Which trek to choose
| Trek | Walking | How far | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-day camel trek | 4-6 h / day | Erg El Mhazil and the edge of Lake Iriqui | from €230 |
| 4-day desert trek | 4-6 h / day | From El Mhazil to the first dune chains of Chigaga | from €300 |
| Full crossing (5-6 days) | 5-7 h / day | The heart of Erg Chigaga, on foot | tailor-made |
What walking changes
From a 4x4 the desert scrolls past; on foot it settles in. You hear the wind before you feel it, you read the tracks in the sand — beetle, jerboa, sometimes gazelle — and the evening camp is never the same as the last. The mobile camp is simpler than our Erg Chigaga camp: no shower, a basin of hot water, lanterns. That is the price of the privilege of sleeping every night in a spot where nobody slept the night before.
Desert trekking with children
Against all expectations, the camel trek is an excellent family formula from 8 years old: the children walk less but ride more (one camel for two light kids), the stages get shorter, and the crew loves passing things on — baking sand bread, reading tracks, tying a scarf the desert way. For families with younger children, our night at Erg El Mhazil by 4x4 remains the ideal first step before a first trek — and our guide to the desert with kids goes formula by formula.
What goes in the daypack: see the desert packing list.
The walking season
October to April, no exceptions: above 35 °C even the camel drivers refuse to set out, and they are right. November and March offer the best balance — days around 24 °C, bearable nights under canvas. The month-by-month detail is in our guide to the best time to visit the Sahara.
Frequently asked questions
How fit do I need to be?
As fit as a regular Sunday walker: our treks move over flat ground at caravan pace, with a camel available for everyone. The real challenge is the simple comfort of the mobile camp, not the effort. Children from 8 years old, no upper age limit as long as three hours of walking feels fine.
Camel trek or 4x4 tour — how do we choose?
The 4x4 goes far and fast: Erg Chigaga in an afternoon, the big landscapes back to back. The trek goes slowly and deep: four kilometres an hour, silence with no engine, a different camp every night. Many of our travellers do both in the same trip — the 4x4 to see, the walk to feel.
What happens to our luggage during the trek?
The camels carry one soft bag per person (8-10 kg); the rest sleeps in storage at our place in Foum Zguid. You walk with a small daypack: water, scarf, camera. The details are in our desert packing list.
Does the full crossing to Erg Chigaga exist?
Yes: 5 to 6 days on foot from Foum Zguid to the heart of the great erg, returning by 4x4. We build it as a tailor-made trip for groups with the time — it is the full version of what the caravans used to do.