Luxury Honeymoon Tour to Erg Chegaga Golden Desert

Marrakech to Agdz Your romantic honeymoon adventure into the Erg Chegaga desert begins at 8.30 am with a pick up from your riad in Marrakech. As we drive through the High Atlas Mountains, we will stop at several panoramic viewpoints perfect for photos. After enjoying lunch in Ouarzazate, we visit Kasbah Taourirt in the city center. This site was expanded in the 19th century by the powerful Glaoui family, the lords of the Atlas who once ruled the region. Later in the afternoon, we travel across the Tizi n Tinfifte pass to the head of the Dra Valley. You will spend the night in a luxury rural riad near Agdz, complete with a romantic private dinner.

Agdz to Erg Chegaga dunes Following breakfast, there is time to explore Kasbah Tamnougalte, the oldest fortress in the Dra Valley. While parts are still lived in, the historic Jewish quarter stands as a testament to the community that left for Israel decades ago. Near the police checkpoint in Tansikht, your driver can show you ancient dinosaur footprints by the roadside. Further along near Tinsouline, we can view the Foum Chenna rock carvings, which depict animals long extinct in Morocco and date back roughly 4000 years.

The Dra Valley is known as the date basket of Morocco, growing over 45 varieties of dates along with henna plants, fruit trees, and vegetables. Farmers here use small canals called seguias to irrigate the dry soil from the river. We will stop for lunch in Zagora, the largest town in the area. Afterward, we visit Tamegroute to see its famous green glazed pottery and an ancient library filled with exquisite handwritten Arabic texts.

Leaving the paved road at Mhamid, we drive 60 km off road into the desert to reach the Erg Chegaga dunes. The silence and vastness of the landscape are truly breathtaking. You will be welcomed with traditional mint tea and snacks before taking a camel ride to the top of the dunes for a spectacular sunset. Dinner and accommodation await you in a luxury camp, where every tent features a king sized bed, traditional furniture, and a private bathroom.

Erg Chegaga dunes Today is dedicated to a full day of trekking through the magnificent Sahara Desert. After breakfast, you will set out with camels carrying your lunch and supplies. You can choose to ride or walk alongside them. Local guides will explain the different desert landscapes, from the stony hammada to the sandy erg and oases, while sharing insights into nomadic life. The trek lasts about five hours total, split between the morning and afternoon, but the pace is entirely up to you.

You will return to your luxury camp for another night of comfort and fine dining. Please note that weather in southern Morocco can be unpredictable. If temperatures are too high between May and September, we may advise against trekking and discuss alternative activities for your safety.

Chegaga dunes to Ouarzazate After breakfast, we drive west across another 90 km of desert terrain. We will cross Lake Iriqui, a dried lake bed where heat often creates massive mirages and where fossils are easy to find. Lunch takes place in Foum Zguid, the first village after leaving the wilderness. The name translates to the mouth of the Zguid River.

From here, we travel north on paved roads past striking rock formations to Taznakht, a town famous for Berber carpets. You can watch local women weaving these traditional works of art using skills passed down through generations. We arrive in Ouarzazate in the evening for an overnight stay in a riad.

Ouarzazate to Marrakech We depart in the morning to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou. This iconic location has served as the backdrop for famous movies like Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven. It is one of the most visited and photographed sites in Morocco.

Our journey continues through the stunning Ounila Valley, where green gardens and fields of wheat, olives, and almonds run parallel to the river. This scenic road leads to Kasbah Telouet, the former mountain palace of Thami El Glaoui, the Pasha of Marrakech. Although the interior is currently closed due to damage from the September 2023 earthquake, a visit to the exterior with a local guide offers a fascinating look into its rich history and dramatic decline after 1956.

Finally, we cross the Tizi n Tichka pass, the highest road pass in Africa, which was once controlled by the Glaoui family to dominate trade in the region. We arrive back in Marrakech in the late afternoon, marking the end of your majestic desert honeymoon tour.