3 days · 2 nights
Private tours from Marrakech
4-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour
A round trip from Marrakech at an unhurried pace — Ait Benhaddou and Ouarzazate, the Draa Valley, a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes, the Todra and Dades gorges and the kasbahs of Skoura.
- Duration
- 4 days · 3 nights
- Departure
- Marrakech
- Destination
- Merzouga (Erg Chebbi dunes)
- Ends in
- Marrakech
Overview
With four days instead of three, the drive to the Sahara becomes part of the pleasure. This round trip from Marrakech goes out through Ouarzazate and the Draa Valley and comes back by the Todra and Dades gorges, so you never repeat the same road.
You spend one night in Ouarzazate, one in a luxury camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes and one in the Dades Valley. Shorter driving days leave time for the film studios, Rissani’s market, the Todra Gorge on foot and the kasbahs of Skoura on the way home.
Route
- Marrakech
- Ait Benhaddou
- Ouarzazate
- Draa Valley
- Merzouga
- Todra Gorge
- Dades Valley
- Skoura
- Marrakech
Highlights
- Ounila Valley and the UNESCO-listed ksar of Ait Benhaddou
- Atlas Film Studios and Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate
- Palm groves, kasbahs and villages of the Draa Valley
- Sunset camel trek and a night in a luxury camp at Erg Chebbi
- Rissani market and a fossil workshop in Erfoud
- Todra Gorge and the "Monkey Fingers" of the Dades Valley
- Valley of Roses and Kasbah Amridil in Skoura
Photo gallery
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Marrakech – High Atlas – Ounila Valley – Ait Benhaddou – Ouarzazate
Early pick-up from your accommodation or the airport in Marrakech. We drive through the High Atlas and over the Tizi n'Tichka pass, with stops for panoramic views, then visit the famous ksar of Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has appeared in films such as Gladiator and The Mummy and in Game of Thrones. We end the day in Ouarzazate, the "gate of the desert", for dinner and the night.
- Overnight:
- Hotel in Ouarzazate
Day 2
Ouarzazate – Agdz – Draa Valley – N'kob – Rissani – Merzouga
After breakfast we visit the Atlas Film Studios and the Taourirt Kasbah, an earthen fortified residence. We then head towards Agdz and follow the Draa Valley, stopping for views of palm groves, kasbahs and Berber villages, with free time for lunch in N'kob or Alnif. In the afternoon we continue through Rissani to the Erg Chebbi dunes, where you switch to camels and ride to a high dune for sunset. Your camp combines the traditional nomad tent with hotel comforts; enjoy Berber drums by the campfire, dinner and a night under the stars.
- Overnight:
- Luxury desert camp, Erg Chebbi
Day 3
Merzouga – Rissani – Erfoud – Todra Gorge – Dades Valley
Wake early for sunrise, have breakfast and ride back by camel to meet your driver. We stroll through Rissani, the historic capital of the Tafilalet with a large market on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and visit a fossil-marble workshop in Erfoud. Through the palm groves of Touroug and Tinejdad we reach the Todra Gorge, a canyon of high red cliffs popular with rock climbers, with time to walk and have lunch. We continue via Boumalne Dades to the "Monkey Fingers" rock formations and a viewpoint over the Dades Valley before dinner and the night.
- Overnight:
- Hotel in the Dades Valley
Day 4
Dades Valley – Valley of Roses – Skoura – Ouarzazate – Marrakech
We continue to Kelaat M'Gouna and the Valley of Roses, where a rose festival is held every May and local cooperatives sell rose water, oils and cosmetics. We pass several kasbahs, including Kasbah Amridil in the palm grove of Skoura, and stop for lunch in Ouarzazate. The afternoon drive takes us back over the Tizi n'Tichka pass to Marrakech, where we drop you at your accommodation or the airport.
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
- 2 nights in hotels or riads
- 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: hotel in Ouarzazate
- Night 2: luxury desert camp with private bathrooms
- Night 3: hotel in the Dades Valley
Practical information
- Tour type
- Private tour with your own driver and vehicle
- Pick-up
- Your accommodation or the airport in Marrakech
- Driver
- English-speaking
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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3 days · 2 nights
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WhatsApp +212 633 136 786 · greatmoroccoexperience@gmail.com