10-Day Saghro and Drâa Desert Trek

Itinerary

Day 1 — Day 1 — Marrakech to Tagdilt: crossing into Saghro country

The road crosses Tizi n’Tichka and continues through Ouarzazate towards the Dadès region before the approach to Tagdilt. Cultivated valleys gradually give way to the drier mountain setting that will shape the next four days. The guesthouse night provides a place to meet the trekking team and sort the bags carried by the mules. The source allows roughly six hours driving before stops; sightseeing and the actual arrival time need agreement rather than a fixed evening promise.

• Around 6 hours driving, before stops
• Guesthouse: Tagdilt

Day 2 — Day 2 — Tizi n’Iferd and N’Ouarg: the first open plateau

The mule team loads the trekking equipment as the group starts across the plateau above Tagdilt. Height is gained towards Tizi n’Iferd, followed by a descent towards the N’Ouarg plateau. The openness of the terrain gives the first sense of Saghro’s scale, with distant High Atlas views when visibility permits. Camp is planned around 2,250 metres in the published route. Herding presence varies with the season; the team chooses the precise pitch for current conditions.

• About 5½ hours walking
• Tent camp: N’Ouarg plateau

Day 3 — Day 3 — Kouaouch to Igli: a high point, then a different valley

Kouaouch is the planned objective of the morning, around 2,600 metres in this itinerary. The source describes a walking ascent without technical equipment, but the guide must judge weather, terrain and group readiness before committing to the high point. The descent follows the Tassegdilt sector towards Igli, where camp sits in a different valley setting. The contrast between the open ridge and lower ground makes the day more than a summit attempt; the route itself remains the purpose if conditions require an alternative.

• About 5½ hours walking
• Tent camp: Igli

Day 4 — Day 4 — Afourar and Bab n’Ali: following the rock towers

The path descends along the Afourar valley into narrower gorge terrain, passing the Bouallouz sector before Ousdidene and the broad view towards Bab n’Ali. The rock towers become a landmark rather than an included rock-climbing activity. The team selects safe passage through the gorge for the actual conditions. Continuing towards Ighazzoun brings cultivated ground into the mountain story again. This stage rewards looking at how small pockets of water-supported land sit within the wider dry relief.

• About 5 hours walking
• Tent camp: Ighazzoun

Day 5 — Day 5 — Tifdassine to Handour: descending to a house night

The route leaves Ighazzoun towards the small Tifdassine pass, then follows a long descent in the valley of the same name. A lunch pause is planned along the way; the availability of shade and exact stop vary. Handour marks the end of the mountain walking section and the second guesthouse night. It is a useful break from tents before the desert begins, with washing, bedding and sharing arrangements to confirm rather than assumed private hotel facilities.

• About 5 hours walking
• Guesthouse: Handour

Day 6 — Day 6 — Handour to Nesrat: changing teams and terrain

The mule-supported mountain journey ends and the road takes over towards Nkob, the Drâa Valley and Zagora. Ksar and village landscapes replace the higher plateaux before the Nesrat sector and the meeting with the camel team. A shorter walking segment introduces the desert programme before camp. This is a mixed travel day, not another full mountain stage or a full-day camel ride. The transition is what makes the combined route practical without pretending the two walking areas are joined entirely on foot.

• Around 4½ hours driving + 2 hours walking
• Tent camp: Nesrat sector

Day 7 — Day 7 — Nesrat to Tidri: oasis paths become dunes

The desert stage follows the lower Drâa route through the villages named Ignaoun and Moulay Ali Achrif in the source, then the Zaouiat Sidi Salah sector. Oasis edges offer context for the relationship between water, settlement and caravan movement. The final approach reaches camp near Tidri’s dune setting. The published walking total is about five hours; its final hour and a half is only one part of the day, not the whole stage.

• About 5 hours walking
• Tent camp: Tidri

Day 8 — Day 8 — Tidri to Erg Sahel: sand, reg and open horizons

Sand walking around Tidri gives way to firm stony reg before the Erg Sahel sector. The difference underfoot is a large part of the day’s experience: a dune slope can take more effort than a broad, level stone plain. Camp allows an optional short stroll when the team and conditions permit. Sunset, a campfire or bread cooked in sand are not guaranteed activities; any fire or cooking demonstration must follow the team’s environmental and weather judgment.

• About 5 hours walking
• Tent camp: Erg Sahel

Day 9 — Day 9 — Ergabi to Ouled Driss: the villages return

The last main walking day passes desert ground near Bonou before the planned lunch area around Ergabi. Earthen houses bring a human scale back to the landscape, with village observation kept respectful and private interiors visited only by agreement. The route ends at Ouled Driss for the seventh tent night. It is not a hotel night added as an upgrade by default. The group can prepare bags for the road while taking stock of the change from Saghro rock to desert settlements.

• About 4½ hours walking
• Tent camp: Ouled Driss

Day 10 — Day 10 — Drâa Valley to Marrakech: leave time for the road

The vehicle follows the Drâa route north through Ouarzazate and over Tizi n’Tichka towards Marrakech. The source describes a long return of roughly 450 kilometres, with photo stops. The actual drive and pauses need confirmation; do not assume a quick afternoon arrival. Meals are specified through lunch today, while dinner and accommodation in Marrakech are outside this programme. Arrange the drop-off and onward travel with enough time for the mountain road.

• Long road return; timing to confirm
• No overnight included