Erg Chegaga (or Chigaga) is one of two major Saharan ergs of the Sahara in Morocco, the other being the Erg Chebbi near Merzouga.
This dunes are located in the Drâa-Tafilalet area about 50 km west of the rural town of M’Hamid El Ghizlane, itself located about 98 km south of the town of Zagora. With a length of approximately 40 km to 15 km width, some dunes are around 60m high (significantly less than the dunes at Erg Chebbi with up to 150m), it is the largest and wildest of Morocco.
Because it is relatively difficult to access – it is only accessible by 4×4, camel or on foot – Erg Chigaga remains significantly less visited then Erg Chebbi.
M’Hamid
M’Hamid is a small village in Zagora region of Morocco, 98 km after Zagora, one of the two places in Morocco where Sahara begins (another is Merzouga). M’Hamid gets fewer visitors than Merzouga and is arguably more “authentic.” It is about 7-8 hours by car from Marrakech and 5 hours from Ourzazate. It is “The end of the road” (the last point of The route national N°9), after it is only sands of Sahara, shepherds and caravan trails.
