6 Days Sahara Desert Trek

Experience a 6-day desert tour, starting from Marrakech or Ouarzazate. 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. Continue to Bougarn dunes for a unique campsite, then head to Oued Naam with a well. Conclude the adventure with a 4×4 drive back to Mhamid village and return to Marrakech or Ouarzazate.

Day 1

Marrakech or Ouarzazate – Faïja (6h00 drive from Marrakech or 2h00 from Ouarzazate). Early morning drive to south of the High Atlas by the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2260m). We pass Ouarzazate and drive along the Draa river valley till Zagora, the capital of the fortified villages. We then take a road which lead us into the desert of the Faija plateau and oasis where we camp / Bivouac.

Day 2

Faïja – oasis of Oued Mhasser (5h30). We meet our caravan team and start trekking south ascending to the Oum Laachar pass. We use camels/dromedaries for carrying all our luggage, equipment, kitchen, food and a reserve of water. During this day we will see some small dunes. Picnic in small oases. After about 5h30 hiking we camp amid the palm trees in the oasis of Oued Mhasser.

Day 3

Oued Mhasser-Chegaga dunes (6h30). We follow a stony valley which then opens in a vast plateau. Picnic under Tamaris trees. Sometimes we see mirages due to the heat of the sun on the earth. We may encounter here gazelles, rabbits, squirrels and lizards. In some time we will see the great Chegaga dunes where we will camp by mid afternoon. During this season the daily temperature ranges the 20-25ºC and 10-15ºC at night.

Our campsite which has a well is normally populated with nomads and their cattle. It is a place where we may try some interesting encounters and where, with luck, we may be invited into a tent to have a really strong Saharan tea with loads of sugar.

Before dinner we will stroll on the high dunes and leave our trail along their cornices, before admiring a spectacular sunset on the distant horizon.

Day 4

Chegaga dunes – Bougarn dunes (5h). Before departing our personnel will fill the water containers because this will be a dry leg and our next camp has no water. We leave the populated area and will walk through the desert in a great silence that invites to meditation.

We pause at midday to avoid the sun’s intensity under any vegetation that we can find. By mid afternoon we stop to camp in a magnificent environment of desert dunes at Bougarn dunes. At the end of the day you may try riding a camel in the dunes.

Day 5

Bougarn dunes – Oued Naam (5h30). We trek south again through the dunes with little references. By noon we stop at oued Naam which has a well. We fill our water containers again because our next camp is dry. Naam means ostrich, which was extinct in not too a distant past and we may find here plenty of bits of their eggs. We camp farther south amid the dunes after about 5h30 walking.

Day 6

DUNES OF BOUGARNE TO DUNES OF M’HAMID

On this day we are picked up from the dunes and we wake up very early in morning and we will commence our long picturesque drive back 4*4 to Mhamid village, the last big village before the Algerian borders. Lunch on the road. We travel back to Marrakech (6h30), passing through Zagora and Ouarzazate or the overnight (3 hours).

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   Hassan Ait Ahmad
   68 Tripadvisor reviews 
  Write a review 
  
 
 
   
 
 
        
   Theo B 
 2023-08-16
 
 
  Hassan’s Wonderful Adventure
Hassan showed us a very nice part of Morocco that is only a stone’s throw from Marrakech. There are plenty of wonderful people in the Atlas Mountains and he is one of them. He showed us many wonderful sights on the tour, but also made sure that we got up and down from our trek in one piece. During the hike we also had a chance to learn about local culture, had a wonderful meal and had plenty of opportunities to take photos. Definitely a must do if you don’t mind heights!
  
 
       
   Jorge González 
 2023-06-16
 
 
  Excelente guía, conocedor del lugar, además de hablar varios idiomas.
Hassan es uno de los pocos guías más empáticos que conocí. Nos mostró unos lugares y paisajes increíbles de Marruecos. Nos llevó a ver las cascadas. Tuvimos un almuerzo típico marroquí en un auberge. Una maravillosa experiencia a su lado. RECOMENDABLE 100%
  
 
       
   Luis Felipe L 
 2023-03-16
 
 
  Magnífico guía
Excelente guía que habla español, va dando información a medida que ascendemos y descansos o paradas en función de como observe al grupo. Abierto a consultas de cualquier tipo. Muy amable. Totalmente recomendable.
  
 
       
   Andreas T 
 2023-03-15
 
 
  Super Guide in Imlil!!
Die Tagestour war wirklich phantastisch und ist sehr empfehlenswert. Frühstück in einer durch Frauen betriebenen Kollektive, die Argan Oil herstellen, dann Weiterfahrt nach Imlil. Wir wurden durch unseren Guide abgeholt, der netter nicht sein konnte. Auf einer ca 1 1/2 Stunden dauernden leichten Wanderung zu einem der Wasserfälle erzählte er informativ und fröhlich über Kultur, Land und Leute. Immer fröhlich und vergnügt spricht er mehrere Sprachen und half sogar beim anschließenden Mittagessen als Bedienung aus. Wenn wir wieder kommen, und das ist sicher, werden wir ihn anrufen und nur von ihm geführt werden wollen, sei es bei einer Wanderung, beim Skifahren oder Bergwandern. All das wird von ihm angeboten-toll!!! Liebe Grüße Andreas
  
 
       
   Christian V 
 2023-03-14
 
 
  Imilil
Excelente visita, muy recomendable. Se disfruta con los 5 sentidos. El guía muy amable, habla diferentes idiomas y se esfuerza en que comprendas y disfrutes la visita. Muy muy recomendable.
  
 
       
   Nayra 
 2023-03-11
 
 
  Inolvidable!
Ha sido una experiencia increíble, la ruta, el paisaje, la comida y sin duda alguna un guía excelente, muy amable y simpático. Súper recomendado!
  
 
       
   Bond 
 2023-03-11
 
 
  Great experience
It was great!! I highly recommend, the view during lunch time was amazing! Thanks to Hassan who was our guide and very careful with us.
  
 
       
   Martin B 
 2023-03-09
 
 
  Atlas gebergte
Een geweldige tocht gemaakt met Hassna. Stipt op tijd en veel kennis van de vallei en omgeving. Geweldig ervaring om zo kennis te maken met het Atlas gebergte.
  
 
       
   Estelle C 
 2023-02-18
 
 
  Ismil
We discovered thanks to Hassan in Imlil a nice authentic picture of Maroc witch is not so far of Marrakech We saw the famous waterfall but next we left tourist way to discover a more authentic way in several villages where the colors are beautiful. Hassan explained us his culture and we finished with a delicious tajine in an auberge. Great moment: We recommend Hassan if you want to do this nice experience. And inchallah perhaps we will do another experience with Hassan in the dessert because he organized also this kind of treck.
  
 
       
   Jesus 
 2023-02-14
 
 
  Unbeatable
Hassan is absolutely the best tour guide in the entire country. Super pleasant, nice and helpful, I wouldn’t hesitate contacting him again for a tour. Great Spanish by the way!