Your Sahara experience in 3 days
Foum Zguid · Lake Iriki · Erg Chegaga · Oum Laâlag Oasis · Jbel Bani. Two nights in the desert and three days of discovery: the dunes at sunset, a walk at first light, a quiet oasis and rock engravings thousands of years old.
- Route
- Iriki · Oum Laâlag · Jbel Bani
- Meals
- Full board, Day 1 dinner to Day 3 breakfast
- Nights
- 2 nights in a desert bivouac
- Difficulty
- Easy
Journey day by day
Across the desert to Erg Chegaga
Your local guide welcomes you in Foum Zguid and you set off in a private 4×4 across the immense landscapes of Lake Iriki towards Erg Chegaga, where towering dunes stretch to the horizon. Arrive in time for the colours of sunset, ride a camel through the dunes, then gather around the campfire for a dinner of local food and traditional music before your first night in the stillness of the Sahara.
Sunrise walk & Oum Laâlag Oasis
Wake early to watch the first light spread across the dunes. After breakfast, take a gentle guided walk through the sandy ridges of Erg Chegaga, at the group’s pace. Then continue to Oum Laâlag Oasis for lunch in the shade of the tamarisk trees, and return to camp along the desert tracks in the afternoon. The rest of the day is yours, ending with dinner and a second night under the stars.
Ancient rock art & return to Foum Zguid
After breakfast at camp, begin the journey back through the Jbel Bani region, where prehistoric rock engravings of animals and hunting scenes show how people lived here thousands of years ago. Your guide tells you about these sites before you cross the rugged scenery of southern Morocco and arrive back in Foum Zguid around lunchtime.
Desert conditions vary through the year; the itinerary may be adjusted according to the weather and local conditions.
Highlights of your experience
- A private 4×4 journey across Lake Iriki.
- Sunset and sunrise over the dunes of Erg Chegaga.
- A camel ride through the dunes.
- A gentle guided walk through the dunes (1.5–2 hours).
- Lunch in the shade of the tamarisks at Oum Laâlag Oasis.
- Prehistoric rock engravings in the Jbel Bani region.
- Two nights in a desert bivouac, with campfire and traditional music.
Included in your experience
- Private 4×4 transport throughout the excursion
- Local driver-guide
- Two nights in an equipped desert bivouac
- Full board from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 3
- Camel ride
- Tea and mineral water during the excursion
Not included
- Lunch on Day 1
- Lunch on Day 3 (you are back in Foum Zguid around lunchtime)
- Additional drinks
- Tips and personal expenses
The beauty of taking your time
The Sahara is not simply a landscape to cross. It is a place to experience slowly. With two nights in the desert, you have time to see the dunes at sunset, wake up to the first light of morning, discover an oasis, and enjoy the silence far from busy roads and crowded destinations.
Our itinerary balances exploration with moments of rest. Driving sections are planned with comfort in mind, avoiding long stretches behind the wheel whenever the route allows.
At Foum Zguid Experience, we believe the most memorable journeys are not always about how far you travel, but about the moments you allow yourself to experience along the way.
Walking in the dunes: accessible to everyone
The second morning includes about 1.5 to 2 hours of gentle walking through the dunes, depending on the group’s pace and the weather. This is not a demanding trek: it is a chance to explore the sand, pause for photographs, read the tracks left by desert wildlife and discover the desert with your local guide.
The walk can be adapted to different fitness levels. Guests who prefer not to walk can ask about alternatives, including camel transport, subject to availability. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, although walking barefoot on the cool morning sand is sometimes possible.
Oum Laâlag Oasis: a quiet place in the desert
Far from the main roads, Oum Laâlag offers a different view of the Sahara. Surrounded by tamarisk trees, the oasis shows how much natural water sources matter in a land where water has always shaped travel, settlement and nomadic life.
It is a place to pause, share a meal and enjoy the contrast between the shaded oasis and the dry land around it. Rather than just passing through, the itinerary leaves time to enjoy the setting and learn about its place in the region’s desert heritage.
When to travel
Recommended season: September to early June. The best months for walking in the dunes are October to April, when daytime temperatures are more comfortable.
December and January nights can be very cold in the desert. Warm bedding is provided at camp, but bring a warm jacket, layers and a hat.
Practical information
- Duration
- 3 days / 2 nights
- Departure & return
- Foum Zguid, Morocco
- Route
- Lake Iriki · Erg Chegaga · Oum Laâlag · Jbel Bani
- Transport
- Private 4×4
- Accommodation
- 2 nights in a desert bivouac
- Activities
- Camel ride, 1.5–2 h dune walk
- Season
- September to early June
What to pack
Desert days are warm and nights get cold fast, especially in December and January, so pack in layers.
Comfortable walking shoes
A warm jacket and a hat
Sun protection
Breathable layers
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