The road south from Marrakech climbs to the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m) and drops into kasbah country: Aït Benhaddou, a fortified village of earthen towers, and Ouarzazate, the gateway to the desert. It is a full day of scenery.
From there, the road runs through Tazenakht, known for its carpets, to Foum Zguid, where the tarmac ends and the track across Lake Iriki to the Chegaga dunes begins. You sleep in the erg, then drive back the same way in daylight.
Highlights
- Tizi n’Tichka pass and the High Atlas
- Aït Benhaddou and Ouarzazate
- Tazenakht and its carpets
- A night in camp at Erg Chegaga
The route
Day 1
Marrakech, Tizi n’Tichka pass and Aït Benhaddou; night near Aït Benhaddou or Ouarzazate.
Day 2
Tazenakht and Foum Zguid, then 4×4 across Lake Iriki to the dunes; sunset and night in camp.
Day 3
Sunrise on the dunes, back across Lake Iriki to Foum Zguid, then on to Ouarzazate for the night.
Day 4
Back over the Tizi n’Tichka pass to Marrakech.
Good to know
- Days 1 and 4 are long drives: sit back and enjoy the views.
- Snow can close the pass for a few hours in winter; we adapt the plan.
Chat with a guide