Sahara Desert Travel Guide

Morocco is home to several beautiful desert landscapes, and each one has something special to offer. In this Sahara Desert travel guide, we’ll explore how many deserts there are in Morocco, where they are located, and what makes each one different. From the golden dunes of Merzouga to the rocky desert landscapes around Zagora and Agafay, you’ll discover what to expect, the best time to visit, and how to choose the right desert for your trip.

Is Erg Chebbi or the Merzouga Desert Part of the Sahara?

Is Erg Chebbi or the Merzouga Desert Part of the Sahara?

One of the things that comes to mind when people think about Morocco is the Sahara Desert with its golden sand dunes. Many travelers who come to Morocco don’t miss the opportunity to ride camels, cross the sand dunes, and spend the night in the middle of the desert at a desert camp.

But what is the difference between a desert and the Sahara?

A desert is a type of geographical area that is dry and does not receive much rainfall. This means that a desert is not always made up of sand dunes. The same applies to Morocco, where you can find different desert landscapes, some with sand dunes and others that are mainly rocky or dry.

The Sahara, on the other hand, is a specific desert and is considered the largest hot desert in the world. It covers a huge area of North Africa and extends across several countries, including Morocco.

Simply put, the Sahara is a desert, but not every desert is the Sahara.

How Many Deserts Are There in Morocco?

In Morocco, there are many places that you could describe as desert landscapes because they are very dry, receive little rainfall, or consist mainly of rocky and empty land.

For travelers, however, four of the most popular desert destinations are:

1. Erg Chebbi near Merzouga
2. Erg Chigaga near M’Hamid El Ghizlane
3. The Zagora and Drâa Valley region
4. Agafay Desert near Marrakech

Each one offers a different experience, so choosing the right one depends on how much time you have and what type of desert experience you are looking for.

Erg Chebbi near Merzouga

Erg Chebbi is the best-known sand-dune area in Morocco and the one you often see in social media photos and travel programs.

Many Morocco tours include a visit to Erg Chebbi because of its impressive golden dunes and peaceful atmosphere. Imagine riding a camel across the dunes while watching the sunset, then spending the night in a remote desert camp under a sky full of stars.

Erg Chebbi is about a 9-hour drive from Marrakech and approximately 7 hours from Fes, depending on the route and stops.

However, the journey to Erg Chebbi is not simply a long and boring drive. There are many interesting places to see along the way, including green valleys, old kasbahs, traditional villages, and stunning landscapes.

Most travelers choose tours from Marrakech to spend a night on the way, usually in places such as Dades Valley, Ouarzazate, or Agdez. This makes the journey more relaxed and gives them more time to visit the main attractions along the route.

From Fes to Erg Chebbi, many tours make the journey in one day, with several stops along the way, including Ifrane, the “Switzerland of Morocco,” and the cedar forests, where you may have the chance to see Barbary macaques.

However, if you prefer a shorter driving day, you can spend the night in Midelt or Boulaajoul and continue to Erg Chebbi the following day. The same option can also be arranged in the opposite direction.

One of the things that makes Erg Chebbi popular is its accessibility. The roads to Merzouga are suitable for many types of vehicles, including cars, vans, and buses. However, once you want to explore the dunes themselves, you will need a 4×4 vehicle, ATV quad, or another suitable desert vehicle.

Erg Chigaga near M’Hamid El Ghizlane

Erg Chigaga, near M’Hamid El Ghizlane, is another stunning desert destination in Morocco. It is known for its large sand dunes, remote landscapes, and wildlife.

Some travelers choose Erg Chigaga for a similar experience to Erg Chebbi, including camel rides and spending the night in a desert camp. However, Erg Chigaga offers a more remote and adventurous atmosphere.

How to Get to Erg Chigaga from Marrakech

The journey from Marrakech to Erg Chigaga takes approximately 9 hours or more, depending on the route and stops.

First, you travel from Marrakech to M’Hamid El Ghizlane, which is the last village before entering the deeper desert. From M’Hamid, you then need approximately 2 hours of off-road driving to reach the Erg Chigaga sand dunes.

There are several interesting places to visit along the way, and there are multiple accommodation options where you can break up the long journey, including Ouarzazate and Agdez.

It is very important to know that if you are traveling independently, it is recommended to go with a local driver or experienced desert guide from M’Hamid El Ghizlane to the dunes. It can be very easy to get lost in the desert if you are unfamiliar with the area, unless you are looking for a truly adventurous experience.

Zagora Desert and the Drâa Valley

The Zagora and Drâa Valley region is another desert destination in Morocco with a variety of landscapes, including small sand dunes, palm groves, rocky desert areas, and dry valleys.

It is also possible to ride camels and spend the night in a desert camp in this region.

Zagora is approximately 6 hours from Marrakech, making it closer than Erg Chebbi and Erg Chigaga. However, the dunes in this region are generally smaller than those of Erg Chebbi and Erg Chigaga.

Many travelers visit Zagora as part of a two-day tour from Marrakech, usually traveling through the Atlas Mountains and visiting Ait Ben Haddou along the way.

This can be a good option for travelers who want to experience a desert landscape but have limited time.

Agafay Desert near Marrakech

The Agafay Desert is a rocky desert located approximately 45 minutes from Marrakech.

Agafay is a great option for people who have limited time but still want to experience a desert atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy activities such as camel rides, ATV quad biking, and spending the night at a desert camp with dinner and traditional music shows.

Agafay has become increasingly popular, partly because of its proximity to Marrakech and its luxury desert camps.

However, it is important to understand the difference between Agafay and the Sahara.

Agafay is a rocky desert, not the Sahara Desert, and it does not have the vast golden sand dunes found in Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga.

If your main interest is seeing large golden sand dunes and experiencing the Sahara, then Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga would be a better choice.

On the other hand, if you have limited time, don’t want to spend many hours driving, and simply want a quick desert experience close to Marrakech, Agafay can be a perfect option.

Which Moroccan Desert Should You Choose?

Erg Chebbi: Best for travelers who want the classic Moroccan Sahara experience with large golden dunes, camel rides, desert camps, and spectacular sunsets.

Erg Chigaga: Best for travelers looking for a more remote and adventurous desert experience.

Zagora: A good option for travelers with limited time who want to combine a desert experience with the Atlas Mountains, Ait Ben Haddou, and the Drâa Valley.

Agafay: Best for travelers who have only a short time in Marrakech and want a desert-style experience without a long journey.