Private3-Day Desert Trek from Ouarzazate – Tidri & Erg Sahel Dunes
From€260per person
View tour →6-Day Sahara Trek South of M’Hamid – Erg Zaher Loop
Duration6 days / 5 nights
Tour typePrivate tour
GroupPrivate – your group only (1–8 travellers)
DifficultyModerate
LanguagesEnglish & French
TicketMobile confirmation
About this tour
The village of M'Hamid El Ghizlane is where the road ends and the real Sahara begins. This loop starts at the Ras Nkhal palm grove on the edge of town and heads south and west into some of the largest dune fields in the Draa basin.
You follow the dry bed of the Draa through tamarisks, cross the Sidi Naji plateau, spend a night below the towering dunes of Erg Zaher and another in the Erg Ait Ounir before looping back to Ras Nkhal. Expect around 5–5.5 hours of walking a day, nomad encounters and one evening of Berber drumming around the campfire.
Highlights
- Start and finish at the Ras Nkhal palm grove near M'Hamid
- Camp below the great dunes of Erg Zaher
- Cross the Sidi Naji plateau
- Night in the Erg Ait Ounir – in a tent or under the stars
- Berber music around the campfire
- Meet nomad families
What's included
- Private road transfers Marrakech – trailhead – Marrakech
- Licensed desert guide
- Camel team with dromedaries to carry all luggage
- Trek cook – all meals during the trek, plus lunch on the first and last day
- Two-person sleeping tents, mess tent and foam mattresses
- Bottled / filtered drinking water on the trek
- International flights
- Hotel nights and meals in Marrakech or Ouarzazate
- Drinks on the road and personal expenses
- Travel insurance with repatriation cover
- Tips for the guide, cook and camel handlers
Itinerary
Day 1Marrakech – Ouarzazate – M'Hamid – Ras Nkhal
About 7 hours on the road over the Tizi n'Tichka and down the Draa Valley, then an hour's walk to camp in the Ras Nkhal dunes.
Day 2Ras Nkhal – Sidi Naji
Walk along the dry bed of the Draa through palm groves and tamarisks, cross the Sidi Naji plateau and camp in its dunes. About 5 hours.
Day 3Sidi Naji – Erg Zaher
Cross open desert to the tall dunes of Erg Zaher, with crest walks overlooking the Draa basin. About 5.5 hours.
Day 4Erg Zaher – Erg Ait Ounir
Head north through changing terrain of dunes, tamarisk and acacia. Evening of Berber music by the fire. About 5.5 hours.
Day 5Erg Ait Ounir – Ras Nkhal
Climb over the Ait Ounir dunes and loop back to Ras Nkhal for the last night. About 5.5 hours.
Day 6M'Hamid – Zagora – Marrakech
An hour on foot to the vehicle, then the drive back through the Draa Valley (about 460 km), arriving in Marrakech in the late afternoon.
Meeting & pickup
Pickup
Pickup from your Marrakech hotel or riad at around 08:00 on day 1
End point
Back at your Marrakech accommodation in the late afternoon or early evening of the last day
Price per person by group size
Private tours get cheaper per person as your group grows. Prices include everything listed under "What's included".
1 traveller€1,055
2 travellers€680
3 travellers€630
4 travellers€590
5 travellers€565
6 travellers€550
7–8 travellers€530
Frequently asked questions
How fit do I need to be?
You should be comfortable walking 5–6 hours a day on sand and stony ground. No technical skills are needed and the camels carry the luggage.
Where do we sleep?
In two-person tents pitched by the camel team in the dunes or beside a palm grove, with foam mattresses provided. On clear, mild nights you can drag your mattress out and sleep under the stars.
When can I do this trek?
The desert walking season runs from October to April, when days are warm and pleasant and nights are cool. From May to September it is too hot to walk safely in the dunes.
What should I pack?
A warm sleeping bag, a soft duffel of up to 12 kg (the camels carry it), a small daypack, ankle-high walking boots, sandals for camp, a warm fleece for the evenings, a 1.5–2 L water bottle, sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a headtorch and your personal medication.
Good to know
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes and sandals
- Warm layer for desert nights (it gets cold after sunset)
- Sunglasses, sun hat and sunscreen
- Scarf to protect from sand and sun
- Small overnight bag for the camp night
- Cash in dirhams for lunches and tips
Additional info
- Confirmation is sent by email or WhatsApp after we check availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Child seats available free of charge on request
- Most travellers can take part – camel rides can be replaced by a 4×4 transfer
- Vegetarian meals available on request
- Long driving days with regular photo and rest stops
Cancellation policy
- Free cancellation up to 7 days before departure.
- Cancellations made less than 7 days before departure: the deposit is kept as credit valid for 12 months.
- Date changes are free when requested at least 72 hours in advance, subject to availability.
- If weather or safety conditions make the tour impossible, we offer a new date or a full refund.
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Licensed local operatorMoroccan team, our own drivers and guides
No prepayment to requestPay only after we confirm availability
Flexible changesChange dates or adjust stops easily
Support 7 days a weekReal people on WhatsApp before & during your trip
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