5 days
Five Days to the Chegaga Dunes: Tata, Foum Zguid, Draa
Five days south and east by 4x4: Taroudant and Tiout, the desert road to Foum Zguid, two nights at the dunes, then the Draa valley home.
- Duration
- 5 days, 4 nights
- Languages
- English / French
- Getting there
- Hotel pickup
- Group size
- Up to 30 people
The experience
About this trip
Five days gives the desert room. Where the three-day trip drives hard to reach the dunes and then turns around, this one goes south through Tata, spends two nights out at the sand, and comes back along the Draa valley with time to stop.
The road south passes Taroudant, with its souk, medina and ramparts, then Tiout for lunch at the kasbah and a walk through the palm plantation, sometimes by donkey. From there it is Igherm and then Foum Zguid for the first night.
The next day is a long desert stage to M'Hamid, the gate of the sand, where you are looked after by the blue men of the desert, eat to the sound of the tam-tam and sleep in a tent or out under the stars. Then the dunes at Chegaga, and the way home through Zagora, the Draa valley and Ouarzazate.
Why this one
Highlights
- Taroudant: souk, medina and ramparts on the first day
- Tiout, lunch at the kasbah and a walk in the palm plantation
- The long desert road south to Foum Zguid
- M'Hamid, the gate of the desert, with tam-tam at night
- Two nights out at the Chegaga dunes
- The Draa valley, Zagora and Ouarzazate on the way back
Your day
How the day runs
Day 1: Agadir to Foum Zguid
Taroudant and its ramparts, lunch at the kasbah in Tiout and the palm plantation, then Igherm and Foum Zguid.
Day 2: Foum Zguid to M'Hamid
A long desert stage broken by oases, arriving at the gate of the sand.
Day 2: Camp
Dinner, tam-tam around the fire, and a night in a tent or under the stars.
Day 3: The dunes
On toward Erg Chegaga and the high sand, with a camel ride and a second night out.
Day 4: The Draa valley
Zagora, then the palm valleys and ocher villages of the Draa toward Ouarzazate.
Day 5: Home
Ait Benhaddou and Taroudant on the road back to Agadir.
What is included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off (Agadir, Taghazout & Tamraght)
- 4x4 with a qualified guide for all five days
- Four nights: hotels and desert camps
- Breakfasts and dinners
- Camel ride at the dunes
- Fuel, tolls and guide costs
Not included
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Entry fees where charged
What to bring
- A soft bag rather than a hard suitcase, it packs better in a 4x4
- Warm layers for the nights out at the sand
- Closed shoes and a scarf for the dunes
- Sun cream, sunglasses and a hat
- A torch
- Cash for lunches and entry fees
Know before you go
- Five days and four nights, leaving at 08:00 on day one
- Departures run on set days, so book well ahead
- Two of the nights are in desert camps
- Lunches are not included
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from the three-day desert trip?
It goes south through Tata and Foum Zguid instead of east through Ouarzazate, spends two nights out at the sand rather than one, and has time for the Draa valley on the way back.
How many nights are in camps?
Two, at M'Hamid and at the dunes. The other nights are in hotels or guesthouses.
What is a tam-tam?
Drumming. At the desert camps the evening usually ends with music around the fire.
Are meals included?
Breakfasts and dinners are. Lunches are not, so budget for one each day.
What should I pack?
A soft bag, warm layers for the nights out, closed shoes, a scarf for the sand and a torch.
When does it depart?
On set departure days. The camps and hotels are reserved in advance, so book early.
Ready when you are
Book Five Days to the Chegaga Dunes: Tata, Foum Zguid, Draa
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