On this day trip to the Merzouga Desert, you'll explore Erg Chebbi, the most surprising part of the Sahara. Get ready for a trip of contrasts where we'll cross the Atlas mountain range, discover fertile valleys, incredible citadels, and sleep under the stars in endless dunes.
Tour Details
This 3-day tour is designed to ensure you don't miss any of the highlights of southern Morocco, making the most of your travel time so you can fully enjoy each stop.
Day 1: Marrakech - Aït Benhaddou - Ouarzazate - The Dadès Valley
We'll leave the hustle and bustle of Marrakech behind and head south. We’ll cross the imposing Tizi n’Tichka Pass, the highest road pass in North Africa at 7414 ft (2260 m), offering panoramic views of the High Atlas Mountains.
We'll visit the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous filming location for Gladiator and Game of Thrones. Here, you'll have 2.5 hours of free time to explore its maze-like streets and enjoy lunch in this historic setting.
After a photo stop at the Kasbah of Taourirt in Ouarzazate, we'll cross the Valley of Roses until we reach the Dades Valley, where we'll relax and spend our first night surrounded by unique rock formations.
Day 2: Dadès Valley - Todgha Gorges - Merzouga
After breakfast, we'll set off towards the incredible Todgha Gorges, a breathtaking canyon with walls over 300 meters high. Along the way, we'll see the Jorf Palm Grove and Erfoud, the gateway to the desert known for its ancient fossils.
The highlight of the day comes in the afternoon: in Merzouga, we'll swap the vehicle for camels to venture into the Erg Chebbi dunes. We'll watch the sunset over the sand before reaching our camp. Here, we'll enjoy a traditional Amazigh dinner and music under the stars before sleeping in an authentic haima.
Day 3: Merzouga Desert - Rissani -Tizi n'Tichka - Ouarzazate - Marrakesh
If there's one unmissable sight in the desert, it's sunrise. Having enjoyed this tranquil moment, we'll have breakfast at the camp and gather our strength for our last day.
Passing through the Tafilalet palm grove and Rissani village (from where Morocco’s ruling Alaouite dynasty comes) the tour continues through the acacia-covered plateaus and arrives at Alnif, where we take the road crossing the Anti-Atlas mountain range. Through the remarkable mountainous passages of Tizi n'Tichka, we'll arrive at Tinghir (an important Amazigh village) and finally the Dades Valley.
We'll arrive in Kalaat M'Gouna at midday, where we'll stop for lunch and a rest before continuing on to Marrakesh, passing through Ouarzazate and the High Atlas Mountains.
Finally, we’ll be back in Marrakech at around 8:30 pm. We can drop you off at your chosen pick-up point or at the city’s airport, whichever you prefer.
Accommodation Options
When booking, you'll be asked to choose your preferred type of accommodation:
- Standard Shared Accommodation: if you choose this option, you'll share the hotel room in Dades and the haima in the desert with up to 4 tour participants who also choose this option. If you're travelling alone, you'll avoid paying the single supplement for private accommodation, which is the cheapest option! Please note that, even though the accommodation in the haimas is always shared, we try to separate men and women whenever possible, and that children under the age of 18 are not allowed in this option.
- Standard Private Accommodation: in this option, both the hotel room for the first night in Dades and the desert haimas will be private. In this case, you'll stay at a camp with private bathrooms. The haimas in this category can accommodate up to 4 people.
- Superior Private Accommodation: just like the previous option, both the hotel room for the first night in Dades and the desert haimas will be private. You’ll stay at a camp that features private bathrooms. In addition, it offers better interior decor and higher-quality meals than the previous options. The haimas in this category can accommodate up to 5 people.
On the first night, all guests will stay in Dades, with accommodation at Dar Essyaha, Hotel Babylon, Hotel Le Vieux Chateau, Kasbah Tifawen, or similar.
The second night will be spent in a haima camp in Merzouga, where the standard and superior camps are completely separate. In addition to the difference in bathroom facilities, the superior camp also offers enhanced meals and interior decor. Please note that during peak seasons, such as Easter or Christmas, standard-category camps may sometimes use shared bathrooms.
On the third day, both categories will have breakfast and access to showers at the camp before departure.
Pickup Info
If you're staying in the Medina, you must go to one of the following meeting points:
- KFC Marrakech, in the Medina, located on Av. Mohammed V
- Moulay El Yazid Mosque, at 23 Rue de La Kasbah
- Mohamed V School, Riad Laarouss
- Abdelmoumen School
- Bab Doukkala Pharmacy
If you're staying outside the Medina, we'll pick you up free of charge from your hotel or riad. If the hotel is located outside Marrakech, there will be a supplement of 10EUR to 40EUR, depending on the distance.
Other Day Trips to the Merzouga Desert
If your trip continues to the north, we recommend the 3-day Merzouga to Fez trip. If you want a more exclusive experience, check out the private desert trip.
