Erg Chebbi vs Erg Chigaga: Morocco's Two Great Dune Fields Compared
Morocco's Sahara has two major dune fields, and they're not interchangeable — here's how Erg Chebbi near Merzouga compares to the more remote Erg Chigaga.
When people say they're going to "the Sahara" in Morocco, they almost always mean one of two places: Erg Chebbi near Merzouga, or Erg Chigaga further south. They look similar in photos but are quite different trips.
Which Dunes Are Taller?
Erg Chebbi is known for some genuinely towering dunes, with several ridges reaching well over 100 meters, which is part of why it became the go-to spot for desert tours in the first place — it photographs as dramatically as the Sahara is supposed to look. Erg Chigaga is larger in overall area and has its own impressive peaks, but its dunes are generally a bit lower and more rolling across a wider stretch of sand. Both deliver that classic sea-of-dunes view; Erg Chebbi's individual peaks just tend to be the more striking of the two.
Which Is Harder to Reach?
Erg Chebbi, near Merzouga, is reachable in a single long day's drive from Marrakech or Fes, which is exactly why it's the dune field on almost every standard itinerary. Erg Chigaga sits much further south and west, generally reached via Zagora or M'Hamid, and typically requires an additional day of driving plus a 4x4 or camel transfer across open desert to reach the camps, since there's no direct paved road to the dunes themselves. That extra effort is the main reason Erg Chigaga sees far fewer visitors.
Is Erg Chigaga More Untouched?
Generally, yes. Because it takes more time and effort to reach, Erg Chigaga sees a fraction of the traffic that Erg Chebbi does, and camps there tend to be more spread out with a stronger sense of isolation. If solitude and a feeling of true remoteness are your main priority, Erg Chigaga delivers that more reliably. Erg Chebbi isn't overrun by any means, but you will share the dune field with other camps and camel trains, particularly around the popular sunset and sunrise viewpoints.
Which Does Through Morocco Visit?
Our desert itineraries are built around Erg Chebbi, near Merzouga, which is the practical choice for the vast majority of travelers on a one or two-week Morocco trip — it's reachable without sacrificing an extra day of driving, and it still delivers the full desert experience: camel trekking, a night in camp, and a real Sahara sunrise. If Erg Chigaga's added remoteness is something you specifically want, it's worth discussing directly with us when planning a custom itinerary, since it changes the shape of the route considerably.
Related tours
7-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga
A week built around the Sahara rather than just passing through it — a full arrival day in Marrakech, two nights near Merzouga, and a detour off-road along the old Paris–Dakar rally route before looping home through the Draa Valley.
View Details
5-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour
A five-day loop that trades one long push through the desert for two separate nights around Merzouga, plus a stop at the remote Kasbah Telouet on the way home.
View DetailsRelated guides: Merzouga, Sahara Desert
Planning where to start? See tours from Marrakech.
Related reading: Agafay Desert vs Sahara Desert: What's the Real Difference?, How to Plan a Custom Morocco Itinerary (Instead of Booking a Fixed Package).
Frequently asked questions
Which dunes are taller, Erg Chebbi or Erg Chigaga?
Erg Chebbi has some of the tallest individual dunes, over 100 meters in places, while Erg Chigaga is larger overall but generally a bit lower and more rolling.
Which dune field is harder to reach?
Erg Chigaga is significantly harder to reach, requiring an extra day of driving plus a 4x4 or camel transfer, compared to Erg Chebbi's single day's drive from Marrakech or Fes.
Is Erg Chigaga more untouched than Erg Chebbi?
Yes, generally — it sees far fewer visitors because of how much longer it takes to reach, giving it a stronger sense of remoteness.
Which dunes does Through Morocco visit on its desert tours?
Our itineraries are built around Erg Chebbi, near Merzouga, which balances a genuine Sahara experience with a reasonable travel time from Marrakech or Fes.
Can I visit Erg Chigaga instead of Erg Chebbi?
It's possible on a custom itinerary, but it adds travel time and complexity, so it's worth discussing directly with us if that's a priority for your trip.
Is one dune field better for photography?
Erg Chebbi's taller, sharper dune ridges tend to photograph more dramatically, though Erg Chigaga's emptier landscape appeals to photographers chasing solitude.
Are both dune fields part of the same desert?
Yes, both are part of the Sahara that stretches across southeastern Morocco — they're simply two separate dune fields within it, with different access points.