4 days · 3 nights
Private tours from Marrakech
3-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour
Cross the High Atlas, explore the Ait Benhaddou kasbah and the Dades and Todra gorges, then ride camels into the dunes of Erg Chebbi for a night in a luxury desert camp.
- Duration
- 3 days · 2 nights
- Departure
- Marrakech
- Destination
- Merzouga (Erg Chebbi dunes)
- Ends in
- Marrakech
Overview
This is the most direct way to reach the real Sahara from Marrakech without rushing: three days, two nights and a route that takes in the High Atlas, the kasbah valleys of the south and the great dunes of Erg Chebbi.
The first night is spent in the Dades Gorge, which breaks the long drive into comfortable stages and leaves time for Ait Benhaddou and the Valley of Roses. The second day brings the Todra Gorge and, in the late afternoon, a camel trek into the dunes for sunset and a night at a luxury camp. You return to Marrakech on day three through Rissani and the palm groves of the Draa Valley.
Route
- Marrakech
- Tizi n'Tichka
- Ait Benhaddou
- Dades Gorge
- Todra Gorge
- Merzouga
- Draa Valley
- Marrakech
Highlights
- Drive over the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m)
- Explore the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Benhaddou
- The Road of a Thousand Kasbahs and the Valley of Roses
- Rock formations of the Dades Valley and a walk in the Todra Gorge
- Sunset camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Night in a luxury desert camp with private bathrooms
- Sunrise over the Sahara and the palm gardens of the Draa Valley
Photo gallery
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Marrakech – High Atlas – Ait Benhaddou – Valley of Roses – Dades Gorge
We meet you at your accommodation in Marrakech and drive over the High Atlas Mountains by the Tizi n'Tichka pass (2,260 m), with stops for views over Berber villages. Our first visit is Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its earthen architecture, where you can stop for lunch. We continue through Ouarzazate and along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, passing Kelaat M'Gouna, the "Rose City", known for its rose festival each May. The day ends in the Dades Gorge, where you check in for dinner and the night.
- Overnight:
- Riad in the Dades Gorge
Day 2
Dades Gorge – Todra Gorge – Merzouga – Camel trek
After breakfast we explore the Dades Valley and its striking "Monkey Toes" rock formations, then continue to Tinghir and the Todra Valley, with views over old mud-brick villages. At the Todra Gorge you walk beneath red cliffs that rise around 300 metres — a favourite with rock climbers. After lunch near Erfoud or Rissani, we reach Merzouga, where camels are waiting. Ride across the dunes to a viewpoint for sunset, then settle into your desert camp for a traditional dinner and a night under the stars.
- Overnight:
- Luxury desert camp, Erg Chebbi
Day 3
Merzouga – Rissani – Draa Valley – Ouarzazate – Marrakech
Wake early for sunrise over the dunes. After breakfast we drive through Rissani, once the capital of the Tafilalet and a historic caravan trading town, and through small Berber villages around Tazarine. We stop in the palm gardens of the Draa Valley, have lunch in Ouarzazate, and cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass back to Marrakech, where we drop you at your accommodation.
What's included
- Pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation or the airport
- Private transport in an air-conditioned 4×4, including fuel
- English-speaking driver
- 1 night in a riad in the Dades Gorge
- 1 night in a luxury desert camp with private bathrooms
- Camel ride (one camel per person)
- Sandboards available at the camp
- Breakfasts and dinners
- Stops at points of interest along the route
- Berber drumming evening at the camp
What's not included
- Flights
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees to monuments
- Tips
Accommodation
- Night 1: riad in the Dades Gorge
- Night 2: luxury desert camp with private bathrooms in the Erg Chebbi dunes
Practical information
- Tour type
- Private tour with your own driver and vehicle
- Pick-up
- Your accommodation or the airport in Marrakech
- Driver
- English-speaking
- Vehicle
- Air-conditioned 4×4
Frequently asked questions
Is this a private tour?
Yes. Our tours are private: you travel only with your own group, with a dedicated driver and vehicle. You will not be joined by other travellers.
Where does the tour start and finish?
The tour starts in Marrakech, with pick-up from your accommodation or the airport, and finishes in Marrakech. If you would like to start or finish somewhere else, let us know — the starting and end points can be adapted.
How much does this tour cost?
The price depends on the number of travellers, your travel dates and your choice of accommodation. Send us your dates and group size by WhatsApp or email and we will reply with a personal quote.
Can the itinerary be changed?
Yes. Every itinerary can be adapted to your pace, interests and budget — you can add nights, skip stops or combine routes. Tell us what you have in mind when you enquire.
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WhatsApp +212 633 136 786 · greatmoroccoexperience@gmail.com