Traveling between Foum Zguid, Erg Chegaga, and M’Hamid is embarking on an adventure following the ancient Paris-Dakar trail. It's discovering the Moroccan Sahara and its countless wonders, exploring the diverse landscapes of the Iriki National Park, and engaging with nomadic populations. With our guide's desert upbringing, we will introduce you to these captivating places, helping you find the best route for a circuit through the Moroccan desert.
Foum Zguid, departure into the desert towards Erg Chegaga
Still relatively undiscovered by tourism, the town of Foum Zguid serves as the final hub and supply point before venturing into the desert. It's for this reason that it's called the 'Gateway to the Desert,' as once you leave the main road, you head directly onto the track, into the heart of nature. Foum Zguid is located at the bottom of the Zguid Valley. From major Moroccan cities like Marrakech, Agadir, or Ouarzazate, it offers the quickest and shortest access route to the desert.
Visit Foum Zguid
All along its main street, you'll find small traditional stalls where you can buy spices, fabrics, clothes, and the famous desert men's 'chèches,' which protect you from the wind, sand, and sun. There are café terraces where you can take your time with tea or enjoy local cuisine while observing the city's movements – the passing 4x4s returning from grand desert adventures. You'll also find fruits and vegetables grown not far away. Life seems to unfold peacefully here, far from the hustle and extravagance of big cities. You can stay in Foum Zguid for several days and take the opportunity to visit its old kasbah located on the edge of the palm grove. Within this palm grove, there are some vegetable crops irrigated in a traditional way. Thursdays are market days when all the producers and merchants from the surrounding areas gather, attracting the inhabitants of nearby villages in a cheerful atmosphere. Around Foum Zguid, you can go on day hikes to see the prehistoric engravings of Amzrou. Our guide can offer you this day trip to take you there and share its secrets with you. Heading towards Tata, another point of interest is the Tissint waterfalls. You can swim in its pools of salty and crystalline water, surrounded by palm trees. A little corner of paradise where relaxation is a pleasure. Our guide can accompany you on day excursions to easily access these different places and reveal all their secrets to you.
Erg Chegaga, the vast sand dunes
Crossing the dried-up Iriki Lake
To reach the Erg Chegaga dunes, you'll first need to cross the plains of the dried-up Iriki Lake. Now integrated into the Iriki National Park, this former lake is rich in traces of the past: its ancient mountains, fossils marking the presence of shells and aquatic life from prehistoric times, as well as rock engravings and paintings towards the Djebel Bani mountains. They bear witness to the richness of the fauna during a time when these plains resembled savannah and depict the animals that were found there: giraffes, rhinoceroses, ostriches. To learn more about this place, you can read our article dedicated to the Iriki National Park. The crossing, which can be done by 4x4 or motorcycle only, reveals vast plains – a natural boundary separating the Atlas Mountains from the Sahara dunes. Along the way, you might come across herds of animals like camels, goats, and donkeys, belonging to a few rare nomadic families who still move according to water and grazing points. About 74 km separate Foum Zguid from Erg Chegaga. You should budget around 2.5 hours on the track with some breaks to admire the scenery and catch your breath from the bumpy road! But the first Sahara dunes begin about thirty kilometers from Foum Zguid, with the Erg El Mhazil, which can be a beautiful first stop on your desert journey – these dunes are calm and away from the tourist traffic. You can also enjoy a multi-day trek that takes you through the different parts of Erg El Mhazil to Erg Chegaga, on foot or on camelback, to experience the real nomadic life in the heart of the desert.
Visit Erg Chegaga
The main attraction of Erg Chegaga is the opportunity to sleep in a desert bivouac at the base of the tallest dune in Morocco. This dune, rising to a height of 300 meters, stands out in the sea of sand. The more adventurous can climb to its summit and admire the panoramic views from the top. The dune is surrounded by several campsites where you can stay for one or more nights in the desert, ranging from simple to more luxurious accommodations. They consist of several large tents with beds and a central area where people gather around the fire in the evening to keep warm during the nights, dine, and share musical evenings. Music holds a central place in nomadic culture – it brings the energy for a new day ahead, and the sound of derboukas can resonate in the dunes, making hearts vibrate in unison.
Activities at Erg Chegaga
In the dunes, you can book quads for a few hours of excitement. At Desert Foum Zguid, we prefer calm and respectful camel rides in this delicate environment. Especially the sunset camel ride that offers a dual spectacle – the experience of gaining elevation on camelback to discover the dune horizon, and the display of colors that ignite the desert for a few moments. If you're staying for several days, you can also embark on a hiking or trekking expedition to venture deeper into the desert, far from everything and close to nature. Enjoy the tranquility, take time to observe the fauna and flora of the dunes. The camel herder, along with camels carrying supplies and equipment, will accompany you, along with your guide, to lead you through these landscapes that need to be understood to avoid getting lost. During a camel trek, you can journey into the dunes on camelback for a day or several days. A wild bivouac will allow you to experience nights in the silence of the desert, gazing at the magnificent stars that shine brighter here than anywhere else. Sharing the life of the nomads provides a timeless interlude.
The best season to visit the desert
"The desert can experience very contrasting temperatures throughout the year. Certain periods are more favorable for visiting, such as spring and fall. In spring and fall: the days are sunny with temperatures reaching up to 30°C, while nights are cooler around 15°C. Evenings around the fire are enjoyed, and you'll sleep in tents to stay sheltered from the chill. You should prepare with sun protection (scarf or hat, sunscreen, or long sleeves) and a good sweater for the evenings. In winter: the coldest season of the year lasts for about 40 days, from mid-December to late January. Days are cool, around 15°C to 20°C, and there might be some wind. Nights are cold, dropping to around 5°C. Occasionally, the temperature can go as low as 0°C. In summer: from mid-June to early September, temperatures are very hot, exceeding 45°C, and the air can be stifling. Nights remain very warm as well. There are no desert stays during this period as conditions are harsh unless you can endure high temperatures.
M’Hamid El Ghizlane, from the desert to the Drâa Valley
M’Hamid El Ghizlane is approximately 60 km away from Erg Chegaga via the track. It's a small village situated at the bottom of the Drâa Valley, with a palm grove and ancient kasbahs in the old village. The landscapes around M’Hamid are mainly composed of sand and palm trees on one side, and numerous tamarisk trees in other areas. Formerly known as Taragalte, M’Hamid El Ghizlane, meaning 'the plain of gazelles,' used to be a stopover point for caravans en route to Timbuktu. The families who live here are former nomads who have settled down but continue to preserve their culture.
Every year, the International Nomad Festival takes place in March. This festival is a significant gathering celebrating the music, culture, and craftsmanship of the nomads. In the same spirit, the town also hosts the Taragalte Festival. To fully enjoy these events, we can offer you stays connected to these festivities and provide a range of activities such as quad biking, music concerts, camel exploration, and 4x4 excursions.
M'Hamid El Ghizlane serves as one of the starting points for the circuits we can propose to help you explore this part of southeastern Morocco.
The Drâa Valley
After reaching Foum Zguid and exploring the Chegaga desert, you can conclude your circuit by passing through M’Hamid to journey up the beautiful Drâa Valley and explore different landscapes characterized by lush palm groves. Take the time to stop in Tamegroute to visit the pottery that symbolizes the town. Here, they craft jars, plates, and other decorative or culinary items from clay and enamel with a green hue, a time-honored skill. Also, visit its library made up of ancient manuscripts.
We also recommend a stop in Zagora, which offers beautiful hotels to stay within the palm grove. You can enjoy mountain landscapes overlooking the valley. This route will then take you to Agdz and onward to Ouarzazate. Arriving in Ouarzazate, you can head either towards Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou and the Tizi N Tichka pass, or towards Agadir via Taliouine and Taroudant.
These are must-visit cities in the great Moroccan south that you absolutely should explore to create the most beautiful circuit through the southern part of Morocco, passing through the desert.
Whatever your desires, there are numerous possible circuits and diverse activities in the desert that can cater to everyone: sports enthusiasts, families, couples, friends, and more. At Desert Foum Zguid, we organize and personalize the journey of your dreams in the legendary Sahara Desert for an unforgettable experience.
Comentarios