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Large sand dune of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga, Sahara desert, Morocco

Photo: Siem / Unsplash

3 Days from Marrakech to Merzouga Desert

Our most popular trip: the High Atlas, Aït Ben Haddou, Dades Valley, Todra Gorges and a night in the Erg Chebbi dunes.

  • Duration3 days · 2 nights
  • StartMarrakech
  • EndMarrakech
  • Trip typePrivate tour

Overview

This private trip from Marrakech to Merzouga brings you to the real Sahara dunes of Erg Chebbi in three days. You cross the High Atlas, visit Aït Ben Haddou, sleep in the Dades Valley, walk in the Todra Gorges and ride a camel to a desert camp. Our team lives in Khamlia, next to these dunes, so you travel with local people.

Day 3 is a long drive back to Marrakech. If you want more time in the desert, choose our 4 days from Marrakech to Fez. Before you go, read our Sahara and Merzouga guide.

Highlights

  • Tizi n'Tichka pass and the UNESCO village of Aït Ben Haddou
  • Rose Valley and a night in the Dades Valley
  • Walk inside the high walls of the Todra Gorges
  • Camel ride at sunset into the Erg Chebbi dunes
  • Night in a desert camp and sunrise over the Sahara

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. 1

    Day 1

    Day 1: Marrakech – Tichka pass – Aït Ben Haddou – Dades Valley

    Your driver picks you up at 08:00 from your riad. You drive up into the High Atlas and cross the Tizi n'Tichka pass at 2,260 metres. After that you visit Aït Ben Haddou, a fortified earth village protected by UNESCO, and have lunch nearby. In the afternoon you pass Ouarzazate and the Rose Valley, with its small earth villages. You arrive in the Dades Valley in the evening. Dinner and night in a kasbah-style hotel.

    Overnight: Dades Valley

  2. 2

    Day 2

    Day 2: Todra Gorges – Erfoud – Merzouga camel ride and camp

    After breakfast you drive to Tinghir and walk inside the Todra Gorges, where the rock walls rise very high above a small river. Then you continue east across a stony plain to Erfoud, a town known for dates and fossils. In Merzouga you meet your camels and ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes as the sun goes down. Dinner, drums by the fire and night in a desert camp under the stars.

    Overnight: Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)

  3. 3

    Day 3

    Day 3: Sahara sunrise – Alnif – N'Kob – Agdz – Marrakech

    Wake up early to climb a dune and watch the sunrise. You ride back to the village for breakfast and a shower. Then begins the long drive back to Marrakech by the southern road, through Alnif, N'Kob, Agdz and Ouarzazate, with stops for lunch and photos. You cross the High Atlas again in the afternoon. You arrive in Marrakech between about 19:00 and 20:00. End of the tour.

Route map

Marrakech → Tizi n'Tichka pass → Aït Ben Haddou → Ouarzazate → Dades Valley → Todra Gorges (Tinghir) → Merzouga (Erg Chebbi) → Marrakech

What's included

  • Private air-conditioned vehicle (4x4 or minivan) with fuel
  • Private English-speaking driver
  • 1 night in a hotel in the Dades Valley and 1 night in a desert camp
  • Dinner and breakfast both nights
  • Camel ride to and from the camp in Erg Chebbi
  • Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or riad in Marrakech
  • Bottled water in the vehicle

Not included

  • Lunches and drinks
  • Entrance tickets and local guides
  • Optional quad bike or sandboarding
  • Travel insurance (mandatory)
  • Tips and personal expenses

Accommodation by category

Choose your hotel category. The final hotel names are confirmed when you book, depending on availability.

NightLocationStandardSuperiorLuxury
1Dades ValleyFamily-run kasbah hotelBoutique kasbah with poolLuxury kasbah lodge
2Merzouga (Erg Chebbi)Desert camp, tent with private bathroomComfort camp, tent with private bathroomLuxury camp, large tent with private bathroom

Photo gallery

Frequently asked questions

Is 3 days enough for the Sahara from Marrakech?

Yes, but days 1 and 3 are long drives of 8 to 10 hours with stops. If you can, choose 4 days or more for a calmer trip.

What should I pack for the desert camp?

Take a small bag for the camel ride with a warm jacket, scarf, sunglasses, sunscreen, a torch and your medicine. Large luggage stays safely in the vehicle.

Can children join the camel ride?

Yes. Children from about 4 years old can ride with an adult. Smaller children can travel to camp by 4x4.

Can the tour end in Fez instead?

Yes. See our 4 days from Marrakech to Fez via the desert.

Want to change this itinerary?

Add days, change the start city or the hotels. We design it for you, free of charge.

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