegaga with nothing scheduled. That day is the best part of the tour.
This experience is part of our Desert Tours from Marrakech.
View all Desert Tours from MarrakechHighlights
Tour Highlights
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Three desert regions — Zagora, Merzouga, Erg Chegaga
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Open desert 4x4 crossing to Erg Chegaga from M'Hamid
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Full day free in the Sahara at Erg Chegaga
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Visit Ait Benhaddou, Ouarzazate and Draa Valley
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Sunrise on Erg Chebbi dunes
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Traditional bivouac camps at all three deserts
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Carpet workshops at Taznakht on the return
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Private tour — complete flexibility throughout
Details
Quick Info
- Duration6 Days / 5 Nights
- DestinationZagora · Merzouga · Erg Chegaga
- DeparturesOn request — private only
- Group size2 to 8 people
- Tour typePrivate Tour Only
- LanguageEnglish, French, Spanish
Day by Day
Detailed Itinerary
1
Day 1
Marrakech → Ait Benhaddou → Ouarzazate → Zagora
Pickup at 7am. Atlas crossing via Tizi n'Tichka. Stop at Ait Benhaddou. Lunch in Ouarzazate. Afternoon drive south through the Draa Valley. Arrival in Zagora at sunset. Camel ride to camp, traditional dinner, first desert night.
2
Day 2
Zagora → Tamegroute → M'Hamid
Morning sunrise at the Zagora dunes. Visit Tamegroute — a village 18 km south of Zagora with one of the oldest Koranic libraries in Morocco and distinctive green-glazed pottery that has been made here for centuries. Continue south to M'Hamid El Ghizlane, the last village before open desert. Camel ride on the Erg Lihoudi dunes at sunset. Camp dinner and night at M'Hamid.
3
Day 3
M'Hamid → Erg Chegaga (4x4 desert crossing)
From M'Hamid, the paved road ends. The 4x4 takes over for the 60-kilometre crossing to Erg Chegaga across open hammada and sand tracks. The crossing takes 2 to 3 hours. No other vehicles, no road signs, no mobile signal. Arrival at the Chegaga camp in the afternoon. The dunes here reach 300 metres — the highest in Morocco. Dinner at the camp, fire, complete silence.
4
Day 4
Full day at Erg Chegaga
No schedule today. Sunrise climb on the high dunes. Breakfast at camp. The day is yours — walk the surrounding hammada, talk to the camp guides about their routes through the desert, try a camel trek into the open Sahara. Lunch at camp. Afternoon at your own pace. Sunset from the highest dune you can find. Second night at Erg Chegaga — the sky here, with zero light pollution for 150 kilometres, is extraordinary.
5
Day 5
Erg Chegaga → Foum Zguid → Taznakht → Ouarzazate
Morning in the desert before the 4x4 return to M'Hamid and then north to Foum Zguid. Stop at Taznakht, a small town famous for its Berber carpet workshops — the patterns and dyes used here are specific to the region and quite different from Marrakech souvenirs. Arrival in Ouarzazate for dinner and overnight.
6
Day 6
Ouarzazate → Ait Benhaddou → Telouet → Marrakech
Morning visit to the Atlas Film Studios in Ouarzazate — the largest film complex outside Hollywood. Then the return over the Atlas via the Telouet track, passing the crumbling Glaoui Kasbah of Telouet before rejoining the Tizi n'Tichka road. Arrival in Marrakech between 6pm and 8pm.
Inclusions
What's Included
Included
- Hotel pickup in Marrakech city center
- Private 4x4 throughout — including desert crossing
- Experienced desert guide for Erg Chegaga section
- 2 nights in desert bivouac camps (Zagora + Chegaga)
- 1 night at M'Hamid camp
- 2 nights in guesthouses (Ouarzazate x2)
- Breakfast at all accommodations
- Dinners at all three camps
- Camel treks at Zagora, M'Hamid and Chegaga
Not Included
- Lunches throughout
- Entrance fees (Ait Benhaddou, Film Studios)
- Tips for guides and camp staff
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
Good to Know
Practical Information
- Tour type
- Private only — no shared group departures
- Pickup time
- 7am from your hotel in Marrakech
- Return time
- Between 6pm and 8pm on Day 6
- Physical level
- Easy to moderate — the 4x4 tracks can be rough
- Mobile signal
- None at Erg Chegaga — download maps and content before M'Hamid
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 72 hours before departure
- Payment
- Cash on arrival (EUR, USD or MAD)
Route Map
Tour Itinerary Map
Gallery
Tour Photos
What Our Travelers Say
"Amazing trip — you get to see so many different landscapes. Todgha Gorge was definitely my highlight, with its fresh green valley and cool air even in the heat. The camel ride into the desert was unforgettable, and the camp was very comfortable with great tents and beds."
"Really nice experience, you learn a lot about Berber culture. The Sahara is just magic — the colors and the big dunes are crazy, really something special. Our guide Younes was very friendly and funny, always there when you need him."
"The guides were all wonderful and very knowledgeable. The High Atlas Mountains was a trip highlight for me because of the beautiful views and nice people. I would recommend this tour to anyone looking for an adventure and who likes to meet new people from all around the world."
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Read Before You Go
Helpful Travel Guides
Planning
Private vs Shared Desert Tour Morocco — Which to Book?
Cost, flexibility and experience compared. Written by a local operator who runs both.
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Planning
Merzouga vs Zagora — Which Desert Should You Choose?
Dunes, drive time, price and who each desert is really for. The honest comparison before you book.
Read guide →
Planning
Best Time to Visit the Sahara from Marrakech
Month-by-month breakdown of temperatures and conditions. When to go, when to avoid.
Read guide →6-Day Grand South Tour — FAQ
What does a 6-day Grand South Morocco tour from Marrakech include?
Three desert regions in one circuit: Zagora (Draa Valley), Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) and Erg Chegaga. The tour includes 3 nights in traditional bivouac camps, 2 nights in guesthouses, breakfasts and dinners at all camps, camel treks at Zagora, M'Hamid and Chegaga, and a private 4x4 throughout including the open desert crossing from M'Hamid to Erg Chegaga. Lunches, entrance fees and tips are not included. The full day free at Erg Chegaga on Day 4 — with no schedule and no other groups — is what makes this tour different from anything you can do in 3 or 4 days.
What is the typical cost of a 6-day Grand South tour from Marrakech?
Private tours start at €240 per person. This is private only — no shared group option exists for this circuit. The price covers transport in a private 4x4 throughout, all camp and guesthouse nights, breakfasts and dinners at camps, and an experienced desert guide for the Erg Chegaga crossing. For groups of 3 or more the per-person cost becomes more competitive. Contact us with your group size for an exact quote.
What is the best time of year for a 6-day south Morocco desert tour?
October to April. Autumn (October–November) and spring (March–April) are the sweet spot — warm days, cool nights, excellent light for photography. Winter (December–February) is cold at night near Erg Chegaga, sometimes near freezing — serious warm layers are non-negotiable. Summer (June–August) is possible but above 45°C in the open desert, the 4x4 crossing to Chegaga becomes very demanding. The free day at Erg Chegaga in summer heat with no shade is not enjoyable. October is consistently the best single month.
What accommodations are provided on a 6-day Grand South tour?
Three nights in traditional desert bivouac camps — Zagora, M'Hamid and Erg Chegaga. These are nomad-style tents with comfortable mattresses, blankets provided, shared facilities, and meals cooked on an open fire. Two nights in guesthouses in Ouarzazate — private rooms with en-suite bathrooms. The Erg Chegaga camp has no electricity and no mobile signal; lighting is by candle and lantern. This is intentional — the silence and darkness are the point. If you need a hot shower every night, the 6-day grand south is not the right tour.
Packing list for a 6-day Marrakech desert tour?
One soft bag — no rigid suitcases, impractical in a 4x4 on desert tracks. Warm layers are essential for 3 nights in desert camps, including a proper jacket for Erg Chegaga where temperatures drop well below 10°C in winter. Long trousers for camel rides. A scarf or chech for wind and sand on the crossings. High SPF sunscreen — desert reflection and altitude both burn fast. Power bank — no charging at any of the three desert camps. Cash in dirhams for lunches, tips and entrance fees. Download offline maps before M'Hamid — no signal from there to Chegaga and back. Sleeping bag liner if you feel the cold easily.
6-Day Grand South Morocco Tour
Plan your grand south Morocco tour
This is a private tour that requires advance planning. Send us your dates and group size — we'll reply within 24 hours with availability and a detailed quote.