3-Day Private Tour to the Erg Chegaga Sahara Wilds from Marrakesh
If you want to take a side trip from Marrakesh and would like to experience more of the wild Sahara, this is your chance. With fewer tourists and beautiful golden sands, it's no wonder Erg Chegaga has become more and more popular in recent years. With a shorter driving distance from Marrakesh (8 hours) than Erg Chebbi, Erg Chegaga is our top recommended Sahara experience destination.
Days
3
Price
US$629 p/p
Best For
Adventurers
Best Time
Oct.to May
Tour Highlights
Built around 1,000 years ago, the UNESCO-listed Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou is one of Morocco's most impressive historic landmarks. Many famous movies / TV series including “A Game of Thrones” were filmed there.
Visit the pottery center in Tamegrout Village, and learn how the local people make their simple but distinctive green pottery in the traditional way.
You will pass by many local towns and villages on the way from Marrakesh to the depths of the Sahara Desert. Meet the locals and enjoy the unique sights of southern Morocco.
Enjoying a dinner with desert views and an overnight stay in a fully outfitted Berber tent after hiking or camel riding would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience to treasure.
Appreciating the stunning views of a sunset and sunrise in the Sahara wilderness without any tourists to disturb it are bound to be unforgettable experiences.
We have just returned from an amazing trip to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Our travel adviser Albee Ning prepared a wonderful itinerary taking us to great locations with creative activities highlighting local culture.
We traveled with Asia Highlights (Lissie was our agent) several years ago when we went to Saigon, and the experience was so positive, we automatically went to Asia Highlights again for an extensive trip to Southeast Asia.
Itinerary Details
The itinerary below is only one possibility of what you could do. We offer it as inspiration. We can tailor-make your trip based on your needs. Send us details of your preferences and travel ideas and our travel experts will customize this trip to suit your interests, tastes, and budget.
Your driver will pick you up from Marrakesh. Journey to Ait Benhaddou through Tizi n'Tichka Pass at altitude 2,260 m (7,400 ft). Visit the famous kasbah (desert citadel) that has served as the setting for many great movies. The Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Eat lunch (optional) at a local restaurant facing the kasbah and then continue to Zagora via the little village of Agdz. On your way you will enjoy the unique sights of the most beautiful road in southern Morocco.
Amidst the sea of sand, you'll soon come to a flourishing area of palm groves lining the road, which announce the presence of a Saharan oasis.
Stay overnight in Zagora and have dinner at your hotel.
Set out to Tamegroute Village, known to have housed one of the most important Koranic libraries in Africa in the 11th century. You'll visit the historical library and the pottery center.
Then travel to M'Hamid El Ghizlane. Lunch in a local restaurant there is optional. From there, continue to Chegaga where you can enjoy and discover the Erg Chegaga dunes and the Hamada of Draa (the flat rocky area around the Draa River).
You may meet nomads and, if you are lucky, have the chance to see a passing camel caravan while you hike a short way to the dunes. Have dinner on the dunes, and stay overnight in fully outfitted Berber tents.
Breakfast at the camp and make an early departure for Zagora. Lunch at a local restaurant in Ouarzazate is optional. Then continue to Marrakesh city, where our service ends.
Hand-picked Hotels
Price Includes
Price from: $629 (Tour code: gh-mr-7)
Trip Notes
English-Speaking Driver
Your knowledgeable English-speaking driver (and guide if required) will meet you with your name sign, and see you off at your hotel at the end of the tour, in Marrakesh.
He will drive you between the destinations on the tour. This tour is mainly in amazing desert areas, where ideally customers should be unencumbered (by driving, navigating, etc.) to admire the beautiful views. Feel free to ask your driver questions, as he is able to provide you with lots of local knowledge.
Your driver will give you a general introduction to the tour arrangements, but he will not be a qualified private guide and will not accompany you for all aspects of the tour. If you feel you might like a private guide service as well, please let us know.
Breakfasts and Meals
Breakfasts are included in the tour. Usually, buffet breakfasts are available in your hotels, and packed/local meals are offered in desert and mountain areas.
Dinners on Day1 and Day 2 are included in this tour.
Transportation between Cities: Enjoy Great Views along the Way!
A private vehicle is the main transportation tool between cities in Morocco. Some days you may have a 3–5-hour drive to the next destination, or even longer. Your private driver will make some stops along the way to help ease your journey and to soak up the views.
Accommodation
We've chosen our accommodation options very carefully, picking out the best possible hotels with a local flavor. Please note that service levels and accommodation in Morocco may differ from Western standards. The comfort of the desert camp is reasonably high, with separate toilets and bath tents. The sleeping areas have 2-person tents with ample space. Comfortable foam mattresses are provided.
Why Travel with Global Highlights During the Pandemic
- Tailor-made experience: All of your ideas/needs will be carefully considered to create your ideal trip.
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