Southern Morocco Desert: 3 Days and 2 Nights Among Kasbahs and Dunes

Tour Overview

Cross the Anti-Atlas mountains, explore the Drâa Valley with its ancient palm groves, visit Zagora’s historic kasbahs, discover Tamegroute’s traditional pottery, and spend two magical nights in desert camps amidst the dunes of Erg Lihoudi and Erg Chegaga. Travel by 4x4 along mythical Saharan tracks to Lake Iriqui, passing through Foum Zguid, Taznakht, and the tranquil Fint Oasis. This journey blends adventure, culture, and breathtaking landscapes for an unforgettable Saharan escape.

Price:

From €480 / person

Day 1: Ouarzazate – Drâa Valley – Zagora – Tamegroute – Erg Lihoudi Dunes

Depart at 8:30 AM from your Ouarzazate hotel in a private, air-conditioned 4x4 with a driver-guide. Head south through the Anti-Atlas mountains, a spectacular range with ochre hues and rugged forms, less known than the High Atlas but equally striking. Stop at Tizgui Waterfalls, a refreshing oasis nestled in a wild valley, perfect for admiring the landscape and understanding the importance of water in Morocco’s semi-desert regions. Continue to the Drâa Valley, Morocco’s longest, formed by the confluence of the Dadès and Ouarzazate rivers. Follow an ancient caravan trail along the lush Drâa palm grove, dotted with mud-brick villages, traditional kasbahs, and irrigated gardens. This region is a treasure of earthen architecture and oasis culture. Arrive in Zagora for lunch at a riad. Known for its famous “Timbuktu 52 days” sign, Zagora was once a key stop on the trans-Saharan salt and gold route. In the afternoon, head to Tamegroute, a village renowned for its ancestral green pottery crafted from local clay. Visit traditional workshops and wood-fired kilns, where age-old techniques endure. For culture enthusiasts, an optional visit to the ancient Quranic library showcases centuries-old manuscripts in Arabic, Berber, and Tuareg. By late afternoon, reach M’Hamid, the last settlement before the desert, where the paved road ends. Continue by 4x4 through the Sahara’s first dunes to Erg Lihoudi, a more intimate and less-visited desert compared to Merzouga. At the camp, enjoy mint tea upon arrival. In the late afternoon, take a camel ride to watch a magical sunset over the golden dunes. The evening unfolds under a traditional tent with a Moroccan dinner by the fire, beneath a starry sky of unparalleled clarity. Overnight in a comfortable desert camp.

Day 2: Erg Lihoudi – M’Hamid – Desert Crossing – Erg Chegaga

Wake in the heart of the Sahara, surrounded by the serene silence and golden light of sunrise over Erg Lihoudi’s dunes. After a traditional breakfast, take a short walk in the dunes, reconnecting with nature and the raw beauty of the Moroccan Sahara. Depart by 4x4 to M’Hamid, a historic oasis and former strategic stop for trans-Saharan caravans. Discover its mud-brick kasbahs, traditional earthen homes, and the tranquil ambiance of a southern Moroccan desert village. Enjoy lunch at a local riad, savoring authentic Moroccan flavors. In the afternoon, embark on a true Saharan crossing: a 66-km desert track from M’Hamid to Erg Chegaga, through varied landscapes of regs (black stone plains), ergs (undulating sand dunes), arid plateaus, and hidden green oases. Arrive at Erg Chegaga, one of Morocco’s most beautiful and vast dune fields, with peaks reaching 300 meters. More wild and secluded than Merzouga, these dunes offer an authentic desert experience. Settle into the Saharan camp, then take a sunset walk to the dune summits for a breathtaking view of the infinite Sahara horizon. Enjoy a traditional dinner under the stars, with Berber or Bedouin songs around a campfire. Overnight in a comfortable nomadic tent, lulled by the desert’s profound calm.

Day 3: Erg Chegaga – Lake Iriqui – Foum Zguid – Taznakht – Fint Oasis – Ouarzazate

At sunrise over Erg Chegaga’s majestic dunes, savor the desert’s silence and magic one last time. After a Saharan breakfast at the camp, take a morning walk to admire the shifting light on the dunes. Depart by 4x4 through off-road Saharan tracks, following the dried Drâa River bed, a sandy plain dotted with acacias, to Lake Iriqui, a lunar-like salt flat and migratory bird haven. Continue along the iconic Paris-Dakar rally track through a vast hamada (stone desert). Stop for lunch in Foum Zguid, a Saharan oasis. In the afternoon, head to Taznakht, known for its handwoven Berber carpets, a centuries-old craft. Pause to admire these artisanal masterpieces. Before reaching Ouarzazate, detour to the Fint Oasis, a peaceful haven nestled among mountains, with lush palms and traditional kasbahs. This oasis, still home to Berber families, offers an authentic glimpse into rural life. Arrive in Ouarzazate by late afternoon, filled with memories of desert exploration, cultural encounters, and awe-inspiring landscapes.