This article argues for Erg Chigaga. Its twin argues for Merzouga. Both are honest about the downsides of their own choice.
The road is part of the experience
The tarmac ends at M’hamid, at the bottom of the Draa Valley. From there a 4×4 crosses around 60 km of stony plains, dry riverbeds and small dunes to reach the erg. Nobody arrives by accident, and that keeps the numbers low.
Silence and space
Erg Chigaga is a long field of dunes, lower than Erg Chebbi but wider, with no village at its foot. The camps are spread out. At night the sky is very dark and the only sound is the wind. Many travellers say this is the moment they felt they were really in the Sahara.
Iriqui and the way out
West of the dunes lies Lake Iriqui (Iriki), a vast dry lakebed inside Iriqui National Park. In most years it is a white, cracked plain where mirages dance; after rare rains it can hold water. Crossing it by 4×4 to Foum Zguid means you can arrive one way and leave another, without driving back the same road.
The honest downsides
- It takes longer: three days from Marrakech is possible, four is more relaxed.
- The 4×4 section adds cost, so an Erg Chigaga trip usually costs a little more than Merzouga.
- The dunes are lower and less dramatic in photos than Erg Chebbi.
- There is less to do around it: no Rissani, no Gnawa village. The desert itself is the attraction.
Which Erg Chigaga tour
- 3-Day Erg Chigaga Desert Tour from Marrakech
- 4-Day Erg Chigaga & Draa Valley Tour
- 4-Day Erg Chigaga Tour from Agadir via Taroudant
- 6-Day Two Deserts Tour
Compare both deserts side by side: Erg Chigaga or Merzouga?
All our tours are private, with your own driver-guide and vehicle, and every route can be adapted to you. Send us your dates on WhatsApp or through the enquiry form.
Written by Hda Abdou, founder of Morocco Cultours.
