Desert Tour Itinerary: Agadir to Erg Chegaga and Beyond (4 Days)
Day 1: Agadir – Taliouine – Kasbah Ait Benhaddou – Ouarzazate
Start your journey at 8 a.m., departing Agadir for the southern regions of Morocco. Pass through Taliouine, the saffron capital, for a coffee break. Continue to Taznakht, the Moroccan carpet capital, where you’ll have lunch. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kasbah Ait Benhaddou, a stunning example of traditional Moroccan architecture. Proceed to Ouarzazate, where you can explore the Cinema Studio if desired. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at your hotel.
Day 2: Ouarzazate – Agdz – Zagora – M’Hamid – Erg Chegaga
After breakfast, drive through the Tizi-N-Tinfift pass (1,760m) to Agdz, offering panoramic views of the Draa Valley. Follow the valley to the town of Afraa, stopping at Tamgroute to visit the Koranic library, underground kasbah, and pottery workshops. Continue to M’Hamid for lunch before heading towards Erg Chegaga, crossing Erg Hamada and visiting the sacred oasis. Arrive at the Chegaga dunes, Morocco’s largest dunes, for dinner and an overnight stay at a desert camp under the stars.
Day 3: Erg Chegaga – Lake Iriqui – Lmadwar Desert – Foum Zguid – Tata
Start your day with breakfast before setting out along the legendary Paris-Dakar route. Pass by the dried Lake Iriqui and enjoy the unique landscapes of the “Lmadwar Desert,” often compared to Colorado’s rugged beauty. Arrive at Foum Zguid and continue to Tata via the Aguinane oasis. Spend the night in a hotel or riad in the heart of the Berber city of Tata.
Day 4: Tata – Ighrm – Anti-Atlas – Tiout Oasis – Agadir
After breakfast, travel back to Agadir through the Anti-Atlas Mountains and the Tiout Oasis. Stop for lunch at a small eatery in Tiout and explore its picturesque surroundings. Continue to Taroudant, often called “Little Marrakech,” for a brief visit before returning to Agadir in the late afternoon, marking the end of your journey.
Highlights:
- Explore UNESCO-listed Kasbah Ait Benhaddou
- Experience Erg Chegaga, Morocco’s largest dunes
- Visit the sacred oasis and Tamgroute’s Koranic library
- Traverse the Paris-Dakar route and Lake Iriqui
- Discover Berber culture in Tata and Tiout Oasis
- Visit the historic city of Taroudant
