Most Sahara trips sell you a night in a fixed camp reached by 4×4, with a short camel ride tacked on for photos. Instead, this Sahara camel trekking tour is built differently. You cross the High Atlas by road. But once you reach the desert, you walk it, alongside a camel caravan carrying the gear, guided by people who have moved through these dunes their whole lives.
In total, six days, Marrakech to Marrakech. The middle stretch is spent on foot among Erg Chigaga’s dunes, rather than driven past them.
Overview of This Sahara Camel Trekking Tour.
Day one crosses the High Atlas Mountains and the kasbah country south of Ouarzazate. Day two follows the Draa Valley down to M’Hamid, the last town before the open desert. Day three is where the walking begins. A camel caravan carries your gear while you trek into the dunes on foot, camping wild for the night. Day four continues deeper into Erg Chigaga, Morocco’s tallest and most remote dune field. On day five, the route turns back north through the Draa Valley toward Ouarzazate. Finally, day six crosses the Atlas again and returns to Marrakech.
Unlike shorter desert add-ons, this Sahara camel trekking tour gives the desert two full trekking days. That’s more than a single overnight. That’s what separates an actual desert crossing from a desert photo stop.
Highlights of the Sahara Camel Trekking Tour
- Cross the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass, the highest paved road in North Africa.
- Visit Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Morocco’s most photographed kasbahs.
- Follow the Draa Valley, Morocco’s longest river valley, through palm oases and mud-brick villages.
- Two full days trekking on foot alongside a camel caravan, not just riding for a photo.
- Wild camping among the dunes, with no fixed camp structures and minimal other groups nearby.
- Reach Erg Chigaga, the tallest and most remote dune field in Morocco.
- Share tea and conversation with a nomadic family along the route.
- Sleep under genuinely dark desert skies, away from any light pollution.
Itinerary of the Sahara Camel Trekking Tour
Day 1: Marrakech to Ouarzazate via Ait Ben Haddou.
First, leave Marrakech in the morning and begin the climb into the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. The road winds past Berber villages and terraced valleys, with mountain views the whole way up.
On the far side of the pass, stop at Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified clay village. It has appeared in more film productions than almost anywhere else in Morocco. Then, climb through its narrow streets before continuing to Ouarzazate, where the desert crossing properly begins tomorrow.
Overnight stay: Hotel in Ouarzazate
Day 2: Ouarzazate to M’Hamid via the Draa Valley
Then, head south into the Draa Valley, Morocco’s longest river valley and one of its most striking palm corridors. From there, the road follows the river through Agdz and Zagora. Kasbahs and small farming villages line the way, worked by the same families for generations.
Finally, by late afternoon, reach M’Hamid, the last settlement before the open Sahara. This is where the paved road ends and where your camel guides and caravan will be waiting.
Overnight stay: Guesthouse in M’Hamid
Day 3: M’Hamid to the First Wild Camp
This is where the Sahara camel trekking tour changes pace. First, meet your desert guide and camel caravan just outside M’Hamid. Meanwhile, the camels carry the tents, food, and water, while you walk beside them into the desert on foot.
Typically, the morning’s trek runs roughly three to four hours, with a break for lunch in whatever shade the landscape offers. Then, by late afternoon, your guides set up a wild camp tucked among smaller dunes, away from any fixed camp structure. Afterward, dinner is cooked over an open fire, and the evening usually ends with music around the flames.
Overnight stay: Wild camp among the dunes
Day 4: Trekking to Erg Chigaga
Next, the second trekking day continues west toward Erg Chigaga, Morocco’s tallest dune field, with some dunes rising close to 300 meters. The walking pace stays gentle, roughly three hours in the morning. That leaves plenty of time to actually notice the landscape changing underfoot.
Along the way, many groups stop to share tea with a nomadic family. It’s one of the more genuine exchanges on this kind of trip. It happens because your route passes their camp, not because it’s scheduled as an “activity.”
Finally, by the time you reach Erg Chigaga, the dunes are noticeably taller and the silence is more complete. This is the heart of the Sahara camel trekking tour. It’s worth sitting with for a while before the sun goes down.
Overnight stay: Camp at Erg Chigaga
Day 5: Erg Chigaga to Ouarzazate
First, after a sunrise over the dunes, meet your vehicle and driver for the return leg. The 4×4 retraces the Draa Valley route, this time in daylight heading north. Along the way, you’ll pass the same kasbahs and palm groves seen on the way down.
Finally, arrive back in Ouarzazate by the evening, with time to rest before the final leg over the Atlas tomorrow.
Overnight stay: Hotel in Ouarzazate
Day 6: Ouarzazate to Marrakech
Finally, cross the High Atlas Mountains one last time via the Tizi n’Tichka Pass. Take a final look back at the mountain scenery before descending into Marrakech by early afternoon.
This closes the loop on a Sahara camel trekking tour that spent its middle days on foot rather than behind a windshield. That’s the whole point of doing it this way.
To customise this Sahara camel trekking tour, contact Navigate Morocco.
Included:
- Private, air-conditioned vehicle and driver for the road days.
- Camel caravan, desert guide, and camping equipment for the trekking days.
- 5 nights accommodation: hotels in Ouarzazate, a guesthouse in M’Hamid, and wild desert camps.
- All meals during the two trekking days, plus breakfast throughout.
- Tea stop with a nomadic family along the trekking route.
- All fuel, tolls, and transportation costs between destinations.
Not Included:
- International flights to and from Morocco.
- Entrance fees to monuments and sites, including Ait Ben Haddou.
- Lunches and dinners outside the trekking days.
- Personal expenses, tips, and gratuities,
- Travel insurance (highly recommended).
Frequently Asked Questions.
1: Do I need to be an experienced trekker?
No. The daily walking pace on this Sahara camel trekking tour is deliberately gentle. Three to four hours at caravan speed is well within reach of most travelers with basic fitness. Because the camels carry all the gear, you’re walking, not hauling a pack.
2: Can I ride the camels instead of walking?
Yes, riding is available if you’d rather not walk a full stretch. Generally, most travelers alternate between walking and riding depending on the terrain and how they’re feeling that day.
3: What’s the difference between this and a standard one-night desert camp tour?
Typically, a standard tour drives you to a fixed camp for one night. This Sahara camel trekking tour spends two full days actually walking through the desert with a caravan. As a result, camping wild rather than at a permanent structure gets you further from other groups and closer to how the route was traditionally traveled.
4: Where does the tour start and end?
The tour starts and ends in Marrakech, with private transport for the road days and a camel caravan for the trekking days near M’Hamid and Erg Chigaga.
5: What is the best time of year for this tour?
March to May and September to November offer the most comfortable temperatures for both trekking and camping. Summer is very hot for daytime walking. Winter nights in the desert can be cold, though the walking itself stays pleasant.
6: Can the itinerary be customized?
Absolutely. Overall, Navigate Morocco offers fully flexible itineraries. Trekking days, pacing, and accommodation can all be adjusted, including adding an extra day in the dunes.
7: Do I need a visa to enter Morocco?
isa requirements depend on your nationality. Many nationalities can enter Morocco visa-free for stays of up to 90 days. It’s always best to check with your local consulate or embassy before travel.
Why Book This Sahara Camel Trekking Tour with Navigate Morocco?
Overall, Navigate Morocco is a Moroccan-owned tour operator based in Marrakech, run day to day by the same team that drives, guides, and manages the trips. We built this Sahara camel trekking tour for travelers who want more than a single overnight in a fixed camp. Expect real trekking days, wild camping, and guides who work this stretch of desert regularly. If you want to extend the trekking portion or adjust the road days, just ask. We build the Sahara camel trekking tour around whatever suits your group.