Desert to Sea: Erg Chegaga, Southern Morocco, Essaouira – 8 days

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Essaouira, Sahara dunes, and southern Morocco tour 8 days – overview:

If you seek an adventure that seamlessly blends the splendour of the Sahara Desert with an exotic beach retreat along the Atlantic Coast, look no further – this trip is tailor-made for you. Explore the vast Moroccan Sahara dunes at the grand Erg Chegaga, and indulge in the charm of the coastal town, Essaouira. Immerse yourself in the diverse facets of Moroccan life and landscapes, creating an unforgettable and contrasting experience.

Delve into history as you explore famous Kasbahs; the former palatial residence of Kasbah Telouet in the Atlas Mountains, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ksar Aït ben Haddou as well as Kasbah Tamnougalte in the Dra’a Valley. The film studios of Hollywood fame, with their intact film locations, may also interest you.

Some of the memorable highlights of this adventure are the camel ride and the sunset from the top of the dunes. The majestic Sahara Desert offers expansive starlit skies, dancing to the rhythms of Berber music and drumming, and two magical nights in a luxury desert camp nestled amongst the dunes.

The journey unfolds through some of the most remarkable places. Tafraoute’s astonishing painted rocks, followed by Taroudant’s intact ramparts, are key highlights. Adding to the allure are the argan trees that grace the hill-sides across the southwest, endemic to Morocco. The locally extracted argan oil stands out for its highest quality.

Your adventure culminates in Essaouira, a charming town on the Atlantic coast, with its blue-and-white architecture. The UNESCO-listed Medina blends exotic spices with sea breezes, offering a cultural retreat. Lively arts, bustling souks, and delectable seafood provide a vibrant contrast to desert landscapes. From historic ramparts to sun-soaked beaches, Essaouira is a captivating conclusion to your Moroccan journey.

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The Sahara Desert, Southern Morocco, Essaouira 8 days – itinerary:

1st day: Marrakech – Ouarzazate

After the morning departure from your hotel or riad in Marrakech at 8.30, you set out on your adventure to cross the High Atlas Mountains. Along the road, you will stop at panoramic viewpoints to admire the beautiful landscape of the green valleys, Berber villages and often snow-topped mountains.

After the Tizi n’Tichka pass, the highest in North Africa at 2260 m, a side road takes you to the Kasbah Telouet. This was the seat of the Lords of the Atlas, the Glaoui family. The palace was abandoned and plundered after the last Pasha’s property was confiscated for his having plotted the King’s exile.

Two of the three main parts are in ruins having been exposed to the wind and the rain. Sadly, the entire Kasbah is now completely closed due to the destruction caused by the earthquake that hit Morocco in September 2023. Nonetheless, you can still enjoy the exterior with a local guide to uncover its fascinating history.

From here, you travel along the picturesque Ounila Valley, renowned for its stunning rock and soil hues. Enjoy the captivating sights of Berber villages, gardens, and smaller Kasbahs along the way.

In Kasbah Aït ben Haddou, you will visit this UNESCO World Heritage site, also a cinematic backdrop to numerous Hollywood blockbusters. Once in Ouarzazate about 45 minutes later, you will stop for the night in a riad or guest house.

2nd day: Ouarzazate – M’hamid

After breakfast, your journey continues further south as far as M’hamid at the edge of the mighty Sahara Desert. After crossing the Tizi-n-Tinfifte pass, you arrive in Agdz.

As you descend from the pass, you will be immediately captivated by an abundance of palm trees, signalling the beginning of the Dra’a Valley. This valley yields an impressive 44 varieties of dates, with the harvest starting in September and lasting a couple of months. The souk (local market) in Agdz offers the freshest and best.

After a visit to Kasbah Tamnougalt, you follow the ancient caravan road for a while and pass many villages and gardens, indicative of oasis life and subsistence.

Shortly before the police checkpoint in Tansikht, the driver can show you the dinosaur footprints in the rock at the side of the road. In Tinsouline, you can drive about a kilometre outside the village to the fascinating rock carvings of animals. These 4000 year old carvings at Foum Chenna depict animals that have long been extinct in Morocco.

You continue to Zagora, the largest oasis in the Dra’a Valley and the venue for lunch. Shortly afterwards, you arrive in Tamgroute, well-known for the green glaze of its ceramic products. You may have already seen them in Marrakech and certainly frequently in the south. The ancient Quranic library in the town with exquisite hand-written Arabic texts is famous throughout the country. Many of them have now been transferred to the National Library in Rabat.

You will drive about another 45 minutes to the dunes outside M’hamid on the edge of the Sahara. You have dinner and spend the night at a luxury camp with a private bathroom, king-sized beds, beautiful Moroccan furnishings and lamps tastefully arranged to enhance your enjoyment of the silence and beauty of the dunes.

3rd day: M’hamid – Erg Chegaga dunes

If you get up early enough, you will be rewarded by the sunrise’s amazing spectacle when the vibrant colours of the dunes and the play of shadows create an awe-inspiring sight. Back at the camp, enjoy a traditional Moroccan breakfast before you set out to explore the region further.

You will visit the old village of Mhamid across the now usually dry Dra’a River. The villages here are typical of desert dwellings, where houses are completely built out of adobe with covered streets. This architectural style works as a protection against the searing, mid-summer desert heat. You will explore the village to learn about life in this harsh but beautiful environment, and perhaps share a glass of tea with a local family.

After lunch, you will continue to Erg Chegaga, driving off-road for about 60 km through different landscapes of the majestic Sahara Desert; “erg” (dunes) and “ hammada” (stony desert), and occasional green oases.

Having arrived at the camp, you check-in to your tent and enjoy a relaxing glass of tea. Then you mount your camel to the summit of the dunes to admire the sunset. At 300m high and 45 km long, the Erg Chegaga dunes are the largest in Morocco. These dunes are far away from any settlements and where nomadic life is tough; exposed to the wind, sandstorms, and sparse rainfall.

Dinner and the night will be in a luxury camp with all the amenities of the first desert luxury camp you enjoyed in M’hamid.

4th day: Erg Chegaga – Tafraoute

Following breakfast, your adventure takes another 90 km across the Sahara Desert over the stony desert, and across the dried-up Lake Iriqui. Here, you can stop to stretch your legs and search for fossils.

At Foum Zguid, the first town after the desert and the beginning of the paved road, you travel west to Tata. This is the old Algeria to Zagora caravan route and passes oases and the Jebel Bani Mountains, which later give way to the Anti-Atlas. In Tata, it is worth visiting the Kasbah and the small museum!

Afterwards, you proceed to Imaoun for interesting rock carvings on the outcrops. The site is situated at a break in the ridge rising from the river plain. Then, you head north along the Tata River, passing through Tiata Tagmoute, a small Berber town, and finally arriving in Tafraoute.

You will spend the night in a beautiful guesthouse.

5th day: Tafraoute – Taroudant

After breakfast, you will be able to discover this region of Morocco, which is not greatly frequented by tourists, and giving you an insight into life in the south and the oases.

You will visit rocks painted by the Belgian painter, Jean Veran, in a striking art project. The stone formations are a great surprise in their contrast to the golden-red landscape, and exhibit a thoroughly unique strangeness. Created in 1984 with 18 tons of paint sprayed by local firemen, the colours have naturally faded, yet the entire project remains impressive.

From here, you continue travelling further up north past varying landscapes and beautiful Berber villages. You arrive in Taroudant, nicknamed the “little Marrakech” because of the vast, intact city walls surrounding the town.

You spend the night in a beautiful riad, which will also be the venue for dinner.

6th day: Taroudant – Essaouira

In the morning, you visit the medina of Taroudant, particularly remarkable for its massive ramparts and beautiful medina. You could pass by the souk (local market), full of silver jewellery, as well as colourful Moroccan ceramics and mosaics.

Travelling west, you reach Agadir following the Souss river valley with all its thousands of argane trees, endemic to Morocco. Argan oil has a high nutritional value and is also cosmetically prepared for the skin and hair. The leaves and post oil-extraction “waste” products are valuable animal fodder.

The road then travels up the coast, driving through Taghazout, a surfers’ paradise, and along the Anti-Atlas Mountains with beautiful views of the Atlantic coast. Finally you reach the famous, blue and white coastal town of Essaouira.

You will spend the night in a beautiful riad at the heart of the medina.

7th day: Essaouira at your own pace

Essaouira is a favourite for many tourists! Formerly known as Mogador by the Portuguese, Essaouira is a charming small town on the Atlantic coast. Today is spent exploring this charming coastal town at leisure.

Begin your exploration of Essaouira by visiting the Medina, full of local handicrafts, especially thuja wood furniture, carvings and small artefacts, sold in the colourful shops which line the winding alleyways.

At the seafront, you can choose a selection of freshly caught fish to have prepared for lunch there on the spot.

In the afternoon, stroll along the ancient fortifications that encircle the town, built by the Portuguese. Many of the cannons that were used to defend the town can still be seen along the walls facing out to sea.

Visit the Skala and fortified ramparts, once used as a set for the popular TV series Games of Thrones, as well as the opening scene of Orson Well’s production of Hamlet. This is a perfect place to take photos and to enjoy the incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Essaouira’s stunning beach, complemented by an array of water sports, including popular choices like surfing, makes this fishing town an ideal destination for coast lovers.

Essaouira is also a perfect place to relax after a trip to the desert – on the beach, in the little cafés by the port or while exploring the myriad little shops scattered throughout the town.

8th day: Essaouira – Marrakech

After a traditional Moroccan breakfast in your riad, you drive back to Marrakech. You travel past hilly slopes where almost every tree is an argane. Along the road, you can stop and photograph a rare sight of goats climbing into the argan branches to devour the leaves and the argane nuts. This really does happen and is not just an urban myth!

You can visit a women’s co-operative showcasing argan products. Witness the extraction and processing of oil from nut kernels, and taste argan oil with Moroccan bread and mint tea, a culinary highlight. The quality is higher than most exported products and decidedly cheaper, so if you wish to take some home, this is an excellent opportunity to buy some.

After lunch, you continue travelling through the Haouz plains and past several villages of the Chichaoua region, where you can stop for a tea or coffee break, overlooking the surrounding countryside.

Upon arriving in Marrakech, your driver will be happy to transfer you to your riad or to the airport to catch your flight.

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