Where to go in Moroccan Desert

If you know your deserts, you’ll know that Erg Chigaga and Erg Chebbi are the two main ports of call for anyone visiting the Sahara Desert. Mystical, magical and achingly beautiful, this is where you’ll come to marvel at the magnitude of the golden sand, with dunes soaring a staggering 350 metres into the sky, and be enchanted by the spiky shadows of camels traversing the valley floors. The King of the dunes, the Erg Chebbi network is around 3 miles long and 31 miles wide, and possibly the most sought-after, whilst the Erg Chigaga is much more remote, with a good deal of bumps and rocks to contend with on the journey. Both, however, offer camel trekking and dune climbing, never-ending, photogenic landscapes and exhilarating 4WD safaris, and glorious sunrises and sunsets that bring with them a chance to discover the secrets of this unique desert.

Often referred to as the gateway to the Sahara, the Skoura area and surrounding expanse of sand is the desert of Hollywood movies – and quite literally so, as the Berber city of Ouarzazate has indeed provided the set of many a film over the years, including the iconic Lawrence of Arabia! If a desert can be pretty, then this is it: palm groves and red earth are littered across sand more golden than the sun, rose gardens and fertile date palm plantations are hidden in the most surprising of corners, and fortified cities (the most famous is the stunning Aït Ben Haddou) rise out of the ground, concealing secrets and rich histories. If you’re staying in the area, you’re more than likely to visit Skoura itself, an extraordinary oasis that flourishes with life, the Tadra Gorge for trekking amid the enormous rock walls, and the Valley of Roses, a place so remote it can only be reached by mule.

A traditional desert outpost that takes its name from the ever-watchful mountain in the distance, Zagora may be isolated but its charm and character bely the pastoral setting. Made famous by the iconic “Timbuktu: 52 Days” sign in reference to the nomads who began their trans-Saharan camel journeys from the crossroads, it was these exotic caravans that brought – and left – a sense of cosmopolitan allure. Today, it’s a lively trading post and meeting spot, and a great base for those exploring this stretch of the Sahara. Visit during the twice-weekly market, when olives, dates and carpets are piled high amid the dusty streets and traders flock from far and wide, for an unhindered peek into the Berber way of life. Then, head high into the mountains to admire the pretty palm groves and ancient kasbahs scattered between the undulating dunes.