Four days is the format that lets you see everything without ever rushing. Where our two and three-day tours run out to Erg Chigaga and back, this one takes the time to circle our whole desert: the high dunes, of course, but also the full length of Lake Iriqui, the Erg El Mhazil that almost nobody visits, and the Jbel Bani rock carvings.
Three camp nights, in three different places. That is what changes everything: instead of sleeping twice at the same camp, you follow a real loop, and every evening the landscape has changed. The last night, at the foot of Jbel Bani, is the starriest of all, and the closest to the village for an unhurried return the next morning.
This is our most complete circuit from Foum Zguid, and the one we recommend to travellers who have come a long way for the desert and do not want to leave feeling they missed it.
Highlights
- Three camp nights, in three different places
- Full crossing of Lake Iriqui, east to west
- Two ergs: Chegaga and El Mhazil
- Jbel Bani rock carvings
- Moroccan Colorado and the fossil plateau
- Slow pace: never more than three hours of track a day
Itinerary
- Day 1
Foum Zguid → Lake Iriqui → Erg Chegaga
Departure after lunch, crossing Lake Iriqui and the Moroccan Colorado, arriving at the high dunes for sunset. Camels, Berber dinner, first night at the foot of the erg.
- Day 2
A full day at Erg Chegaga
Sunrise walk in the dunes, then a free day in the erg: sandboarding, a nap in the shade of the tents, tea with a nomad family if they are around. Second night in the same place, with no camp to strike.
- Day 3
Erg Chegaga → Erg El Mhazil
West across tracks only Foum Zguid guides know, a stop at the oasis, then arrival at Erg El Mhazil in late afternoon. Smaller dunes, complete solitude: not another camp on the horizon.
- Day 4
Rock carvings and return
Back along the flank of Jbel Bani, stopping at the rock carvings: antelopes and hunting scenes engraved when the Sahara was green. Lunch in the village, tour ends early afternoon.
What's included
✓ Included
- Private 4x4 with driver-guide
- 3 nights at equipped desert camps
- Full board from day-1 dinner to day-4 lunch
- Camel ride
- Sandboarding at camp
- Unlimited tea and mineral water
✕ Not included
- Day-1 lunch
- Other drinks
- Tips
Why the fourth day changes the trip
In two days you see the dunes. In three you begin to settle into them. In four your relationship with the desert changes: there is nothing left to tick off, no return to plan around, and that is when travellers start noticing things. Tracks in the sand, the hour the wind drops, the way the sand changes colour three times between lunch and nightfall.
It is also the only format that leaves a whole day without driving, on day two. That day is the one our guests talk about most afterwards, and it is exactly the one short tours sacrifice.
A real circuit, not an out-and-back
Most southern Morocco tours drive the same track out and back. This one does not: you enter via Lake Iriqui and leave via Erg El Mhazil and Jbel Bani. You never pass the same place twice, and the final day looks nothing like the first.
Season and climate
October to early June. The four-day format suits December to February particularly well: days are short and cool, so the slow pace makes sense, and winter nights offer the clearest skies of the year. Warm sleeping bags provided.
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from the 3-day tour?
The 3-day runs out to Chegaga and back with two nights at the same camp. The 4-day is a real loop: three different camps, a full day in the erg with no driving, plus Erg El Mhazil and the rock carvings the shorter format cannot reach.
Is it too long for children?
No, quite the opposite: it is the format we recommend to families. The driving days are shorter than on the 3-day tour, the free day lets children play in the dunes with no schedule, and sandboarding does the rest.
Can we extend to 5 or 6 days?
Yes. The natural extension adds the crossing to M'hamid and the Draa valley, or a longer loop through Iriqui National Park for wildlife. Write to us with your dates and we will build the itinerary.
Does the price drop for larger groups?
Yes, noticeably: the 4x4 and guide are fixed costs. The displayed rate is based on 2 people; ask us for the exact price for 4 or 6, the per-person difference is real.
More questions? See our full FAQ and our traveller reviews.
