5.0 ★★★★★ 1866 reviews
Our 5-day desert tour from Marrakech lets you discover southern Morocco in a calm and comfortable way. You will visit different attractions and places without rushing.
Among the things you will discover are the High Atlas Mountains, the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, valleys, palm groves, and Berber villages.
You will spend two nights in the Merzouga desert, giving you plenty of time to explore and enjoy everything it offers. You will ride a camel across the sand dunes and spend a night in a traditional Berber camp. You will also visit one of the nomad families, listen to Gnaoua music, and a local oases.
After you provide us with your pickup details in Marrakech, our driver will pick you up at 8 am. The first day of the tour will be driving and exploring attractions on our way to Dades Gorges.
As we drive higher through the famous Tizi n’Tichka Pass, we will make stops to enjoy the views of the Atlas Mountains and get to know the Berber villages built into the hillsides. We will reach the highest point of 2,260 meters, offering amazing views of the surrounding peaks and valleys.
On the other side of the Atlas Mountains lies the Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been featured in many famous movies and series such as Gladiator, Game of Thrones, and The Mummy. You will have time to explore its narrow paths, climb to the top for a great view, and take photos of its architecture.
After about an hour visiting Ait Benhaddou Kasbah, we will head to Ouarzazate, known as the “Gate to the Desert.” Before we continue our tour further south, we can take you to visit one of the Atlas Studios.
After lunch, we will continue driving through the Skoura Oasis and the Rose Valley, where they make beauty products. During spring, the valley is covered with blooming roses.
Around 5 pm, we will arrive in Dades, and we will take you to the hotel to spend the first night.
After breakfast at the hotel in Dades, we will travel to the Merzouga desert—one of the most loved destinations and the highlight of our tours in Morocco. On the way, we will stop at the impressive Todra Gorges, also known as Morocco’s grand canyon. You will have time to walk through the valley and admire the cliffs, which rise up to 300 meters on both sides.
After lunch in Tinejdad or one of the nearby villages, we will continue toward Merzouga, passing by Fezna and Erfoud, a city famous for its mineral fossils. When you arrive in Merzouga, our last destination of the day, you will be welcomed with a glass of tea, check in to your tent in the desert camp, and get ready to ride the camels. You will enjoy your ride and take unforgettable photos before you can sit on one of the sand dunes to watch the sunset.
After returning to the camp, a delicious dinner will be served. Later, the camp team will light a fire and entertain you with traditional Berber music and drumming.
After you experience the overnight stay in the desert camp, the sunrise over the dunes is an experience not to miss. After breakfast at the camp, our driver will take you on a tour where you will fully discover the desert.
We will begin with a visit to the Khamlia village, where you will meet the Gnaoua people, known for their music and African roots. They will play live music for you using drums and castanets.
After that, we will drive to one of the local nomad families, where you will learn about their simple way of life, how they live in tents, and how they move with their animals across the desert. We will also visit the Mifis mine, once used by the French to extract minerals like lead and kohl.
After lunch, we will take you to visit one of the oases, an area filled with palm trees, gardens, and natural water sources. You will have time to walk around, and take photos.
We will take you to the riad to spend the 3rd night.
After breakfast at the hotel/riad in Merzouga, we will take the road back toward Ouarzazate. Our first stop is Rissani, the old capital of the Tafilalet region and a historic trading center. If you are there on Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday, you will have the chance to walk through its traditional market, where locals sell spices, dates, fabrics, and even donkeys and sheep.
From Rissani, we will drive through Alnif, Nqob, and some other villages until we arrive in the Daraa Valley. This region is full of palm groves and old kasbahs nestled along the river.
By late afternoon, we will arrive in Ouarzazate, and we will take you to the riad.
On the last day of our 5 day tour from Marrakech, you will not see much as we will be driving on the same road as on the first day. You can stop again in the Atlas Mountains to take the last pictures and admire the mountains. Our tour ends when we drop you off at your hotel or if you are taking an afternoon or evening flight.
Price Includes
Price Excludes
The Price of this 5-Day tour from Marrakech to Merzouga varies depending on the number of travelers, accommodation type, and travel season. Please feel free to contact us for a free quote!
The tour typically starts around 8:00 AM in Marrakech and ends around 6:00–7:00 PM on the 5th day back in Marrakech.
For 1 to 4 pax, we use an SUV, either a Land Cruiser, Toyota Prado, or s Mitsubishi sport. For 5 to 8 pax, we use a minivan. For more than that, we use a minibus.
The 5-day desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga is private.
The tent in the desert camp is private for only your party.
The camel ride in Merzouga is about 40 minutes.
We recommend comfortable clothes, sunglasses, sunscreen, a small backpack, and a jacket for the cool desert night.
Yes! We offer a Marrakech to Fes desert tour version. Let us know during booking, and we’ll adjust the itinerary accordingly.
The camel ride is optional. We can arrange a 4×4 transfer to the camp for free, or a quad bike ride across the dunes for an extra charge.
