Marrakesh to Erg Chigaga :
Day 1: Marrakesh – Ouarzazate – Zagora / 7 hrs
On the first day we will pick you up at your very hotel at 8 am in the morning and depart to the biggest dune fields of Morocco, the Erg Chigaga. First we will wind up the High Atlas Mountains over the the Tizi n’Tichka pass at an altitude of 2260 meters with splendid views of the surrounding landscape. Of course you will have dozens of opportunities to enjoy the scenery and for taking photos.
We will arrive in the city of Ouarzazate to have some lunch before we continue to the city of Zagora, coming through the Draa valley which has given life to a huge oasis spreading for about 200 km at the foothill of the Anti Atlas Mountains. Along the way, several palmeraies will bring their shades between Kasbahs and fortified villages dotted with fields of corn, barley, Vegetables and henna plantations.
Eventually we will arrive at your hotel in Zagora where you can rest, have some delicious dinner and spend the night.
Day 2: Zagora – M’Hamid – Erg Chigaga / 4 hrs
After breakfast at 8 am we will drive to the little village of M’Hamid, the last outpost of civilization and the end of the paved road, passing through Tamegroute where we will have the opportunity to visit on the oldest Quranic libraries in Morocco, then the underground kasbah and the pottery factory.
In M’Hamid we will have some lunch at leisure and in the early afternoon we will depart for Erg Chigaga crossing the Sahara desert. Far away from civilization you will witness one of the most astonishing landscapes of this planet and the silence of the desert hearing even your own heart beat. By taking a small camel tour you can feel like a real nomad and enjoy a sunset you might have never seen before with the sands changing its colours every minute.
After that we will await you with some traditional Moroccan dinner under the stars playing Moroccan traditional drum music.
Day 3: Erg Chigaga – Foum Zguid – Ouarzazate / 6 hrs
After breakfast we will head towards the village of Foum Zguid, the first village after the desert, passing through the desert for about 90 km with its scenery: the Iriki Lake, mountains and a fossil site, following the old track of the Rallye Paris Dakar.
Here the driving will be smooth again as the paved road begins and we will have the chance to stretch our legs and have some lunch. We will continue to the town of Taznakht, where we can visit a popular place of traditional berber carpets and rugs and arrive at your hotel in Ouarzazate in the late afternoon.
Day 4: Ouarzazate – Aït Benhaddou – Marrakesh / 4 hrs
After breakfast we can visit the famous Atlas Studios, the world largest film studio where well-known movies like “The Mummy”, “Gladiator” or “Alexander” were shot, also known as Hollywood of Africa. Continuing to Aït Benhaddou we have the chance to visit the local Kasbah, UNESCO World Heritage site, which was also a filming location for more than 20 Hollywood blockbusters including “Gladiator”, “Lawrence of Arabia” or “Game of Thrones”.
From there we will continue straight to Marrakesh where we will arrive in the late afternoon at around 6 pm. Depending on the time, we can have lunch in Aït Benhaddou or later on the way in the Atlas Mountains. Of course we will drop you off at your hotel in town or any location of your choice.
