4 days · 3 nights
Desert trek, 4 days — from Foum Zguid to the gates of Chegaga
from€300 / person
Price per person, based on two travellers. Private 4x4 and guide — the rate per person drops for groups of 4–6.
This is the desert as caravans knew it: four days moving south from Foum Zguid at walking pace, with a dromedary for each of you, a cameleer, a cook and a bivouac that moves with the caravan. You cross the foot of Jbel Bani, the small erg of El Mhazil, the clay shore of Lac Iriki and reach the first cordons of the great erg of Chegaga on the last morning.
It asks for regular walkers, not athletes: the terrain is flat or gently rolling, the days are 12 to 18 kilometres with a long lunch and siesta, and your camel carries you whenever you prefer to ride. What it really asks is four days without a shower, a network or a wall — and gives back a silence that no 4x4 trip reaches.
Highlights
- A true trek: no vehicle from departure until the 4x4 pickup on day 4
- One dromedary per person, plus cameleer and cook
- Three nights in a mobile bivouac — Jbel Bani, the El Mhazil dunes, the tamarisks of Lac Iriki
- 12–18 km a day at about 4 km/h, lunch and siesta in the shade
- Optional extra night at the Chegaga bivouac (+€70)
Itinerary
Day 1 — Foum Zguid to the foot of Jbel Bani
The caravan is loaded late in the morning; four hours of walking south to the first camp at the base of the mountain.
Day 2 — The dunes of Erg El Mhazil
The finest stage of the small erg: into the sand, with the camp set among the dunes for the sunset.
Day 3 — West to the shore of Lac Iriki
A day of transition between worlds — clay walking at dawn, then camp sheltered by tamarisks.
Day 4 — The cordons of Chegaga
A final morning walk to the foothills of the great erg, lunch, then return to Foum Zguid by 4x4 (2 hours) — or an extra night at the Chegaga bivouac.
What's Included
- One camel per person, cameleer and cook
- Three nights in a mobile bivouac, full board
- Tents, mattresses, blankets and sleeping bags
- 4x4 return from the edge of Chegaga to Foum Zguid
- Water and tea
Not Included
- Optional night at the Chegaga bivouac (+€70)
- Other drinks
- Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
How far do we walk each day?
Between 12 and 18 kilometres depending on the stage, with a lunch break and siesta. The pace is about 4 km/h.
Can I ride instead of walking?
Yes — every participant has their own mount. Most people walk in the morning and ride in the afternoon.
Do we reach the heart of Erg Chegaga?
The trek reaches the foothills of the great erg. The heart is 5–6 days of walking away — we organise the full crossing as a custom trip.
When does it run?
October to April; November and March are ideal. Winter camps need warm clothes — we provide the sleeping bags.
Who is it for?
Regular walkers, not athletes: flat or gently rolling terrain. Maximum eight people.
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