Erg Chigaga to Foum Zguid: Crossing the Lake Iriqui Dry Lakebed

The desert piste from Erg Chigaga to Foum Zguid is the western way out of the Erg Chigaga dunes, and it crosses the dry bed of Lake Iriqui inside Iriqui National Park. Foum Zguid lies about 90 km north-west of Erg Chigaga, roughly three to four hours by desert piste. From Foum Zguid a paved road leads north to Tazenakht, Ouarzazate and Marrakech. Travellers use this route as an alternative to driving back through M’Hamid and the Drâa Valley.

Where are Iriqui National Park and Lake Iriqui?

Iriqui National Park lies in south-eastern Morocco, between the Drâa Valley and the southern foothills of the Anti-Atlas. The park is shared between the provinces of Zagora and Tata, close to the Algerian border. Iriqui National Park was created in 1994. It covers about 123,000 hectares, or roughly 1,230 km².

Lake Iriqui sits at the heart of the park, west of the Erg Chigaga dunes and south-east of Foum Zguid. Lake Iriqui is a seasonal lake that is dry in most years. Upstream dams and irrigation along the Drâa mean that river water rarely reaches it, so the lake depends on occasional heavy rain. Lake Iriqui filled with water after heavy rains in September 2024, for the first time in decades. When it holds water it becomes a temporary wetland that attracts migrating water birds.

The park’s other main landscapes are stony plains, low dunes and an open savanna of acacia trees. Tamarisk shrubs grow on some of the dunes.

How far is it from Erg Chigaga to Foum Zguid, and how long does it take?

Foum Zguid lies about 90 km north-west of Erg Chigaga, roughly three to four hours by desert piste. The time depends on the state of the tracks, the sand near the dunes and how often you stop. The track leaves the western edge of the dunes, crosses the flat bed of Lake Iriqui and then runs over rocky ground before meeting the paved N12 road near Foum Zguid.

The full desert crossing from M’Hamid to Foum Zguid via Erg Chigaga is about 150 km of piste, most of it off-road. The eastern part, from M’Hamid to the dunes, is roughly 50 to 60 km and usually takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. The western part, from the dunes to Foum Zguid, is the longer section.

If you travel on our 3-day Erg Chigaga private tour, ask us whether the western exit suits your dates: entering the desert through M’Hamid and leaving through Foum Zguid avoids driving the same track twice.

What do you see on the way across the Lake Iriqui dry lakebed?

The first part of the drive follows sandy tracks along the edge of Erg Chigaga, with the dunes on one side and open plain on the other. Soon the sand gives way to the lakebed itself.

The dry lakebed of Lake Iriqui is a wide, flat and pale surface that stretches for kilometres in every direction. There are almost no landmarks, only the long line of the Jbel Bani to the north and a few flat-topped hills on the horizon. On warm afternoons, heat shimmer over the flat ground can look like distant water, and drivers here navigate by experience rather than by what the eye seems to see.

Around the edges of the lake you pass scattered acacia trees and patches of savanna. The park protects species such as the dorcas gazelle and the houbara bustard. Wildlife is shy and widely spread, so sightings from the piste are never guaranteed.

The last section before Foum Zguid crosses stony hamada and dry riverbeds. This part is slower and bumpier than the lakebed. It ends at the N12, a quiet paved road that runs into Foum Zguid.

Where does the road go after Foum Zguid?

Foum Zguid is a small oasis town on the N12 road in Tata Province. It has fuel, small shops and cafés, which makes it a natural first stop after the desert.

Foum Zguid to Tazenakht is about 85 km of paved road, a little over an hour’s drive. Tazenakht is a carpet-weaving town on the road towards Ouarzazate.

Ouarzazate is about 150 to 160 km from Foum Zguid, roughly two and a half to three hours by road. From Ouarzazate, the road to Marrakech crosses the High Atlas over the Tizi n’Tichka pass, a drive of about 200 km that we describe in our Marrakech to Ouarzazate road guide.

Marrakech is about 310 to 350 km from Foum Zguid depending on the route, around five to six hours of driving without long stops. Added to the morning on the piste, the day from Erg Chigaga to Marrakech is a long one, often eight to ten hours on the move.

The N12 also continues west-south-west from Foum Zguid towards Tata and the Anti-Atlas, which suits travellers heading on to the south-west of Morocco rather than back to Marrakech.

When is the best time to cross Lake Iriqui?

The best months for the crossing are October to April. Days are warm and nights are cool in this period, and the light over the lakebed is softer in the early morning and late afternoon.

From May to September the daytime heat is intense, often above 38°C. The crossing is still possible in summer, but we start very early and keep the stops short.

Rain is rare in this part of Morocco, yet a single storm can change the route. After rain, the lakebed turns to soft mud and vehicles can sink into it. When the lake holds water, as it did for months after the September 2024 floods, drivers use a rockier track around its northern side instead of crossing the middle.

What should you know before taking the Foum Zguid piste?

• Travel with an experienced driver. The tracks are unmarked in places and several branches look alike. Your driver should know the route and check local conditions before leaving camp.
• Use a suitable private vehicle. Ordinary cars cannot manage the sand and stony sections. Our desert transfers use our private transport with a professional driver.
• There is no fuel station on the piste between Erg Chigaga and Foum Zguid. Vehicles leave the desert with a full tank and spare water.
• Carry your passport. The route runs close to the Algerian border, and military checkpoints along the way may ask to see identity documents.
• Expect a bumpy ride. Some sections are smooth, but the rocky final stretch is slow. Travellers with back problems should tell us in advance.
• Mobile signal is patchy. Coverage drops for long stretches, so plan calls and messages for Foum Zguid.

Should you leave Erg Chigaga via Foum Zguid or via M’Hamid?

Both exits work well, and the right choice depends on your next stop and on how you want to spend the day.

Choose Foum Zguid if:

• you want to see the Lake Iriqui dry lakebed and the open plains of Iriqui National Park;
• you entered the desert through M’Hamid and prefer not to drive the same road twice;
• you are heading back to Ouarzazate or Marrakech, or west towards Tata.

Choose M’Hamid if:

• you prefer a shorter time on the piste, about 1 to 1.5 hours instead of three to four;
• you want to stop in the palm groves of the Drâa Valley, Zagora or Tamegroute on the way north;
• recent rain has left the lakebed wet or flooded.

The Foum Zguid route is usually shorter in total distance to Ouarzazate and Marrakech than retracing the Drâa Valley. In driving time the two options are often close, because the Foum Zguid piste is slower than the paved road from M’Hamid. Our guide to the Drâa Valley and the road to M’Hamid covers the eastern route in detail. If you are still choosing a desert, our comparison of Erg Chebbi and Erg Chigaga explains how the two areas differ.

Key facts

Planning your desert exit

The Foum Zguid piste turns the end of a desert trip into a journey of its own, across a wide and empty corner of southern Morocco. It needs good timing, a dry lakebed and a driver who knows the tracks, and we plan each crossing around the conditions of the week. You can browse all our Morocco desert tours, or ask us anything about the route before you decide.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Foum Zguid from Erg Chigaga?

Foum Zguid lies about 90 km north-west of Erg Chigaga, roughly three to four hours by desert piste. From Foum Zguid the road is paved all the way to Ouarzazate and Marrakech.

How long is the desert route from M’Hamid to Foum Zguid?

The full desert crossing from M’Hamid to Foum Zguid via Erg Chigaga is about 150 km of piste, most of it off-road. It is easiest to split it over two days, with a night at a camp in the Erg Chigaga dunes.

Can you cross Lake Iriqui after rain?

Usually not through the middle. After rain the lakebed turns to soft mud, and drivers take a rockier track around its northern side. In very wet periods, the exit via M’Hamid is the safer choice.

Is there fuel or food on the piste to Foum Zguid?

There is no fuel station on the piste between Erg Chigaga and Foum Zguid. Foum Zguid has fuel, shops and simple cafés, which makes it a convenient lunch stop.

Is the Foum Zguid exit faster than going back via M’Hamid?

It is usually shorter in distance to Ouarzazate and Marrakech, but not always faster. The piste to Foum Zguid takes three to four hours, while the piste back to M’Hamid takes about 1 to 1.5 hours before the paved road begins.