What does the 5-day trek add over the 4-day version?

A full rest day at the Erg Chegaga dune camp, so you're not moving camp every single day.

Is the rest day optional activity or fully free?

It's unstructured free time — you can climb dunes, rest, or explore near camp at your own pace.

How far do we travel on trekking days?

Typically 15-20km per day, alternating walking and riding.

Is this suitable for a first-time desert trekker?

Yes, the extra rest day makes this a gentler introduction to multi-day camel trekking than our 4-day route.

Mhamid Camel Trek in the Sahara - 5 Days

Overview

A 5-day camel trekking Mhamid route, adding a full rest day among the dunes to the classic 4-day trek.

Departure City: M’Hamid

Destination: Erg Chegaga area

Explore more Sahara adventures: Desert Camel Trekking from Mhamid – 6 Days, Camel Trekking Tour from Mhamid – 4 Days, Sahara Desert 6 Days.

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
Transportation
Camel (trek, no 4x4)
Wifi
Not available
Destinations
Desert Tours From Mhamid
Trip Type
Mhamid Desert Tours

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

About this journey

This 5-day Mhamid camel trek builds a full rest day into the classic 4-day route, giving the trip room to breathe u2014 two consecutive nights at the same dune camp near Erg Chegaga instead of moving every single day.

It’s a gentler introduction to multi-day camel trekking than our 4-day route, without losing any of the distance covered: you’ll still walk and ride roughly 15-20km on trekking days, guided throughout by nomadic families.

Prefer to keep moving every day? Try our 4-day trek, or go further with the 6-day route into the desert interior.

Day 1 :

M'Hamid to Oued Naam

M'Hamid to small dunes to Oued Naam

The trek sets off from M'Hamid, alternating walking with time in the saddle across small dunes.

Camp is set at Oued Naam, a dry riverbed used by nomadic families for generations.

Trek begins in M'Hamid - Small dunes crossing - First night at Oued Naam

Day 2 :

Oued Naam to the Open Desert

Oued Naam to hammada plains to dune camp

The second day covers open hammada, scattered with fragments of ancient pottery from long-gone settlements.

Camp is set among a new stretch of dunes, further from any road than the previous night.

Hammada crossing - Ancient pottery fragments - Camp deeper in the dunes

Day 3 :

Toward Erg Chegaga

Dune camp toward the Erg Chegaga area

The trek continues toward the fringes of Erg Chegaga, Morocco's largest dune field, with the terrain shifting to soft, rolling dunes.

Camp is set among these larger dunes for two consecutive nights.

Approach to Erg Chegaga - Terrain shifts to soft dunes - Camp set for two nights

Day 4 :

Rest Day Among the Dunes

Free day at the Erg Chegaga dune camp

A full day without moving camp — time to climb the highest nearby dunes, rest through the midday heat, and properly absorb the scale of the desert around you.