Start / end point
The 3 days private trip from Marrakech to Merzouga starts early morning from your hotel or riad in Marrakech city and Ends in Marrakech.
Sahara desert tour
3 Days Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga
Enjoy a desert adventure. Sleep in a traditional desert camp, see the sunrise and sunset standing or sitting on top of the high dunes, and enjoy spectacular views of Berber villages, fascinating historical sites and legendary Kasbahs.
Overview
About this trip
Get ready because today we’re going to start our 3 days private trip from Marrakech to Merzouga. the departure will be in early in the morning by crossing the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Ticka pass (about 2260 meters altitude), through breath-taking landscapes and traditional Berber Villages, towards the village of Ait Benhaddou.
On the way, we will visit an Argan oil cooperative, where we will discover the production process and the innumerable benefits for the human body. We will also visit the magnificent Kasbah (fortress) classified as UNESCO world heritage site since 1987 and famous film production location (Gladiator, Game of Thrones).
- Duration
- 3 Days / 2 Nights
- Departure
- Marrakech
- Ends in
- Marrakech
- Tour type
- Private tour
Highlights
What you'll experience
- Cross the Tizi-n-Tichka pass through the High Atlas Mountains
- Visit the famous UNESCO World Heritage kasbah of Aït Benhaddou
- Discover the gates of the Sahara Desert in Ouarzazate
- Cross the dunes of Erg Chebbi on a camel back
- Enjoy a spectacular desert sunset and sunrise
- Spend the night in a Berber camp
- Enjoy an authentic Moroccan dinner under the stars
Day by day
Itinerary
1
Day 1
Marrakech – Ait Benhaddou – Ouarzazate – Dades Gorges
Get ready because today we’re going to start our 3 days private trip from Marrakech to Merzouga. the departure will be in early in the morning by crossing the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi n’Ticka pass (about 2260 meters altitude), through breath-taking landscapes and traditional Berber Villages, towards the village of Ait Benhaddou.
On the way, we will visit an Argan oil cooperative, where we will discover the production process and the innumerable benefits for the human body. We will also visit the magnificent Kasbah (fortress) classified as UNESCO world heritage site since 1987 and famous film production location (Gladiator, Game of Thrones).
The guide will explain you the history of this magic place and will take you to the top of the hill to admire the beautiful views of the whole village. Afterwards, we will continue our trip towards Ouarzazate, known as the ‘Gate of the Sahara’, where great expeditions started and visit the Kasbah of Taourirt.
After lunch, we will continue our trip driving through the Roses Valley (during Spring, the whole area is dressed in pink and there is a wonderful smell) and the great palm grove of Skoura until we reach our destination, Dades Gorges. Here you will enjoy beautiful Rock formations (called monkey feet) and fortified Kasbahs scenery along the Dades river.
By then our first day of 3 days private trip from Marrakech to Merzouga will be finished by having a dinner and overnight in an hotel in Boumalne Dades.
2
Day 2
Dades Gorges – Todra Gorges – Merzouga (Desert-Erg Chebbi)
On the second day of our 3 days private trip from Marrakech to Merzouga, after breakfast, we will leave the hotel in Boumalne Dades, heading to the Sahara Desert. On the way, we will travel along the famous ‘road of 1001 kasbahs’, and the colourful Berber villages of the Dades Valley, until we reach the small oasis town of Tinghir, a beautiful Valley of date palms ending with spectacular Gorges, the dramatic Todra Gorges (the Todra river bed has formed a gorge of vertical walls of enormous proportions and of great beauty, the paradise of the climbers).
We will stop to explore the canyons and have lunch. After lunch, on the way to the desert, you will discover fascinating views of the palm grove of Todra Valley. We will reach Merzouga, a small village sitting on the borders of the Sahara Desert, late in the afternoon, where the camels caravan will be waiting to take you to the heart of the desert just in time to enjoy a majestic sunset and admire the color-changing sand dunes of Erg Chebbi.
You will spend the night in a camp in the middle of the desert and have a taste of Berber Life. You will be settled in a nomad tent and welcomed with a traditional Moroccan mint tea and Berber dinner. After dinner, your nomad hosts will invite you to enjoy a session of Berbers drumming, singing and dancing around the camp fire, under the shining stars of the night in the Sahara Desert.
3
Day 3
Merzouga (Desert) – Rissani – Draa Valley – Ouarzazate – Marrakech
The last day of our 3 days private trip from Marrakech to Merzouga will start with an early wake up before sunrise to see the first lights of the day in the Desert. After a traditional Berber breakfast in the desert camp, you will ride the camels back to Merzouga to meet your driver and begin the return journey to Marrakech. The first part of the journey will take us through Rissani, birthplace of Morocco’s ruling royal family and then Alnif, Tazarine, the Draa Valley and Agdz.
We will stop in Ouarzazate to have lunch. After lunch, we will drive you back to Marrakech via the High Atlas Mountains. We will arrive in Marrakech late in the afternoon.
We come to end of this 3 days private trip from Marrakech to Merzouga. thanks for your trust in our company and team. we hope you’ve enjoyed your trip with us and hope to see you again!
Gallery
Tour photos
The details
What's included
Included
- An English speaking driver
- Dinner and breakfast
- Lodging-half board
- Qualified vehicle and gas
- camel per person
Not included
- Attractions
- Midday meals and beverages
- Tips and personal expenses
Good to know
Practical information
What to bring
- Please bring warm clothing in the winter (no sleeping bags are required), light clothing in the summer, sunscreen, a hat, good walking shoes, a flashlight, and trousers (for the camel trek). Shorts and skirts are not recommended for the trek as the saddles can cause skin irritation.
Payment options
Accepted payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, Paypal. All our tours are adaptable, both in the number of days and in the itinerary.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Where does the tour start and end?
The tour starts early morning with a pick-up from your hotel or riad in Marrakech city, and ends back in Marrakech late in the afternoon on day 3.
Which payment methods do you accept?
We accept Visa, Mastercard and PayPal.
Can the itinerary be adapted?
Yes. All our tours are adaptable, both in the number of days and in the itinerary. Contact us with your dates and preferences.
What should I bring with me?
Warm clothing in winter (no sleeping bags required), light clothing in summer, sunscreen, a hat, good walking shoes, a flashlight and trousers for the camel trek.
Is this a private tour?
Yes, this is a private trip with your own English speaking driver and vehicle.
Reviews
What our travellers say
- It exceeded all my expectations. An unforgettable experience, from Marrakech to Merzouga. Our guide, Hassan, was very professional, attentive, and patient (because we were never there at the time he told us) and we kept making him wait. The quarts and the desert were the highlight of the trip, something truly unforgettable. A highly recommended tour.Caty MenchenGoogle
- We spend a week in morocco in may and were completely amazed by its culture and scenic diversity. A definite highlight was the 3 day trip from Marrakech to Merzouga including a night in the Sahara desert. The whole trip was very well organised and we learnt a lot about the berber culture and way of life. All people and especially the guides were very welcoming, friendly and spoke several languages. Although spending hours in the bus might be exhausting, the breathtaking view of the desert made definitely up for it. I genuinely recommend everyone to visit the desert once, it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. The only downside was that we only spend one day there, so I would recommend to stay at least for 3 days.Claudia GTripadvisor
- An unforgettable experience in the Merzouga desert. Thank you for the trip. An exceptional guide, Hamid. 100% recommended.Alejandro Garcia MuñozGoogle
- We booked a tour to the desert and the experience was amazing! We crossed the Atlas and stopped at awesome places. The tour was super well organized, well above our expectations. Ali made our trip even more special. Such an amazing guide with a beautiful soul who made us feel really comfortable and taught us a lot of things about his country and the berber culture and traditions, really enjoyed all the talks we had! I totally recommend to choose Ali if you want a friend as a guide! Thanks Ali for making our trip so special!! I will be definitely coming back!laura vTripadvisor
Ready to see this trip for yourself?
Tell us your travel dates and we'll shape this private trip around you — the itinerary and the number of days are fully adaptable.
