4x4 Desert ToursPrivate trip

5-Day Erg Chigaga and Anti-Atlas Loop via Taroudant

A private loop that never doubles back: Atlas, dunes, waterfalls and Taroudant

Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
Group: Your group only
Difficulty: Easy
Starts in: Marrakech

Why you'll love it

A loop that never doubles back, about 1,400 km in all
Erg Chigaga: about 40 km of dunes, far from the crowds
Telouet palace, Ait Ben Haddou and the Tamegroute library

Your route

Marrakech Ait Ben Haddou Draa ValleyZagoraM'Hamid Erg Chigaga Marrakech

Day by day

5 days

A private five-day 4x4 loop from Marrakech. You cross the High Atlas to Agdz and the Draa Valley, spend a night in camp at Erg Chigaga, then return by another road through Lake Iriqui, Foum Zguid, the Tissint waterfalls, the Ait Kine granary and the walled town of Taroudant. The last day returns over the Tizi n'Test pass, or by the Atlantic coast on request.

Day 1Marrakech, Telouet, Ait Ben Haddou and Agdz

Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka pass → Telouet kasbah → Ait Ben Haddou → Draa Valley → Agdz

Cross the High Atlas with a panorama stop at the pass, visit the Telouet palace and Ait Ben Haddou, and follow the Draa Valley to a guesthouse in a palm grove at Agdz. About five hours of driving.

Overnight: Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast

Day 2Tamnougalt, Zagora, Tamegroute and Erg Chigaga

Tamnougalt kasbah → Zagora → Tamegroute → M'Hamid → Erg Chigaga

Stop at the Tamnougalt kasbah and Tamegroute library, then about two hours off-road to the dunes. A camel carries you to the camp for a dune climb and a campfire dinner.

Overnight: Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

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Day 3Lake Iriqui, a nomad tea and Foum Zguid

Iriqui dry lake → Foum Zguid

Sunrise, then Lake Iriqui and a tea with a nomad family, with a chance to look for fossils. About three hours of driving to a guesthouse in Foum Zguid with a pool.

Overnight: Guesthouse
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4Tissint waterfalls, Ait Kine and Taroudant

Tissint waterfalls → Ait Kine granary → Tagmout valley → Taroudant

Visit the Tissint waterfalls, the Ait Kine granary and the Tagmout valley, then reach Taroudant, where you sleep in a riad inside the ramparts. About four hours of driving.

Overnight: Riad
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5Taroudant to Marrakech over the Tizi n'Test

Tizi n'Test pass → Marrakech

Spend the morning in Taroudant, with its souks, then drive over the Tizi n'Test pass to Marrakech in the evening. If you prefer, we can return by the coast through Taghazout. About four to five hours of driving.

Overnight: No overnight
Meals: Breakfast

What's included

Included

Private air-conditioned Toyota Prado 4x4 with an English-speaking Berber driver-guide for all five days
Four nights: guesthouses, one night in a desert camp and a riad
Breakfast at each property and dinner at the desert camp
Camel transfer to the Erg Chigaga camp
Fuel and tolls

Not included

Lunches and dinners outside the desert camp
Entrance fees, for example Ait Ben Haddou and Telouet
Sleeping bags
Optional extras such as sandboarding and an additional camel ride
Tips and personal expenses

Good to know

Difficulty: Easy: no fitness needed beyond short walks on sand
Best season: October to April (Best in spring and autumn; summer is possible with early starts and winter nights at Chigaga are very cold)
Crew and guide languages: English

Meeting point

Pick-up at your hotel, riad or Marrakech airport on day 1, and drop-off in Marrakech in the evening of day 5. The exact place and time are confirmed with the team.

Preparation

Walks are short, about 15 to 45 minutes, and the dune climb is optional. Bring sun protection, a warm layer for the camp night and a small bag. We can add a night at Chigaga on request.

What to bring

Closed, comfortable shoes (trainers or light boots)
Warm layers: desert nights are cold from October to March
Sun hat, sunglasses and sun cream
Headlamp and a scarf for wind and sand

Read before you go: Zagora or Merzouga: Which Desert Trip Should You Choose?

Questions

Is this tour private or shared?

It is fully private, with your own vehicle and guide. Solo travellers and couples can ask whether a shared departure is possible.

How demanding is it?

Not physically: walks last 15 to 45 minutes and the dune climb is optional. The tour is mostly in the vehicle, with about three to five hours of driving a day.

Can the tour be customised?

Yes: a luxury camp, an extra night at Erg Chigaga, a return by the Atlantic coast or fewer stops. Tell us what you would like when you enquire.

When is the best time to go?

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable, with warm days and fresh nights. Winter nights are cold, so bring warm layers. Summer is very hot and not recommended for walking.

What should I pack?

Comfortable closed shoes, light clothes you can layer, a warm layer for the night, sun protection, a scarf and a headlamp, in a small bag. The camp provides bedding.

How do I book this trip?

Send an enquiry from this page with your dates, group size and any wishes. We reply by email, confirm availability and agree the details with you. There is no online payment on the website.