Light layered clothing, a warm layer for the evening, closed shoes for camel mounting, sunscreen, a hat, and a headscarf or buff for wind and sand. A full list is sent after booking.

Morocco Desert Tour - 3 Days Trekking

Q: Do I need trekking experience for this tour?

No prior experience is needed — most of the distance is covered on camelback or by 4x4, with only light walking. The pace is set by the camels, not by fitness level.

Q: How remote are the Erg Chegaga dunes?

Erg Chegaga sits around 60km from M'Hamid and is Morocco's largest and most remote dune field, considerably less visited than the dunes near Merzouga.

Q: What's the sleeping arrangement like?

You'll sleep in traditional nomad tents (single, double, or shared) at both camps, with the option to sleep directly under the stars on clear nights.

Q: Is this trip suitable for children?

Yes, though the pace and camel distances are best suited to children over 8. Contact us if travelling with younger children and we can advise on adjustments.

Q: Can I extend this trip?

Yes — this 3-day tour can be combined with additional nights at Erg Chegaga or paired with a longer Draa Valley itinerary. Get in touch to build a custom version.

Overview

A compact camel and 4×4 expedition from M’Hamid to Erg Chegaga, Morocco’s tallest and most remote dune field.

Departure City: M’Hamid

Destination: Erg Chegaga

Explore more Sahara adventures: Camel Trekking Tour from Mhamid – 4 Days, Ouarzazate Desert Tour to Merzouga, Nomads Trail – 4 days Desert Tour.

Browse all our Sahara desert tours, or reserve a comfortable stay at our desert camp accommodation before or after your trip.

Accomodation
Nomad tents & under the stars
Departure City
M'Hamid
Arrival City
M'Hamid
Guide
Guided
Meals
Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Transportation
Camel & 4WD
Wifi
Not available
Destinations
Desert Tours From Mhamid
Trip Type
Mhamid Desert Tours

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

About this journey

This 3-day desert trip in Morocco is built specifically around reaching Erg Chegaga, the country’s tallest and most remote dune field, without committing to a longer trek. It departs from M’Hamid and combines camel riding with a 4×4 transfer to cover more ground in less time.

Along the way you’ll stop at a sacred oasis, ride camels into the dunes at Erg Chegaga itself, and spend a night camping among some of the largest sand formations in the Sahara. It’s a popular choice for travellers with 3 days to spare who still want the full scale of Erg Chegaga rather than the smaller dunes closer to town.

For a longer version of this same route, see our 6-day Call of the Desert trek, or browse all desert morocco tours from Sahara Marokko.

Day 1 :

M'Hamid to Oued Naam - Into the Dunes

M'Hamid to small dunes to Oued Naam (dry riverbed)

The trek begins in M'Hamid, the 'Gate of the Desert' and the last proper town before the Sahara opens up in earnest. After meeting your camel team, you'll ride roughly 10 kilometres across a rolling landscape of small dunes — an easy first stretch that eases you into the rhythm of camel travel. Lunch is taken in the shade of a tamarisk tree, one of the few trees hardy enough to survive this far into the desert.

In the afternoon, the caravan continues to Oued Naam, a dry riverbed that has long served as a meeting point for nomadic families drawing water from a local well. Camp is set up here for the night, in traditional nomad tents or, for those who prefer it, under the open sky.

M'Hamid departure - Camel trek to Oued Naam - Night in nomad tents

Day 2 :

Oued Naam to Erg Chegaga - Morocco's Great Dunes

Oued Naam to Sacred Oasis to Erg Chegaga

After breakfast, there's an optional hour on camelback before the day shifts pace: a 4x4 carries you deeper into a different stretch of desert, toward a small oasis considered sacred by local communities. Lunch is taken here in the shade of palm trees, followed by a slow afternoon rest.

By late afternoon you reach Erg Chegaga itself — the largest dune field in Morocco, with peaks up to 300 metres running for 40 kilometres. Camp is set up at the base of the dunes, dinner comes with music and conversation, and the night is spent either under canvas or, if the weather allows, directly beneath the stars.

Sacred oasis lunch stop - Arrival at Erg Chegaga - Dinner and entertainment under the dunes

Day 3 :

Erg Chegaga to M'Hamid - Sunrise and the Road Back

Erg Chegaga to M'Hamid by 4x4

Mornings in Erg Chegaga are hard to describe and easy to remember — sunrise over dunes this size, with the desert wind still cool from the night. Breakfast is served either in a tent or in the open air.

Afterward, the 4x4 retraces the route back to M'Hamid, arriving around mid-morning — a short, sharp trip that reaches one of Morocco's most remote dune fields and back without the time commitment of a longer trek.