6 Days Sahara Desert Trek
Experience a 6-day desert tour, starting from Marrakech or Ouarzazate, with our private Morocco tours. Journey through the High Atlas, visit Zagora, and camp in the Faija plateau oasis. Trek with camels through dunes, spot wildlife, and reach the iconic Chegaga dunes for a Saharan tea and sunset. Enjoy a unique stay reminiscent of a Merzouga luxury desert camp, and continue to Bougarn dunes for a secluded campsite. Then, head to Oued Naam, known for its well, before concluding your adventure with a 4×4 drive back to Mhamid village and returning to Marrakech or Ouarzazate. Whether you’re seeking a Marrakech desert tours or exploring the route from Fes to Marrakech, this unforgettable journey promises breathtaking landscapes and authentic desert experiences.
Day 1
Marrakech or Ouarzazate – Faïja (6h00 drive from Marrakech or 2h00 from Ouarzazate). Embark on a Marrakech desert tour or a private Morocco tour, starting with an early morning drive south of the High Atlas via the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2260m). Pass through Ouarzazate and journey along the scenic Draa River Valley to reach Zagora, the capital of fortified villages. From there, venture into the desert across the Faija plateau and oasis, where you’ll enjoy a serene camp or bivouac experience, reminiscent of a Merzouga luxury desert camp.
Day 2
Faïja – Oasis of Oued Mhasser (5h30). Begin the next leg of your private Morocco tour by meeting our caravan team and trekking south, ascending to the Oum Laachar pass. Camels and dromedaries carry all luggage, equipment, kitchen supplies, food, and a reserve of water, just like traditional desert expeditions. Along the way, admire small dunes and enjoy a peaceful picnic in quaint oases. After about 5h30 of hiking, unwind at our campsite amid the palm trees in the serene oasis of Oued Mhasser — an experience reminiscent of a Merzouga luxury desert camp.
Day 3
Oued Mhasser – Chegaga Dunes (6h30). Embark on the next stage of your private Morocco tour, following a stony valley that opens into a vast plateau. Enjoy a peaceful picnic under Tamaris trees, and if you’re lucky, spot wildlife such as gazelles, rabbits, squirrels, and lizards. As the journey unfolds, you’ll witness the stunning Chegaga dunes emerging in the distance — a highlight of any Marrakech desert tour or Fes to Marrakech desert tour.
Upon arrival by mid-afternoon, settle into our campsite, reminiscent of a Merzouga luxury desert camp, complete with a well and often visited by nomads and their cattle. You might be invited into a nomadic tent to savor a strong Saharan tea with plenty of sugar — a truly authentic experience.
Before dinner, take a leisurely stroll along the high dunes, leaving your footprints along the sandy ridges, and admire a breathtaking sunset over the endless desert horizon.
Day 4
Chegaga Dunes – Bougarn Dunes (5h). Begin another unforgettable day on your private Morocco tour, departing from the iconic Chegaga dunes. Before setting off, our team ensures the water containers are filled, as this leg of the journey crosses a dry, remote stretch of desert. As you walk through the vast, silent landscape, the tranquility invites peaceful meditation — a highlight of many Marrakech desert tours.
Around midday, we pause to escape the sun’s intensity, seeking shade under any vegetation we can find. By mid-afternoon, we set up camp amid the stunning Bougarn dunes, reminiscent of a Merzouga luxury desert camp. As the day winds down, you’ll have the chance to ride a camel across the golden dunes, embracing the true spirit of the Sahara.
Day 5
Bougarn Dunes – Oued Naam (5h30). Continue your private Morocco tour as we trek south through the mesmerizing dunes, with few references along the way. By noon, we reach Oued Naam, known for its well, where we refill our water containers for the next dry stretch. Oued Naam, meaning ‘ostrich,’ was once home to these birds, and you may find remnants of their eggs along the way. After about 5h30 of walking, we set up camp farther south, surrounded by the quiet beauty of the dunes — an experience similar to the peaceful retreats found at Merzouga luxury desert camps.
Day 6
Dunes of Bougarn to Dunes of M’Hamid. On this final day of your private Morocco tour, we rise early to depart from the Bougarn dunes. After a peaceful night in the desert, we embark on a long, picturesque 4×4 drive back to Mhamid village, the last major village before the Algerian border. Along the way, we’ll stop for lunch, then continue our journey back to Marrakech (6h30), passing through the charming towns of Zagora and Ouarzazate. Alternatively, we can arrange an overnight stop (3 hours from Mhamid) to extend your desert adventure.
