4 days · 3 nights
4-Day Desert Tour: Marrakech, Draa Valley & Merzouga
from €165 / person
Price per person, based on two travellers sharing. Private departures on request.
The 3-day circuit is famous; the 4-day version is better. The extra day removes the biggest compromise of the classic route — a rushed single evening at the dunes — and replaces it with a full day in and around Erg Chebbi, plus the palm-filled Draa Valley on the way south.
It is the itinerary we recommend to travellers who want the great southern loop without spending most of it in a vehicle: two nights in real beds, one (or two) in the desert camp, and the desert day in the middle with no driving at all.
Highlights
- The Draa Valley — 100 km of palm groves and mudbrick villages
- Aït Ben Haddou, Tamegroute’s library and potteries, and Rissani
- Sunset camel trek and a night in our Erg Chebbi camp
- A full vehicle-free day around the dunes: Khamlia, nomad camps, the seasonal lake
- Todra and Dades gorges on the return leg
Itinerary
Day 1 — Marrakech · Aït Ben Haddou · Draa Valley · Zagora
Over the Tizi n’Tichka pass and on to Aït Ben Haddou for a walk through the kasbah. After Ouarzazate the road drops into the Draa Valley — a 100-kilometre river of palms between desert mountains. Night in a Zagora hotel.
Day 2 — Zagora · Tamegroute · Rissani · Merzouga camp
A stop at the ancient Koranic library and green-glaze potteries of Tamegroute, then east through desert country to Rissani, once the capital of the Tafilalet oasis. At Merzouga the camels are waiting: sunset trek into Erg Chebbi and a night at our camp.
Day 3 — A full day around the dunes
No long drive today. Sunrise on the dunes, breakfast, then a relaxed loop around the erg: the Gnawa musicians of Khamlia village, a nomad family camp, the seasonal lake of Dayet Srij (flamingos in season). Second night at the camp or a Merzouga hotel — your choice.
Day 4 — Merzouga · Todra & Dades gorges · Marrakech
The return road through the Todra Gorge and Dades Valley, over the Atlas and back to Marrakech by evening. A Fes-drop variant is available on request.
What's Included
- Transport in an air-conditioned minivan or 4x4 with driver
- Hotel nights in Zagora and (if chosen) Merzouga, half board
- Sunset and sunrise camel trek in Erg Chebbi
- Desert camp night with dinner, breakfast and full bedding
- Day-3 excursion around the erg (Khamlia, nomads, lake)
Not Included
- Lunches and drinks
- Entrance fees at optional stops
- Travel insurance
- Tips (optional, always appreciated)
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from the 3-day tour?
You go south through the Draa Valley instead of doubling back the same road, and day 3 is spent entirely around the dunes instead of driving. Daily driving hours drop from 7–9 to 4–6.
Is it worth the extra day?
If you can spare it, yes without hesitation — the vehicle-free day in the desert is what most 3-day travellers tell us they wished they had.
Where do we sleep?
Night 1 in Zagora (hotel, half board), night 2 in our Erg Chebbi desert camp, night 3 at the camp again or in a Merzouga hotel with a pool — you choose when booking.
Can this tour run privately?
Yes — private departures with your own vehicle, flexible stops and your own pace are our speciality on this route. Contact us for a quote.
Can we end in Fes?
Yes. Day 4 can drop you in Fes instead of Marrakech at no extra cost — the drive is similar in length.
Ready to Answer the Call?
Choose your tour and start your adventure today.