Erg Chigaga
Southern Morocco’s great sea of sand, reached only by track. Evening falls slowly here over ridges that seem to go on forever.
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Foum Zguid ✦ Lake Iriki ✦ Erg Chigaga
The Foum Zguid desert, all the way to Chigaga
From the tracks of Lake Iriki to the silence of Erg Chigaga: private camps, 4×4 days and walks, arranged locally by a Foum Zguid guide.
5.0★★★★★on Google · 5 reviews- Foum Zguid
- Lake Iriki
- Erg Chigaga
The Sahara from the west
South of Foum Zguid the tarmac ends. What follows is the finest approach to Erg Chigaga: the crossing of Lake Iriki.
No coach convoys and no road to the dunes: just a 4×4, a guide who knows every track, and time to look around. A day, a night or a week — you decide how long.
Read the Foum Zguid notesThe most requested journeys
Six departures that sum up the Foum Zguid desert, from a one-day round trip to a tour starting in Marrakech.
Chigaga desert campFoum Zguid → Lake Iriki · Erg Chigaga
A Night at Erg Chigaga: 2-Day Desert Camp Tour
An evening round the fire, a night in a nomad tent and sand at sunrise.
2 days / 1 nightfrom €140
Dunes in a dayFoum Zguid → Erg Chigaga
Erg Chigaga in a Day: 4×4 Run from Foum Zguid
Iriki piste, tea among the dunes and home over the dry lake, all in one day.
1 dayfrom €100
Lake & TitanicFoum Zguid → Titanic Iriki · Lake Iriki
Lake Iriki and Titanic Iriki: A Day by 4×4 from Foum Zguid
A pale lake bed, an inn shaped like a ship and the drive home in evening light.
1 dayfrom €80
Lmhazil campFoum Zguid → Erg El Mhazil
Erg El Mhazil Camp: 2 Days in Foum Zguid’s Quiet Dunes
Calmer dunes, a camp and silence for a neighbour.
2 days / 1 nightfrom €130
Camel trekFoum Zguid → Erg El Mhazil · Lake Iriki
3-Day Camel Trek: Foum Zguid Palms to the Mhazil Dunes
Walking with the caravan and sleeping somewhere new in the desert each evening.
3 days / 2 nightsfrom €230
3 days, direct roadMarrakech → Foum Zguid → Erg Chigaga → Marrakech
Marrakech to Erg Chigaga in 3 days, a different road back
Marrakech, Aït Ben Haddou, Foum Zguid and a night at Chigaga, home via the Drâa.
3 days / 2 nightsfrom €440
Track map
Every road leads to Foum Zguid
From Ouarzazate, Zagora, Tata or Agadir, the road ends in Foum Zguid. Then the tracks take over: towards Lake Iriki, Erg El Mhazil and Erg Chigaga. Tap a name to open its notes.
Three horizons
What people come here for
Lake Iriki
A lake that is dry most of the time, at the heart of a national park: a flat, luminous expanse the 4×4 crosses before the dunes.
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Erg Lmhazil
Smaller and more secret, this dune field suits walking, slow caravans and nights with no neighbours.
Open the notesA night at Chigaga
At night, the desert changes
What happens between reaching camp and leaving the next morning, on our overnight trips.
Sunset
Climb a dune to watch the shadows creep across the ridges, often after a camel ride.
Dinner by the fire
A Saharan meal at camp, tea and conversation, sometimes music.
The starry sky
Far from any town the night is dark and the sky enormous. You sleep in a nomad tent.
Daybreak
First light on the dunes, breakfast, then back along the tracks.
Your host
Abdul, a Foum Zguid guide
Abdul knows the tracks of Lake Iriki the way others know their own street. Travellers remember his good humour, his explanations and the way he tells the story of the desert, from the first glass of tea to the last sunrise.
- Private departures at your pace
- Programme and price agreed before you book
- Conversation in French and English
An unforgettable experience with Abdul, seeing Lake Iriki and spending two days in a desert camp. […] Always in good spirits, with excellent explanations.
Abdul is a fantastic guide: he made me feel the energy of the desert the way he feels it.
The guide, Abdoul, bilingual and very professional, took care of everything. […] Beautiful sunsets and sunrises, beautiful dunes. I will come back.
From the field
An afternoon at camp
Carpets, tea, resting camels: forty-five seconds filmed on an outing with travellers, unedited and without music.
Field notes
Before you go, read the track
Foum Zguid, Sahara gatewayThe small Jebel Bani town where the tracks begin.The Foum Zguid desertEvery way in, from a single day to a week.Erg ChigagaMorocco’s largest dune sea, far from the crowds.The track to ChigagaFrom Foum Zguid to the dunes across Lake Iriki.Lake IrikiThe great dry lake and its national park.Erg LmhazilIntimate dunes for walking and quiet nights.Which desert to choose?Chigaga, Merzouga, Zagora, Agafay compared.A 4×4 desert tripA day or a night in the desert, simply.Tours from the citiesMarrakech, Agadir, Ouarzazate or Zagora to the dunes.Camel-supported treksThree to seven days on foot; the caravan carries the rest.Southern oasesPalm groves, wells and waterfalls around Foum Zguid.
Good to know
The questions we hear most
Which desert should I pick from Foum Zguid?
Three destinations stand out: Erg Chigaga with its big dunes, Lake Iriki with its enormous plain, and the quieter Erg Lmhazil. The right one depends on your available time and what you enjoy most: a 4×4 track, a walk with camels or a night in camp.
How many days should I allow for the desert?
One day is enough for a first taste. With two days you catch the sunset and sleep in camp under the stars. Multi-day treks and circuits take you further out and let you settle into the pace of the desert without rushing.
Are the trips shared or private?
The published excursions are organised just for you or your group, around your dates. The type of vehicle, the exact schedule and what is included are explained before you book, so nothing comes as a surprise on the day. Ask us anything about the route, the stops or the pace before you decide.
What should I pack for a night in the desert?
Bring water, sun cream, closed shoes and a warm layer, since evenings cool down. For a trek or a camp, any extra equipment is explained according to the programme you choose, before departure. A hat or scarf and sunglasses are also handy on the piste.
What is the best season to travel?
Aim for October to April, when days stay pleasant. In summer it is often hotter than 40 °C. In winter, desert nights can be very cold. Sandy wind is possible in spring. Midsummer is better avoided for long walks, but early mornings and evenings can still be pleasant, so ask us if you can only travel then.
How do I book with Abdul in Foum Zguid?
Message us on WhatsApp at +212 649 598 615 with your dates, number of travellers and departure city. Abdul, the local guide, replies with availability and a programme, and the final price is confirmed before you book. There is no need to settle every detail in your first message.
Your request
Tell us about your desert night.
A date, how many of you, what you are hoping for: Abdul replies on WhatsApp with a clear programme and price before you commit to anything.