Four days of walking change the nature of the journey. The three-day trek visits Erg El Mhazil; this one continues: after the El Mhazil dunes the caravan bends west, follows the edge of Lake Iriqui and reaches the first dune chains of Erg Chigaga. You will have walked from one erg to another — the crossing the caravans made, scaled to a modern holiday.
The pace stays camel pace: four to six hours of progress a day, luggage carried, camp moving every evening. Day four ends with a 4x4 pick-up at the edge of Chigaga — and, for those who want it, an optional extra night at the great-dunes camp before the drive home.
Highlights
- Erg to erg: El Mhazil, then the edge of Chigaga
- Four days walking, three nights in a mobile camp
- Camel caravan: luggage carried, camels ridable
- The Lake Iriqui shore on foot at first light
- 4x4 recovery at the edge of the high dunes
Itinerary
- Day 1
Foum Zguid → foot of Jbel Bani
Caravan loaded late morning, four hours walking south, first camp at the foot of the black mountain.
- Day 2
The El Mhazil dunes
The little erg at its best: sand from midday, camp deep in the dunes, sunset from the crest.
- Day 3
West to the Lake Iriqui shore
A day between worlds: the caravan trades sand for the sebkha edge, clay underfoot in the early morning, camp sheltered behind tamarisks.
- Day 4
Chigaga's first dune chains
A last morning walking to the outer dunes of the great erg. Lunch, then 4x4 back to Foum Zguid (2 h) — or an optional night at the Chigaga camp to finish in the high dunes.
What's included
✓ Included
- Cameleer, cook and caravan (one camel per person)
- 3 nights mobile camp, full board
- Tents, mattresses, blankets and sleeping bags
- 4x4 return from the edge of Chigaga
- Water and tea
✕ Not included
- Optional Chigaga camp night (+€70)
- Other drinks
- Tips
Who this trek is for
Regular walkers, not athletes: the ground is flat or gently rolling, and the camel takes over whenever legs ask. The real demand lies elsewhere — four days without a shower, signal or wall, which is exactly what the people who choose it are after. If you hesitate between three and four days: day three of this one, between erg and lake, is what the short format cannot give.
Season and climate
October to April, like all our treks. November and March are ideal; in midwinter pack a warm hat and gloves for camp — the walking days themselves are perfect.
Frequently asked questions
How far do we walk each day?
Between 12 and 18 kilometres depending on the stage, broken by lunch and a siesta. On sand or flat clay at caravan pace — think of the effort of a mid-mountain hike without the climb.
Can we really ride whenever we want?
Yes, each participant has a mount. In practice most people walk mornings and ride part of the afternoon. There is no rule and no judgement — the cameleer adjusts the caravan on the move.
Why don't we walk to the heart of Chigaga?
Honesty: the heart of the great erg is 5–6 walking days from Foum Zguid, not four. This trek reaches the first chains — spectacular in themselves — and the 4x4 option carries you to the central camp if you want to end among the high dunes. The full crossing on foot exists too: ask us for a tailor-made plan.
More questions? See our full FAQ and our traveller reviews.
