Toubkal Trekking

3 Days tour to Erg Chegaga Desert from Marrakech

Sand, stars, and the occasional camel mood swing are the most remarkable things you can do during your three days of visits to the Erg Chegaga Desert. 3 Days tour to Erg Chegaga Desert from Marrakech is really worth it!

Day 1: Goodbye Marrakech, Hello Mars (Also Known as the Sahara)

It all begins with that glorious Marrakech chaos—horns blaring, mint tea pouring, and a thousand scooters competing for a lane that doesn’t technically exist. But once the adventurers pile into their 4×4 with more snacks than necessary and that one guy who’s already asking “Are we there yet?”, it’s time to swap red city walls for infinite dunes.

The road heads south, curling through the High Atlas Mountains, a region that should honestly come with its own postcard soundtrack. Along the way, there’s the mandatory stop at Ait Benhaddou, the old ksar that looks like someone pressed pause on time—or like it’s waiting to host the next season of Game of Thrones: Sand Edition. Cue cameras, dramatic stares, and at least one person pretending to be a khaleesi.

By the time they roll into Zagora, everyone’s legs have forgotten what walking feels like, but anticipation is peaking. One more mint tea, one more hummed “I can show you the world,” and they’re ready for Day Two’s sandy drama.

Day 2: Into the Wild, Wild Dunes of Erg Chegaga

Today, the road gives up. Literally. The asphalt disappears, and the only thing ahead is raw desert. Flat plains give way to rolling dunes, the color of cinnamon and adventure.

Here’s where Erg Chegaga flexes. Unlike its slightly more famous (and slightly more touristy) cousin Erg Chebbi, this place feels like you’ve wandered into nature’s sandbox and forgotten how to get out. And it’s glorious. The travelers get to camp Bedouin-style—translation: real nomadic tents, campfires, tajines that taste like happiness, and no Wi-Fi. No, really, zero bars. Some cry. Some rejoice.

Then comes the camel ride. It’s majestic… for the first fifteen minutes. After that, let’s just say camels have opinions and aren’t afraid to express them with grunts, side-eyes, and the occasional refusal to move. But the sunset? Worth every bumpy minute. The dunes blush in orange and pink as everyone scrambles up for the perfect Instagram shot—only to find out it’s way harder than it looks to climb sand. Still, the reward? A horizon that looks like it’s been hand-painted by someone showing off.

Night falls. The stars arrive in ridiculous numbers. Someone pulls out a drum. Someone else attempts to dance. Everyone forgets how tired they are.

Day 3: Back to Civilization (and Showers)

As dawn breaks, the group stumbles out of tents, slightly wind-swept and full of sand in suspicious places. There’s tea. There’s more tajine. There’s at least one person swearing they’re quitting their job and moving to the desert.

But reality calls. The 4×4 roars back to life, and the long, sandy goodbye begins. On the way back, there are naps, reflective silences, and one last stop in Tamegroute to marvel at green pottery and dusty libraries filled with ancient texts nobody can actually read, but everyone respects deeply.

By the time Marrakech reappears in a swirl of horns and heat, everyone’s a little dustier, a little wiser, and a lot more appreciative of running water. Erg Chegaga may be remote, but it leaves its mark—on skin, soul, and probably in your shoes.

Pro tip: Never underestimate desert wind, camel sass, or the power of starlit silence.