Morocco Desert Trek: Erg Chegaga, Local Life & Unique Moments

Upon your arrival in M’hamid El Ghizlane, you will meet with your camel team and other members of your trekking group, as well as your desert guide, who will take you on a journey into the desert. You will have an opportunity to explore the palm groves, ksour ruins, and quiet streets throughout the village. You will also learn about nomadic traditions, Saharan life, and how to navigate in the desert. As the sun sets, you will be treated to your first taste of hospitality in the desert, while you prepare for what lies ahead. You will spend the night in M’hamid.

The adventure begins the moment you step out of the village and enter the desert. Once inside, you walk through sandy areas with little vegetation, and as you move farther away from the village, you hear nothing but the sound of the camel caravan walking toward you. After you have covered the distance, you will reach your camp at Erg Smar, where you will set up your camp next to the dunes and spend your first night beneath a clear sky full of stars.

You will continue your journey as you travel through an area shaped by wind and time. Rolling dunes transform into flat plains, offering a contrasting texture and colour to your travels from Erg Smar. At Bouguern, your campsite will be quiet and tranquil; in the evening, the desert provides an amazing glow from the setting sun, with shades of orange, pink, and yellow. You will be able to sit around the fire, sharing experiences and stories with friends.

you’ll explore the fascinating dunes of Erg Chegaga. Erg Chegaga has some of the biggest and most impressive desert dunes in southern Morocco; you’ll see the remarkable view of the dunes, like giant waves on the horizon caught in time as they rise up out of the ground. A wilderness camp will be built amid the huge sea of sand dunes upon arrival. Once camp is complete, we will walk among the sand dunes, climbing to high viewpoints where you can see out over the endless expanse of the desert.

you can enjoy a full day in the desert. Relax and spend time at camp or explore the surrounding sand dunes. For those seeking adventure, there is the option to try sand surfing or tobogganing down the dune slopes. As you are staying at Erg Chegaga, deep in the heart of the Sahara, you will experience the total absence of sound, broken only by the whisper of the wind. In the evening, gather around a campfire for a traditional Berber dinner, accompanied by music, drums, and storytelling, beneath a spectacular night sky filled with stars.

Say goodbye to the massive dunes of Erg Chegaga as you go on another leg through a variety of desert landscapes. You’ll see sandy expanses, rocky ridges, hills, dried river beds, and narrow canyons as you discover the Sahara’s other face. Then, arrive at Oued Naam, a distant desert valley where you’ll camp for the night amid uncultivated land.

From Oued Naam, you will complete the last leg of your trek back to M’hamid. You’re going to travel on a route that you have been on before, but this time you will experience it differently as you have the opportunity to reflect on your experiences during the last week, the many miles of tranquility, the people you met, and the connections you have made throughout this journey. When you arrive in M’hamid, there will be a lighthearted atmosphere as you prepare to celebrate the end of your Sahara adventure with fellow trekkers.

After breakfast, say goodbye to M’hamid and the desert team. Depart with unforgettable memories of walking ancient routes, sleeping beneath endless stars, and experiencing the timeless spirit of Erg Chegaga.