Top 10 to visit in the Iriki desert and Lake Iriki

Acacia of the Iriki National Park

Located between Foum Zguid and M'Hamid El Ghizlane, south of Ouarzazate and Zagora, the Iriki desert is an area preserved from mass tourism where you can discover a multitude of landscapes, share the life of desert nomads and all the cultural and natural wealth of this region.

We have selected for you 10 activities and must-see sites in the Iriki National Park.

1/ The dunes of Erg Chigaga

The dunes of Chegaga are among the most well-known desert areas in Morocco. It is where the vast Sahara begins. There is the highest dune in Morocco which rises to a height of 300m. From up there, you will have a breathtaking view of the sandy sea. Miles of dunes as far as the eye can see in absolute calm. At the Erg Chegaga, you can sleep in a bivouac to enjoy the silence of the desert, live this complete disconnection with all the necessary comfort and spend a memorable evening around the fire, accompanied by music from the nomads.

It is also the ideal place to go for a camel ride to discover the desert at the peaceful pace of these animals essential for desert people. Leave at the time of sunset to make this moment even more magical. The Erg Chegaga is accessible by 4x4 or motorcycle only, from Foum Zguid or from M'Hamid El Ghizlane.

2/ The village of Zaouiat Sidi Abdenabi

It is one of the only villages in this entire region of the Iriki desert, the village of Zaouiat Sidi Abdenabi is the perfect place to meet the inhabitants and understand the life of these families in such a special environment. This small village which was once located on the shores of Lake Iriki must now face desertification and struggle to maintain the last families living here all year round, thus perpetuating the traditions of the tribe of El Mhazil. These families live thanks to the oasis around which the village revolves. They cultivate there vegetables and plants that will be used to feed them or will be sold at the market of Foum Zguid, as well as some herds of animals, mainly goats and sheep.

In the heart of the village, the small school is indispensable to all. It welcomes about 12 children, who will be happy to welcome you when you pass by. On the heights of the village, one finds the last walls of carefully arranged stones which constituted the old granaries, reserves for cereal crops mainly. On this hill, we discover a magnificent view of the peaceful village, the vast expanses of savannah and in the distance the dunes of the Sahara. All that remains is to imagine this setting at the time when Lake Iriki was in water and came to drink a lush oasis.

Below, the tomb of the marabout Sidi Abdenabi. He was the holy man of the tribe, founding father of these places. Imposing mausoleum carefully maintained by the families, it is the symbol of the history to perpetuate this territory. During your stay in our guest house, La Petite Maison du lac Iriki, we will share with you all the history of this village with a walking tour, to meet the inhabitants and their way of life.

3/ The oasis of Laarjimia

An oasis is always a magical place in the desert. The oasis of Laarjimia is no exception to the rule. Starting from Foum Zguid, after about 30 minutes of 4x4 track, the oasis is located at the foot of the mountains of Madouar El Kbir for an even more fascinating setting. The water source that springs there allows date palms to develop and host a well where herds of animals, dromedaries, sheep, goats, donkeys come to drink. It is a very popular spot of shade to enjoy a picnic or a mint tea, improvised there in the countryside, as the nomads of the desert know so well.

4/ The mountains of Medouar El Kbir

From Foum Zguid, one observes in the distance mountain silhouettes that stand out from the horizon, with rather astonishing shapes. The mountains of Madouar El Kbir are an unusual scenery that you must see during your visit to the Iriki National Park. We easily recognize them thanks to the mount in the shape of a tajine and another in the shape of a cobra. These tabular mountains form plateaus and are several thousand years old, constituting a fascinating geological heritage. They are also nicknamed the Colorado of the Moroccan desert since these rock formations really remind one of the mountains of the American Colorado. Thus, in just a few kilometers, you are immersed in totally different landscapes worthy of film sets, perfect for a photo break!

5/ The engravings and cave paintings

The southern Moroccan region hosts a unique archaeological heritage as it contains prehistoric engravings and paintings dating from the Neolithic era. Towards the mountains of Djebel Bani which marks the natural barrier between the Atlas and the Sahara, one can observe the marks left by prehistoric men on the rock itself. Some represent abstract forms that could not be deciphered so far, others symbolize more concrete representations of prehistoric life. Thus, one becomes aware of the animal life that reigned there at that time, such as rhinoceroses and giraffes. In the past, landscapes that are now arid, had savannah vegetation as well as wildlife specific to these ecosystems.

Starting from our guest house, La Petite Maison du lac Iriki, we guide you for a hike of about 2 hours in the mountains located just behind to observe the paintings and engravings nestled in the hollow of a canyon. Secret places that only people who have grown up here know, a real hidden treasure that we take pleasure in making you discover.

6/ Have tea at the nomads' place

At Désert Foum Zguid, we are committed to helping you discover the true heritage of our region and this primarily involves meeting its inhabitants to experience moments of sharing, closer to the daily life of nomads. Between our guest house and the Erg Chegaga, we take you to nomadic families for tea, a precious ceremonial that represents all the sacred hospitality of the desert people. You will see the simplicity of the living conditions of nomads, with a daily life close to nature and where solidarity is essential. If you wish, you can bring school supplies or clothes for these families to support them. Do not hesitate to ask us the question.

7/ Prehistoric fossils

The lands of Iriki National Park were home to the waters of Lake Iriki until the 1960s. Now dry, many shells are found on the cracked lands. But some places bear the traces of even older aquatic life, when the sea covered the lands of Morocco. We are talking about the Devonian period, around 380 million years ago. The water gradually withdrew and sedimentation allowed the fossilization of these molluscs, the orthoceres, from the nautilus family. In the middle of the sand, black rocks reveal thousands of these shells of all sizes, incredibly well preserved. It is a treasure to be absolutely discovered in the face of which the notion of time completely escapes us. From Foum Zguid, we will take you in a 4x4 to these prehistoric fossil sites in southeastern Morocco.

8/ A trek to visit the Iriki desert

To live an intense stay in the desert, we advise you to go on a trek in the middle of the dunes of the Iriki desert. This is the ideal opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture of nomads to experience the great adventure in the Sahara like caravans of yesteryear. Go for several days accompanied by the team of nomads and dromedaries. You will learn to live to the rhythm of nature for a complete rejuvenation. The simple living conditions will allow you a return to basics, to shed all the superfluity of everyday life and refocus on what is most important: being connected to yourself and your environment.

You will walk every day in grandiose landscapes, to discover the fauna and flora of the desert. The nights under the stars will offer you the exceptional spectacle of the celestial vault so bright in the desert. You will share the traditions of the nomads and their wonderful ability to adapt to all situations with the little that surrounds them. Learning how to bake bread in the sand is a good example. Nomads will also bring you their philosophy of life where hospitality is legendary. They are calm and patient in all trials, with a big heart towards each one.

More than a sporting challenge, a trek in the desert is before a rich human adventure. Find all our proposals of treks, adaptable to your desires on our pageRandonnées et Trekkings

9/ Crossing the Iriki National Park

The Iriki National Park is a natural jewel of Morocco that must be crossed to understand all its beauty. What makes it so rich is undoubtedly the diversity of its landscapes and the history of its tribes from yesterday to today. From Foum Zguid to M'Hamid El Ghizlane, you will first go on the stony tracks that require experienced 4x4 drivers knowing how to apprehend stones and holes. A passage worthy of the Paris Dakar that used to take these tracks.

On the horizon, mountain ranges suddenly emerge from the ground in the middle of vast expanses. These are the mountains of Medouar El Kbir, which are also called the Colorado of the Moroccan desert and which we experienced mentioned above. They are like landmarks frozen in the scenery, a compass in the middle of the desert of stones, fascinating and unusual. Little by little, the rock becomes sand, dotted with black stones, gathered into a deposit of fossils. The approach of the sand lets guess the proximity of the first dunes. But it is still necessary to drive and cross another landscape, that of the dry lake of Iriki.

Because suddenly the ground becomes harder and flatter. A joy to find a stable and calm ground after the noisy and hectic stone trail! This cracked earth still bears the traces of the salt that was in the lake water. But we can clearly see that the drought has replaced the abundant waters of the lake to make way for a completely desert setting.

As we progress on the dry lake, we reach the first dunes of the Sahara, like an illusion. The excitement is great in the face of these first sandy hills that herald the beginning of an almost infinite space, that of the mysterious and mythical Sahara, a name with a scent of adventure, steeped in the history of the greatest explorers, cradle of the peoples of nomadic tribes, great men of the desert.

Facing the dunes, on the other side of the dry lake, the plains dotted with acacia radiana, landscape of African savannah. What an astonishment in the face of these trees that have chosen to take root here in the face of such harsh desert conditions. They are planted there, imperturbable and welcoming to offer a bit of shade to travelers and herds of animals, like faithful companions. Behind this savannah landscape, the mountains of Jebel Bani are drawn, a straight and dark line that marks the natural separation between the Atlas and the dunes. By observing them, one imagines the volcanic activity that gave them these forms, between craters and lava flows. These mountains are home to historical and geological treasures. There are notably engravings and cave paintings. Once the lake dried up in its length, the gentle dunes of Erg Chegaga welcome you.

10/ Sleeping at the "Petite maison du lac Iriki"

Coming to stay in the Iriki desert is also to be in search of an authentic journey, to meet its inhabitants and their culture. Staying with the inhabitants is a chance to be in perfect immersion. La Petite Maison du lac Iriki is a guest house that constitutes an unusual accommodation in the national park of Iriki. This adobe house is typical of local dwellings. Family house, it has been restored in the tradition while bringing a bit of comfort for its guests. Moreover, it fits perfectly into an approach of respect for the environment with intelligent resource management: the water comes from a deep well that has been rehabilitated thanks to a solar panel pump system. Electricity itself comes from solar energy.

Thanks to Brahim, the eldest brother, you will enjoy delicious typical dishes cooked with local ingredients, vegetables and meats come either from the village or from the grocery stores and butchers of Foum Zguid supplying themselves locally. You can taste dishes such as tagines, skewers, soups, salads or delicious couscous. The guest house is located in an exceptional natural setting. At the back of the house, the mountains of Djebel Bani, in front are the vast plains dotted with acacia trees that stretch as far as the eye can see. And in the distance, the magnificent dunes of the Sahara whose silhouettes dance in the heat waves.

And what also surprises is the incredible calm, a soothing silence that ensures you have perfect nights of sleep. The atmosphere is relaxing. With the traditional warm welcome of the nomads, one feels immediately at ease. The decoration is colorful, full of joy. In the evening, we often see some inhabitants of the village join the house to share an evening with music, tell each other the latest news from the surroundings, in the middle of bursts of laughter. La Petite Maison du lac Iriki is a unique place to live that never leaves travelers indifferent, you quickly fall under its charm and with the desire to return. Here you will find more information about the guest house: La Petite Maison du lac Iriki

For staying there, you can contact us. Enjoy your stay in the Iriki desert to add a night or more in our guest house.

We hope that all this information has given you the desire to discover these exceptional places and take the time to stay with us to visit the Iriki desert.