28/01/2026
Which Sahara Desert to Visit in Morocco Zagora or Merzouga?
The Merzouga desert features some dunes, including the 170-meter-high Erg Chebbi dune. However, The Zagora Sahara desert is stretching from Foum Zguid to M’hamid El Ghizlane is the most expansive. It is in this region that the highest dune of the Moroccan desert, Erg Chegaga or Erg Chigaga, rises to 300 meters above sea level. It is the largest and wildest dune massif in Morocco. From there, the sea of sand extends as far as the eye can see.
Starting from Foum Zguid, you enter the Iriqui National Park, a nature reserve, via a track where an impressive wildlife coexists with a few nomads who migrate with their herds of camels and goats in search of pasture. Lake Iriki is located approximately 67 km from Foum Zguid. It has dried up due to the construction of a dam on the Drâa River and the lack of rainfall. Most of the time, it resembles a vast, compacted sand plain, but during the wet period from October to January and when it rains, it becomes a habitat for migratory birds. It can fill up with water up to 50 cm deep. If you visit during the right season, you may spot flamingos, coots, and wild geese.
If You’re undecided between the desert of Zagora(Chegaga) or Merzouga, you should consider your priorities. The Merzouga desert is more suitable for those who have ample time and fewer budgetary restrictions, or those hundreds of minibus who pass everyday in Merzouga making city tour to discover Merzouga Sahara plus different touristic cities like Fes, Meknes Marrakech, because there is a main way goes till Merzouga Erg Chebbi.
This itinerary requires a minimum of 4 to 5 days as it takes approximately 7 to 10 hours of driving to reach Merzouga from Agadir or Marrakech. guides and organisers from Merzouga and Errachidia if they want to offer authentic camel trekking Sahara tours they don’t offer it in their lands Merzouga they offer it in the biggest Sahara of Zagora where there are lots of different landscapes of Sahara, more 40 big difference Erg dunes and oasis of Palm trees, Hammada, nomads Biodiversity of different animals and plants.....while in Merzouga you only offer very short cameltrekking tours maximum 4days, because everywhere there are lot of comps and these touristic bivouacs.
If you prefer a trekking, even cameltrekking tours more than 12 days in different beautiful landscapes of different Erg dunes, it's possible and everyday 5 to 7 hours walking or an excursion focused on ecotourism in a preserved and wilder environment, the desert from Zagora would be the better choice. It takes about 6 to 7 hours from Marrakech or Agadir. From Marrakech, you will cross the High Atlas Mountains through the Tizi’n Tichka pass and can make a stop at Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can also explore the Dadès Gorges, the Valley of Roses, the Todra Gorges, and the Draa Valley, depending on your itinerary. From Agadir, you will pass through the city of Taroudant (known as “Little Marrakech”), Taliouine (the golden city and saffron capital), and Tazenaght (Berber carpet town). Throughout your journey, you will admire the magnificent landscapes dotted with argan trees.
The Erg Cheggi dunes in Merzouga are very close to the town, you can easily walk there or hop on a camel, and in 30 min ride, you are next to the highest dunes. The Erg Cheggi dunes are majestic and will leave you with unforgettable memories.
However, the Merzouga desert is a tourist destination, so don’t expect a romantic or an authentic experience riding a camel and meeting the sunset on the dunes alone. There will be other tourists around.
The primary distinctions between Merzouga and Zagora as Moroccan desert destinations involve the characteristics of the sand dunes, travel distance from Marrakech, and the overall desert experience. Zagora is known for its tall, classic sand dunes, whereas Merzouga features a touristic area , drier landscape with smaller and few dunes, often favored for shorter excursions.
The Zagora desert next to M’hamid with Erg Chegaga dunes is wilder and less touristy. If you want to feel that there is nothing around you, only dunes, if you’re going to immerse yourself in freedom and the unlimited scenery of dunes, head to Erg Chegaga. In Erg Chegaga, you feel remoteness, a feeling many of us want to have while staying in the desert. Suppose you are a solo traveller or like beeing sourrounded by other travellers , meanwhile, Zagora Sahara is more for adventurous travellers who appreciate silence and wilderness.
The best Moroccan Sahara Desert spot reachable from Zagora. It is not only a pure geographical experience but also an immersion on the desert nomads culture. There are still many families leading nomadic lives in this area.
The last, the Zagora rocky desert next to Zagora town is only the beginning of Sahara of Zagora if you ready to discover the deep Sahara Zagora then you need to book our team “Akabar Sahara- Treks” a camel trekking tour or jeep 4x4 tour to experience and discover the huge big dunes of Zagora from Erg Chegaga, Erg Lihoudi, Erg Alghoul, Erg Bougern....there more 40 big different dunes in Zagora Sahara, and sometimes you need mire one month trekking to discover all these different big Erg dunes plus other authentic and wild life in Sahara of Zagora
