PRIVATE 3 DAY DESERT TOUR FROM OUARZAZATE TO ERG CHEGAGA

DAY 1: OUARZAZATE – ZAGORA – MHAMID

Early morning starting by 4WD to Agdez, where the Draa Valley starts. Soon after this small town, you stop to visit Kasbah Tamnougalte, the oldest Kasbah in the Draa Valley, before taking the ancient caravan road between the river and the mountains for a short while. Toward the way, we pass many villages and gardens so that you can gain a better idea of the way of life in the life-giving oases. Zagora city is the largest town in the whole area and where we shall stop for lunch. Visit the potteries famous for the green glaze, which you may have already seen in Marrakech, and also for its ancient Quranic library with exquisite hand-written Arabic texts. Later drive to Mhamid; Here is where the Sahara starts. Enjoy an unforgettable sunset, local music around the fire, diner, and night in the tent.

DAY 2: MHAMID – HMADA – ERG CHEGAGA

After breakfast, you return to M’hamid to visit the old village across the now frequently dry Draa River; Mhamid is the village typical of Morocco camel trekking in The Sahara desert for the people having much time on holiday. A half-day camel trekking in the desert, after lunch departure for the Erg Chegaga dunes (250m) with 55km off-road; The road crosses several features of the desert; “erg” (dunes) and “ hammada” (stony desert), oases. The sand is far away from civilization, in the desert proper, where nomadic life is hard, subject to the vagaries of the wind, sandstorms, and sparse rainfall; However, the calm and the area of the dunes are unbelievable. Hither you could have a camel ride if you wish. At Erg Chegaga have dinner and the overnight in an authentic camp in the dunes, or, once again, you can opt for a night in a desert camp.

DAY 3: ERG CHEGAGA – FOUM ZGUID – OUARZAZATE

Following breakfast we drive across the Sahara over the stony desert, “reg” and “hammada” and across the now dried-up Lake Criqui; While in the middle of this lake, you are liable to experience a mirage, and unless it has been raining hard; Which is rare, and in which case we cannot cross due to the mud, we can assure you, that “water” really is not real. Search then for fossils; some lying loosely around but most fixed firmly into the rock On the edge of the desert at Foum Zguid, we drive north to Taznakht, famous for its Berber kilims and carpets; Where we stop for lunch. Later returning back to Ouarzazate at the end of the afternoon.