Breakfast around the pool at 08.00 hrs, we leave at 09:00.

We will begin our journey from the hotel, surrounded by palm groves, and make our way to the small market town of Agdz. This town is situated along the historic caravan route that connects Marrakech to Timbuktu, playing a vital role in the trade of goods across the Sahara. Here, we will refuel our bikes before embarking on our adventure.

After traveling 200 meters on the asphalt, we’ll veer off onto our first off-road trail of the day. This piste services the nearby small mines and villages nestled in the hills. It is well-maintained and winding, as it navigates the gentle hills. Along the way, we’ll pass the gold mine at Blaida as we head southwest.

Thirty kilometers before reaching our overnight destination, Foum Zguid—the gateway to the Sahara Desert—we will encounter a challenging 5-kilometer single track leading us into the desert. Our 4×4 assistance vehicle may struggle to keep up during this segment.

The final off-road stretch will take us through fields of watermelons and henna.

Upon our arrival at today’s destination, we can cool off in the pool before enjoying a late lunch.

Breakfast at 08.00 hrs, leave at 09.00 hrs.

We begin our journey by heading 6 kilometers into the desert town of Foum Zguid for refueling. Once we’ve topped off, we’ll travel another 4 kilometers on asphalt before turning south onto the desert piste toward Erg Chegaga. The first 10 kilometers are rocky, so select your route carefully and take your time.

As we ride, we will encounter a few short sandy sections, so be ready to put your feet down, shift into first gear, and push through. Approximately 40 kilometers into our ride, we will arrive at Lake Iriki, which is typically dry about 99% of the time.

Established in 1994, Lake Iriki National Park encompasses 123,000 hectares in Morocco. The park is situated between the Draa River and the southern foothills of the Anti-Atlas mountain range, covering areas within the provinces of Zagora and Tata. Its landscape showcases the typical desert scenery of southern Morocco, featuring wooded steppe and savanna with acacia trees, as well as dunes adorned with tamarisk.

We will ride across a 15-kilometer stretch on the lake bed, stopping at the Titanic Cafe for a coffee break before making our way toward the Jbel Bani mountains. We’ll follow the piste along the southern side of the mountains to avoid the dunes a little further south. The final 6 kilometers will lead us across the eastern area of Lake Iriki and reach our bivouac for the night at Chez Naji. The last 50 meters into the bivouac parking can be tricky due to soft sand for the little Dockers.

Chez Naji is nestled in a dry riverbed on the eastern side of Erg Chegaga. This region features dunes reaching over 50 meters above the surrounding landscape, covering an area of approximately 35 km by 15 km, making it the largest and wildest erg in Morocco.

Due to its relatively difficult access, Erg Chegaga is far less visited than Erg Chebbi, giving it a more romantic atmosphere and making it a favorite among purists and artists, including landscape painters and fine art photographers.

After enjoying a late lunch, we will relax in the shade before taking a stroll into the dunes for a sunset view from the highest dune. If you’d like, you can rent a quad bike from the bivouac for the trip to the high dune, or embark on a camel ride instead.

After dinner, we can unwind around the campfire, gazing at the millions of stars in the sky, far from any light pollution.

Breakfast at 08.00 hrs, leave at 09.00 hrs.

We set off from Chez Naji, heading northwest on a winding 12-kilometer piste that can be rocky and sandy, leading us to the Sacred Oasis of Oum Lâalag. Here, we’ll enjoy a drink at a café located on the historic route to Timbuktu, just a few kilometers from the Algerian border.

The Sacred Oasis spans 15 hectares within the 123,000 hectares of Ikiri National Park and is considered sacred for its precious water spring. According to local belief, the oasis is named after a protective spirit, allowing nomads to leave their belongings without worry.

From the oasis, we embark on a long 40-kilometer ride to Erg Lihoudi, known as the Jewish Dunes. The piste is mostly hard-packed with some loose rocks, but we’ll navigate a challenging 400-meter dry riverbed filled with deep sand ruts.

After passing Erg Lihoudi, we reach the main asphalt road between Zagora and M’Hamid. Just 3 kilometers before M’Hamid, we arrive in the village of Ouled Driss. After lunch, you can relax by the pool or explore M’Hamid El Ghizlane, a small oasis town.

The area has a rich but poorly documented history, with evidence of early settlements around 3000 BC. However, the encroaching desert and reduced rainfall since the 1970s have led to a decline in agriculture and population. M’Hamid has long been a center for nomads and caravans and now serves as a starting point for tourist camel and 4×4 safaris into the desert.

Breakfast at 08.00 hrs, leave at 09.00 hrs.

Today is a relaxed day, primarily spent on the road. We depart from the hotel heading north on the main road toward Zagora. We will pass Erg Lihoudi on our left before reaching a high pass with stunning views to the north towards Tagounit, where we will stop for refueling.

After refueling, we’ll venture into the palm grove for a 20-kilometer off-road section that winds through the villages along the Draa River. On the eastern side of the river, we’ll join the asphalt road and continue north to the village of Tamegroute, renowned for its green pottery.

Tamegroute is famous for its pottery workshops, which have been passed down through generations. The secret to its exquisite pottery lies in its unique enamel and vibrant green colors, representing a rich artisanal and cultural heritage.

The workshops in Tamegroute have remained largely unchanged since their establishment in the mid-seventeenth century, making them the oldest operational pottery factory in Morocco. Craftsmen knead the clay by hand, allowing it to ferment under the stars before shaping it on pedal-powered pottery wheels. After drying in the sun for a few days, each piece is coated with a natural varnish made from Khol, copper powder, barley flour, and local stones. This clever mixture includes manganese, silica, cobalt, and copper oxide, with barley starch used as a binder.

Following our visit to the pottery workshops, we’ll travel another 17 kilometers on the road to Zagora, where we will enjoy a late lunch by the pool at our hotel.

Today, we will follow the Draa River northward to our final destination, our starting hotel in Agdz. The journey will be entirely on-road, so please be mindful of other road users, including children and animals.

The Draa is the longest river in Morocco, stretching 1,100 kilometers (680 miles). It flows through the valley, originating from the High Atlas Mountains and initially heading southeast toward Tagounite, before predominantly flowing westward to its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean, just north of Tan-Tan. This river creates a vital ribbon of life in the desert, supporting lush vegetation and agriculture that transform the region into a green paradise.

In 1971, the El Mansour Eddahabi dam was constructed to serve the regional capital of Ouarzazate and to regulate the flow of the Draa. For much of the year, the section of the river beyond Tagounite often runs dry.

During the first half of the 20th century, the lower course of the Draa marked the boundary between the French protectorate of Morocco and the Spanish-controlled areas.

Upon arriving at our final destination, we bid farewell to our trusty Docker bikes and take a refreshing dip in the pool before enjoying a late lunch. You can spend your afternoon at leisure or venture out to explore the palm groves of Agdz.

Today you can sleep in unless you have an early flight to catch. On this day we say our goodbyes… or maybe we start planning your next tour? Make sure you don’t forget anything when you get on your way to the airport or your next holiday destination. Thank you for joining our tour! We hope you had an amazing time.