Sahara Trekking10 Days from Marrakech
This relaxing Sahara trekking programme lets you leave everyday life behind. Walk just 2 hours each morning and 2 hours each afternoon through legendary dune systems — Erg Zahar, Erg Zmaila, Erg Ait Ounir — sleeping under a sky blazing with stars, sharing traditional meals around the fire with expert Berber guides. The Sahara at its most unhurried.
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What Makes This Special
Why Choose Our 10-Day Relaxing Sahara Trekking?
Not every desert journey needs to push your limits. This 10-day Sahara trekking from Marrakech is designed for those who want to truly absorb the desert — its silence, its colours, its ancient rhythms — without exhausting themselves doing it. Trekking just 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon, the rest of your day belongs to the Sahara. For those who want a more challenging crossing, see our full range of Sahara tours. Prefer a luxury experience? Our Erg Chebbi luxury camps are a wonderful alternative.
A Gentle, Unhurried Pace
Roughly 4 hours of walking each day — split across morning and afternoon — leaves ample time to rest, climb dunes, photograph the light, or simply lie back and let the Sahara wash over you. Immersion, not endurance.
Multiple Legendary Erg Systems
Cross Erg Zmaila, Erg Zahar, and Erg Ait Ounir across six consecutive trekking days — each with its own character, dune height, and Berber stories. An ever-changing desert canvas.
Life Around the Fire
Every evening our Berber guides cook traditional food over an open fire. Music, stories, and a billion stars above. You share not just a landscape but a way of life with the people who call this desert home. Learn more about our team.
Small Groups, Authentic Experience
We travel in small groups only — always. This preserves the intimacy of the desert, ensures personal attention from your guide, and means your footprint in this fragile environment stays light. Plan your trip with our Sahara trips planner tool.
Day by Day
Your 10-Day Sahara Trekking Itinerary
Departing from Marrakech, your journey crosses the High Atlas Mountains, follows the lush Draa Valley south to Mhamid, then ventures deep into some of Morocco’s most beautiful dune systems before looping back to Mhamid and returning to Marrakech by bus. Every day at your own pace — every night under the stars.
Day 1 — Arrival in Marrakech
We pick you up from Marrakech airport and transfer you to a beautiful riad for your overnight stay. Settle in, explore the medina at leisure, and prepare for the days ahead. This is your gateway to the Sahara.
Day 2 — Marrakech to Mhamid: The Road to the Desert
Depart in the morning, climbing over the Tizi n’Tichka Pass at 2,260 m through the High Atlas Mountains. Visit the UNESCO-listed Kasbah of Aït Benhaddou — Hollywood’s favourite Moroccan backdrop — before passing through Ouarzazate and following the green Draa Valley south to Mhamid. From there, you drive directly into the Sahara for your very first night under the stars.
Day 3 — Mhamid to Lahnanich: First Steps into the Sahara
After breakfast, you begin the trek alongside your dromedary companions, heading toward the sand dunes of Zahar. After 2 hours of walking, lunch is taken in the shade of a palm tree. A cup of tea, then an afternoon hike to the Lahnanich sand dunes — where you set up camp, gather around the fire for dinner, and fall asleep to absolute silence beneath the stars. Explore more about the Erg Zahar and the wider desert area.
Day 4 — Lahnanich to Erg Zmaila: The Sea of Sand
From Lahnanich you cross a landscape of rolling dunes and open plains — fewer trees, more sky. After the first 2 hours, a shaded lunch break, then 2 more hours of trekking bring you to Erg Zmaila — one of the most striking dune formations in southern Morocco. Watch the sunset from the ridge of its highest dune, then gather around the fire for a traditional dinner in the heart of the Sahara.
Day 5 — Erg Zmaila to Erg Zahar: Among the Highest Dunes
After sunrise and breakfast, the trek continues toward the towering dunes of Erg Zahar — among the highest in all of Morocco. Four hours of trekking, with several natural rest stops along the way, lead you to camp at the foot of these enormous dunes. The rest of the afternoon is yours: climb to the summit for a breathtaking sunset, or simply rest and let the Sahara work its magic. Every night is under the stars and around the fire.
Day 6 — Erg Zahar to Erg Ait Ounir: Tamarisk, Dunes & Silence
Today’s destination is the beautiful Erg Ait Ounir — a sweeping group of dunes encircled by some of the oldest tamarisk trees in the Sahara. Experience a new dimension of tranquillity and serenity as the sun sets over this otherworldly landscape. Lunch on the way, then an evening of fire, food, music, and stars. If you’re curious about the wider western Sahara, compare our Erg Chigaga tours.
Day 7 — Erg Ait Ounir to Lbour: Heading Home Through the Desert
After a restful night and a hearty breakfast, you begin the return arc toward Mhamid, recrossing a section of the Draa valley. About 2 hours of morning trekking, a lunch break in the open desert, then an afternoon walk to Lbour — your final night camp under the stars, with dinner and music around the fire.
Day 8 — Lbour to Mhamid: Last Sunrise in the Open Desert
One final chance to watch the Sahara sunrise paint the dunes in gold. After breakfast, the trail leads back through small dunes to Mhamid. A last open-air lunch, then an afternoon arrival at the fixed camp — where a hot shower awaits. A warm evening in Mhamid to close your desert chapter.
Day 9 — Mhamid to Marrakech by Bus
An early morning transfer to the bus station. The CTM bus departs Mhamid at 6:00 am and arrives in Marrakech at approximately 3 pm. Spend the rest of the day in the medina — the souks, Jemaa el-Fna square, and a farewell dinner in the riad.
Day 10 — Departure or Extended Stay
Your return flight departs today — or stay on and let Marrakech enchant you for a few extra days. Its colours, flavours, and energy are a perfect counterpoint to the vast silence of the desert you’ve just crossed. Our team can arrange additional nights in the riad.
About The Destination
Mhamid & the Western Sahara Ergs
The True Gateway to Morocco’s Desert South
Mhamid el Ghizlane sits at the end of the last paved road in southern Morocco, just 40 km from the Algerian border. It is the historic gateway to the western Sahara — a quiet, wind-worn town where desert caravans once prepared for the crossing of the great sand seas. From Marrakech, the drive south through the High Atlas and the Draa Valley is itself a remarkable journey through the most cinematic landscapes Morocco has to offer.
Beyond Mhamid lie the dune systems covered on this trek: Erg Zmaila, Erg Zahar — one of Morocco’s highest dune formations — and Erg Ait Ounir, cradled among ancient tamarisk trees. These ergs see far fewer visitors than the more commercialised dunes near Merzouga, meaning the landscape remains wild, quiet, and deeply authentic. For those who want to push further into the western desert, our Erg Chegaga tours from Marrakech and Erg Chigaga tours venture even deeper.
The best seasons for Sahara trekking from Marrakech are spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November). If you want to compare all the desert options available, explore our complete Sahara tours portfolio, or visit our Morocco travel agency page to understand everything we offer.
What’s Covered
What’s Included in Your Sahara Trekking
✓ Included
- Air-conditioned 4×4 Toyota Prado TX with experienced English-speaking driver
- Full board during all trekking days (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
- Overnight accommodation in riad in Marrakech (Days 1 & 9)
- Dromedary camels and experienced cameleer throughout the trek
- All camping equipment — tents, mattresses, dishes and cooking supplies
- Water during all desert trekking days
- English-speaking Berber guide for the full duration
- CTM bus ticket Mhamid–Marrakech (Day 9)
✗ Not Included
- Camel riding (optional add-on — €35 per day)
- Sleeping bag (can be hired locally in Mhamid)
- Meals not listed in the programme
- Drinks outside desert trekking days
- Entrance fees (e.g. Aït Benhaddou)
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Single room supplement — €90 total
- Tips and personal expenses
Pricing & Departures
Trek Prices & Scheduled Dates
Starting from 3 participants. All departures run in small, intimate groups.
Standard Departure
€900 / per person
10-day relaxing trek from Marrakech including 4WD transport, full board on trekking days, all camping equipment, and English-speaking Berber guide.
High Season Surcharge
+€55 / per person
Applies to departures between December 20 and January 10. Standard price applies to all other scheduled dates.
Private / Individual
Custom
Prefer your own dates? We offer private departures year-round. Use our Sahara trip planner or contact us for a tailored quote.
📅 Upcoming Scheduled Departures — 2026
Reserve Your Spot
Book Your 10-Day Sahara Trekking
Ready to slow down and let the Sahara fill your senses? Fill in the form below and our team will confirm your spot within 24 hours. Have questions first? Visit our contact page or build your own itinerary with the Sahara trips planner tool. Explore everything we offer at our Morocco travel agency.
Common Questions
FAQs About 10-Day Sahara Trekking from Marrakech
Ready for Your Relaxing Sahara Trekking Adventure?
The dunes of Erg Zahar and Erg Ait Ounir are waiting. Let us handle every detail — all you have to do is slow down and let the desert do the rest.