Sahara
Morocco Desert Tours: Erg Chebbi, Erg Chigaga & Which One’s Worth It
Co-founder & lead guide, Beyond the Riad
Two dune fields matter: Erg Chebbi (near Merzouga — taller, easier to reach, the postcard) and Erg Chigaga (near M’Hamid — remoter, 4x4-only, fewer people). For a first trip, do Erg Chebbi over three days from Marrakech, or as a Fez-to-Marrakech crossing. Skip the one-night Zagora dash if you possibly can.
Every Morocco itinerary eventually arrives at the same fork in the road, literally: which bit of the Sahara, and for how long. Get it right and it’s the night you’ll still be describing at dinner parties in ten years. Get it wrong and it’s six hours in a minibus for forty minutes on a smallish dune.
We drive this route constantly, so here is the version with the marketing removed.
Erg Chebbi vs Erg Chigaga vs Zagora
Three names get sold as "the desert." They are not the same thing.
- Erg Chebbi (Merzouga) — the big, cinematic dunes up to ~150m. Reachable by normal car, with everything from basic camps to camps with actual pools. The right call for 95% of first-timers.
- Erg Chigaga (M’Hamid) — bigger, wilder, remoter. Needs a 4x4 and more time. The connoisseur’s pick once you’ve done Chebbi and want fewer humans.
- Zagora — closest to Marrakech, which is its only real selling point. The dunes are small. It exists for people who only have one night, and we gently suggest finding a second night.
How many days do you actually need?
- 2 days / 1 night: only honest for Zagora from Marrakech. It’s a lot of driving for a short payoff.
- 3 days / 2 nights: the sweet spot for Erg Chebbi from Marrakech. You actually see Aït Benhaddou, the gorges and the dunes without hating the drive.
- 4+ days: the relaxed version, or the Fez-to-Marrakech crossing where the desert is the middle, not the U-turn. Our 3-day Marrakech run and Fez-to-Marrakech route cover both.
The desert is far. Either give it the days it deserves or build it into a one-way route so you’re not driving the same road twice.
Private, shared, or the big bus?
A shared tour is cheap and sociable, with a fixed schedule and a van of strangers on the same toilet timetable as you. A private tour costs more but you choose the stops, the music and the lunch — and you’re not waiting on a stranger who "just needs five minutes" at every kasbah. For couples and families it’s usually worth the upgrade; see our private desert packages.
Start from Marrakech or Fez?
Both work, and the smartest move uses both. From Marrakech, the desert is an out-and-back loop. From Fez, it’s a natural one-way line down through the Middle Atlas and the Ziz Valley. The trick most people miss: enter the desert from one city and leave from the other, so you never repeat a road. It turns "the desert trip" into "we crossed the country."
What to pack (and what to leave)
- Layers. Desert days are warm and desert nights, even in spring, will surprise you. Bring a real fleece or jacket.
- A scarf. Sun, wind, blowing sand — it solves all three, and a turban photo is statistically inevitable.
- Cash. ATMs vanish past Merzouga. Bring dirhams for tips and the odd roadside mint tea.
- Closed shoes + sandals. Trainers for the cold and the kasbahs, sandals for the dunes (sand in shoes is its own punishment).
- Skip: the giant suitcase. You’ll live out of a small bag for the desert nights anyway.
What it really costs (and the scams to dodge)
A shared 3-day Erg Chebbi tour can run as little as $90–$150 per person; a comfortable private version is more like $250–$450 each, mostly going into the car and a better camp. Luxury camps climb from there. The classic traps, so you see them coming:
- The "free" tour that detours into three hours of carpet showrooms — your driver earns commission, you lose an afternoon.
- A camp that’s described as "luxury" with photos that are suspiciously of a different camp. Ask for the camp’s real name and look it up.
- A camel ride sold as "an hour" that turns out to be the ten-minute walk to camp. Fine — just know what you booked.
New to the country generally? Start with how to choose a Morocco tour, then see the rest of the highlights in what to do in Morocco.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need for a Sahara desert tour?
Three days and two nights is the sweet spot from Marrakech to Erg Chebbi. A single night only really makes sense for Zagora, which has the smallest dunes.
What is the best time for a Morocco desert tour?
March–May and September–early November: warm days, cool but bearable nights. Summer days near the dunes can top 45°C / 113°F.
Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga — which is better?
Erg Chebbi for a first trip: taller dunes, easier access, more camp choice. Erg Chigaga is remoter and wilder but needs a 4x4 and extra days.
Is the camel ride long and uncomfortable?
Typically 45–90 minutes into camp at sunset. It’s bumpy but short; many camps also offer a 4x4 transfer if camels aren’t your thing.
Are desert camps safe and comfortable?
Yes. Established camps have proper beds, blankets and meals; mid-range and luxury ones add private bathrooms and even pools. Nights get cold, so pack layers.
Can children do a Morocco desert tour?
Absolutely — with shorter driving days and a private vehicle it’s a brilliant family trip. A 4x4 transfer can replace the camel ride for small kids.
How far is the Sahara from Marrakech?
Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) is roughly 560 km — about 8–9 hours of driving with stops, which is exactly why a one-day trip doesn’t work.
Want us to handle the logistics?
We run these routes for a living. Tell us your dates and we’ll build the trip around you.
Youssef was born and raised in Fez and has guided travelers across Morocco for more than 12 years — from the Erg Chebbi dunes to the High Atlas passes. He co-founded Beyond the Riad to run honest, well-paced private trips with local drivers and guides.
More about usSection photos are from Wikimedia Commons under their respective Creative Commons licenses; credits appear beneath each image.