Unforgettable Desert Adventure with an Amazing Guide
I don’t know where to begin. My girlfriend and I booked a 4-day tour to Erg Chigaga, and we were thrilled from the first moment to the last! Salah, our guide, was absolutely fantastic and genuinely kind-hearted. He picked us up from our Riad in Marrakech, and his warm smile told us we were in the best hands for the next 4 days. He even picked up our friend from another location in the city with ease.
The first day was incredible; we saw beautiful sights and felt relieved to escape Marrakech's chaos. Crossing the Atlas Mountains and venturing into stunning and less-traveled parts of the country was magical. We enjoyed breathtaking landscapes, charming villages, and authentic hospitality along the way. Visiting Aït Ben Haddou was a major highlight. That night, we stayed at the "Riad des Vieilles Charrues" in Aït Oudinar. The experience was amazing—the food was delicious, the rooms were cozy, the staff was very welcoming, and the surroundings were enchanting.
On the second day, we headed towards the desert. Salah guided us through lovely towns, including the Anti-Atlas Mountains, Ouarzazate, and Zagora. Along the way, he even helped us find a camera shop where we purchased a CF card we had been searching for since Marrakech. Our desert camp at the "Gateway to the Desert" was amazing—there was authentic desert ambiance, delicious food, and wonderful staff. They played music for us around the campfire in the evening, which was truly special.
Day three took us deeper into the desert after a stop in Mhamid. Once we reached Erg Chigaga, it felt like a dream. We were nearly alone there, with just one other couple. The silence and beauty of the massive dunes were overwhelming. Salah was incredibly attentive throughout the trip, assisting us with every little thing. At the camp, the food was the best of the journey, the staff was fantastic, and the camel trek was a lot of fun. That evening, we enjoyed another mesmerizing musical performance by the fire under the starry desert sky.
Leaving was heartbreaking. It was tough to say goodbye to the desert, the camp, and the wonderful people. But Salah eased the transition by taking us to a carpet shop where we found authentic Berber carpets. The journey back to Marrakech included a fun "car massage" in the desert terrain, as Salah called it, followed by a scenic and comfortable ride. Saying farewell to Salah was emotional—he truly became a part of our hearts. We had a fantastic time, felt so well cared for, and greatly appreciated the comfort of his 4x4 despite the long hours on the road.
We’ve already recommended Salah to all our friends and can’t wait to meet him again. ❤️