3 days · 2 nights
3-Day Desert Tour: Marrakech to Merzouga
from €120 / person
Price per person, based on two travellers sharing. Private departures on request.
This is Morocco’s most famous road: over the Tizi n’Tichka pass, past the film-set kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou, through the Dades and Todra gorges, and on to where the tarmac meets the sand at Merzouga. Three days, two nights — one of them in a desert camp deep in the Erg Chebbi dunes.
You travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle with a driver who does this route every week and knows exactly where the views, the good lunch stops and the quiet moments are. The camel trek and desert camp — the heart of the trip — are run by our own Merzouga team.
Highlights
- The High Atlas crossing and UNESCO-listed Aït Ben Haddou kasbah
- Dades Valley sunset and the sheer walls of the Todra Gorge
- Sunset camel trek into the Erg Chebbi dunes
- A night in our desert camp — dinner, drums and a full sky of stars
- Small groups; private departures available on request
Itinerary
Day 1 — Marrakech · Aït Ben Haddou · Dades Valley
Departure at 7:30 from Marrakech, climbing the Tizi n’Tichka pass (2,260 m) over the High Atlas. We explore the kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou on foot, lunch in Ouarzazate, then follow the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to the Dades Valley for the night in a local hotel.
Day 2 — Todra Gorge · Merzouga · desert camp
Morning walk through the 300-metre walls of the Todra Gorge, then the long southern road through Erfoud and Rissani to Merzouga. In the late afternoon you swap the car for a camel and ride into the dunes for sunset, dinner and a night at camp.
Day 3 — Sunrise · return to Marrakech
Sunrise over the dunes, camel ride back and breakfast in Merzouga, then the return leg to Marrakech, arriving in the evening. Prefer to end in Fes? A Fes-drop variant runs on the same dates — ask when booking.
What's Included
- Transport in an air-conditioned minivan or 4x4 with driver
- Hotel night in the Dades Valley (dinner and breakfast included)
- Sunset and sunrise camel trek in Erg Chebbi
- Night in a desert camp with dinner, breakfast and full bedding
- All fuel and road tolls
Not Included
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees at optional stops
- Travel insurance
- Tips (optional, always appreciated)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours are spent driving?
It is a real road trip: roughly 7 hours on day 1, 6 on day 2 and 8–9 on day 3, always broken by stops. If you have more time, the 4-day version spreads the same route much more comfortably.
Is this tour shared or private?
The listed price is for a shared departure in a small group — we cap it at 7 travellers per vehicle. Private departures with your own vehicle and flexible stops are available at a higher rate.
Where do we sleep?
Night 1 in a valley hotel in the Dades with dinner and breakfast; night 2 in our desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes — tents with real mattresses and blankets, shared toilet tent, luxury camp upgrade available.
Can I end the tour in Fes instead of returning to Marrakech?
Yes — the Fes variant follows the same route until day 3, then drops you in Fes (about 7 hours from Merzouga). Same price; just tell us when booking.
What should I pack?
Layers. Days are warm, desert nights genuinely cold from October to April. A scarf for sun and sand, sunscreen, and a small overnight bag for the camp — your main luggage stays in the vehicle.
When is the best time to go?
September to May. Spring and autumn are ideal; winter days are beautiful but pack warm for the nights. In July and August the desert is extremely hot — the overnight camp still runs, but the itinerary shifts to travel in cooler hours.
Ready to Answer the Call?
Choose your tour and start your adventure today.