6-day, 5-night desert adventure through the pristine and lesser-explored landscapes of Iriqui National Park, including the breathtaking Erg Zahar dunes. This immersive trek offers the perfect opportunity to disconnect from the modern world and embrace the simplicity of a nomadic lifestyle. Experience the unique rhythm of desert life: setting up wild camps, cooking over an open fire, marveling at spectacular sunsets and sunrises, stargazing under the expansive night sky, and reveling in the unspoiled beauty of the Sahara’s natural environment.
The journey follows a circular route, beginning and ending in M’hamid El Ghezlane, eliminating the need for 4×4 transport within the desert.
After a hearty breakfast, meet your desert guides and camel caravan, where your belongings will be loaded onto camels. Your guides will also assist in wrapping your turban for added comfort and protection against the desert sun. Begin your trek through lush palm groves and the historic town of M’hamid, believed to be over 300 years old. Explore the abandoned pise-mud structures of this ancient settlement as you walk along the southern banks of the Draa River.
Midday brings you to Ras Nkhal, where the palm groves fade into the desert landscape of scrub, stone plateaus (hamada), earth banks, and tamarisk trees. After lunch, continue trekking southwest for approximately 2.5 hours, eventually reaching the marabout of Sidi Naji, a shrine dedicated to a holy man. Set up camp amidst the privacy of small dunes and enjoy a peaceful evening under the desert sky. Expect to hike for 5–6 hours today.
After breakfast, break camp and head towards the vast dunes of Zahar, an isolated and rarely visited sand dune region. The morning trek transitions from flat, plateau-like terrain (a dry lakebed) to undulating sand dunes with minimal vegetation. Upon arrival at the base of Zahar’s larger dunes, camp will be set up, and lunch prepared.
In the afternoon, explore the stunning Zahar dunes, climbing to the top for incredible views of the Sahara at sunset. The area is steeped in local legend and is known as the “screaming dunes,” with tales of a lost settlement buried beneath the sands. From this vantage point, you’ll also catch a glimpse of your next destination, Erg Smar. The day’s trek will take approximately 4 hours.
Start the day with breakfast before breaking camp. Today’s trek takes you across the Draa River for the first time since leaving M’hamid, reaching the northern riverbanks and the fascinating ruins of Erg Smar, once home to 35 families who farmed the land. Although the riverbed is dry, an underground water source remains, and you’ll have the chance to refill supplies and freshen up with a quick rinse.
Explore the remnants of pise-mud huts, gardens, and fields that once thrived here, providing a glimpse into the area’s historical significance. Camp will be set up beneath the towering tamarisk trees, providing shade and tranquility in the midst of the desert. Spend the evening exploring the ruins and surrounding dunes. The trek for the day is approximately 3 hours.
After breakfast, break camp and continue your trek towards the Bougarn dunes. This area may bring your first sighting of other travelers and possibly gazelle tracks, as the region’s shrubs provide a source of food for the wildlife. Walk through a mix of earth plateaus and small dunes, eventually reaching an area with denser vegetation where you’ll pause for a shaded lunch.
In the afternoon, hike towards the platform overlooking the rolling Bougarn dunes, leaving the camels behind to climb the dunes for panoramic views. On a clear day, you may even spot the distant dunes of Zahar and Erg Chigaga. Camp will be set up in the protective shadow of nearby dunes. Expect to hike for 5–6 hours today.
After breakfast, break camp and set out on a trek through a mix of desert terrain and wooded areas, tracing paths once carved by rivers long since dried up. Take a relaxing break for a picnic lunch beneath tamarisk trees before continuing across the flat plains. This region, once fertile with water, now serves as grazing land for camels. As the day winds down, set up camp in a peaceful area surrounded by low dunes, perfect for a quiet final night in the desert. Travel time for today is approximately 5 hours.
