Sahara Camel Treks & Desert Walking Tours from M'Hamid

All programmes start in M'Hamid. The difference lies in the duration, the depth of the route and the landscapes you have time to reach on foot.

• Desert trek 2 days – M'Hamid & Sidi Naji (2 days / 1 night): first immersion. From M'Hamid you cross the palm grove and enter the desert gradually to Sidi Naji, where you spend your first night in a bivouac. Local guide.
• Desert trek 3 days – Sidi Naji & Erg Aït Ounir (3 days / 2 nights): one extra day takes you beyond Sidi Naji to the dunes of Erg Aït Ounir. Two nights in the desert and the real rhythm of an itinerant trek.
• Trek 4 days – Sidi Naji, Erg Zahar & Aït Ounir (4 days / 3 nights): real depth. After Sidi Naji you continue to the landscapes of Erg Zahar, then Aït Ounir, with three evenings far from roads and villages.
• Trek 5 days – Erg Lbour, Erg Essmar & Erg Zahar (5 days / 4 nights): deep immersion. You cross the Draa Hamada before Erg Lbour, Erg Essmar and the great dunes of Erg Zahar, returning via Sidi Naji.
• Desert trek 7 days – M'Hamid to Erg Chigaga (7 days / 6 nights): our most complete trek. A week on foot between Sidi Naji, Erg Zahar, Erg Essmar and the great dunes of Erg Chigaga, then on to Oued Laatach and Erg Aït Ounir. A true Saharan crossing.

These are not five identical treks with different lengths. Each extra day takes you further from M'Hamid to new ergs, wells, regs and places once crossed by caravans and desert peoples.

1. M'Hamid: the palm grove, old kasbahs and the first desert landscapes mark the start.
2. Sidi Naji: the first true Saharan stage and an important place in local and nomad memory.
3. Erg Zahar: the landscape changes scale with big dunes and real distance from M'Hamid.
4. Erg Essmar: old living sites, wells, oases and isolated landscapes appear on the longest treks.
5. Erg Chigaga: the great dunes of Chigaga become one of the highlights of our 7-day crossing.

Here the desert is not visited from a car. It is crossed at your own pace.

A trek from M'Hamid does not mean walking all day with a heavy pack. The pace follows the desert, the weather, the breaks and the evening's planned stage. You walk with your guide while the local team organises the bivouac.

• Walking: dunes, regs, hamadas, palm groves and tamarisk zones.
• Camels: they form the caravan and carry part of the gear and luggage, depending on the programme.
• Meals: prepared on the spot by the team according to the formula booked.
• Bivouacs: tents, mattresses and blankets provided as detailed in each programme.

Choose first by the time you have and the level of immersion you want.

M'Hamid is not just a starting point picked on a map. It is where our team knows the terrain, the tracks and the routes you will follow. Our treks are led by local guides and a field team; on the longest routes, guides, camel handlers and bivouac logistics let you progress for days in the Sahara while keeping things simple for you. This local knowledge matters most once the trek leaves the surroundings of M'Hamid for Erg Zahar, Erg Essmar, Erg Chigaga or the more isolated zones.

• Departure directly from M'Hamid El Ghizlane
• Guides who know the local routes
• Camel handlers and Saharan logistics according to the trek
• Itinerant bivouacs in the desert
• Meals prepared during the stages
• Programmes of 2 to 7 days

A Sahara trek is accessible to many travellers, but it needs different preparation from a simple excursion.

• Walking level: difficulty depends on duration, terrain, pace and conditions. If in doubt, tell us your level before choosing.
• Temperatures: days can be hot and nights cool, especially in winter. Bring several layers.
• Luggage: travel light. Depending on the programme, the camels carry part of the logistics and your trek essentials.
• Best season: autumn to spring is generally the most suitable period for walking in the desert.

You have your dates but hesitate between 3, 4 or 5 days? Tell us when you arrive in M'Hamid, how many you are and your hiking experience. We will help you choose a realistic route for your time, level and the season. WhatsApp: +212 607 752 872 or +212 607 752 872. Prefer the desert without several days of walking? See our tours from M'Hamid and all our desert tours. Comparing with the mountains? See our treks overview and our High Atlas treks.