About us

Who we are

We are a family business based in Foum Zguid, a town in Tata province on the edge of the pre-Saharan south of Morocco. We trade under the name Désert Foum Zguid.

This site has a narrower purpose. Travellers regularly ask us about Lac Iriki, the ephemeral lake basin between Foum Zguid and Erg Chigaga, and about the desert crossing between Foum Zguid and the great dunes. We wanted one place that answers those questions carefully: where the basin is, how the route works, what conditions to expect, and what is still worth checking before you travel.

How our tours work

Our trips are private. You travel in a 4x4 with a driver-guide, with your own group rather than strangers, and the pace can follow your interests and the weather of the day.

On overnight trips, the night is spent at a bivouac in the Chegaga dunes. Our two-day route from Foum Zguid to Erg Chegaga crosses the Iriki basin, so the lake bed is part of the journey rather than a detour. You can see the current options on our tours page and read about the route itself.

Practical details such as meals, bedding, facilities at camp, pickup arrangements and group size depend on the trip and the season. We set them out clearly in your written quote rather than promising them in general terms here.

How booking works

Everything starts with a request. You tell us what you have in mind through our trip request form or the other contact options shown on this site. One of us reads it and replies personally; there is no automatic booking system.

You then receive a written quote with the itinerary, what is and isn’t included, and the booking and cancellation terms. A trip is only confirmed when we have both agreed in writing. No payment is taken on this website. You can read more on how booking and cancellation work.

Safety and responsibility

The desert south of Foum Zguid is remote, and conditions on the pistes can change quickly. These are the principles we commit to discussing with you before and during any trip:

• Checking the pistes before departure. We look at the state of the tracks and the weather before setting off, and tell you if anything affects the plan.
• Adapting after rain. Rain can turn parts of the basin to mud or leave water across the route. When that happens, we would rather change the itinerary, shorten it or postpone it than take a risk.
• Heat, water and rest. We talk with you about the time of year, how much water to carry, sun protection and the pace that suits your group, especially with children or older travellers.
• Being honest about what is wise. If a plan does not make sense in the conditions of the day, we will say so and suggest an alternative.
• Respecting the park and its people. Part of the route crosses the Iriqui National Park. We stay on established tracks, take our rubbish with us, leave stones, fossils and plants where they are, and ask before photographing people.

What you can expect from this site

We try to keep this site honest. Where we don’t have a reliable figure, such as a driving time, we prefer to confirm it with you when planning your trip rather than guess. Some visuals on the site are illustrations, not photographs of our tours, camps or team.

If you have a question that this site doesn’t answer, or you would like to know more about who we are, write to us through the contact options shown on this site.