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4-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour

Duration

4 days

Tour Type

Daily Tour

Cancellation

48 H

Languages

English, Multilingual

Overview

The 4-day desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga (Erg Chebbi dunes) includes one night in Dades Valley, one night in the desert, and one in Ouarzazate. The first day of the tour will be driving through the High Atlas mountains, and enjoying its breathtaking landscapes. After a few hours through the Atlas, you’ll visit Ait Ben Haddou and then continue to Dade via Skoura and Rose Valley. The second day will be heading towards the south via several Berber villages. You’ll visit and walk through Todra Gorges and then continue to Merzouga, where you will start a camel trek for the desert overnight. On the third day, you will wake up in the early morning to watch the sunrise, have breakfast, take a shower, and then we will head towards Ouarzazate via Alnif, Agdz, and Draa Valley.

On the last day, we will head back to Marrakech from Ouarzazate after visiting the film studios. We will be using the same road through the Atlas Mountains. We offer three options to upgrade your hotels and desert camp from standard to superior (luxury).

Brief itinerary of the 4-day Marrakech to Merzouga tour

Day Departure Arrival Distance
1st Marrakech Dades 258 km
2nd Dades Merzouga Desert 300 km
3rd Merzouga Ouarzazate 396 km
4th Ouarzazate Marrakech 200 km

 

Good to know

  1. The journey involves a significant amount of driving, particularly across the high Atlas Mountains. We recommend booking a 5 or 6-day desert tour if you don’t want to spend too much time in the car.
  2. Due to bad weather (Ex: rain, Sand storm), it is possible that you will miss the sunset, sunrise, or a part of the camel ride.
  3. It is not recommended for pregnant women, anyone over the age of 70, or people with back problems to ride a camel for an extended period of time.
  4. Because we usually stop in places that provide fresh food, it is possible to have lunch at touristic restaurants. You may ask your driver to take you anyplace at any time if you prefer to book a restaurant on your own.

Highlights

  • Discover the Atlas Mountains
  • Explore Ouarzazate (Gate of the desert)
  • Take a walk through Todra Gorges
  • Ride the camels in the Sahara
  • Enjoy the sunset and the sunrise in the desert
  • Enjoy the night under the stars
  • Visit the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou
  • Enjoy the breathtaking landscapes of the south

Itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech - The Atlas Mountains -Ouarzazate - Skoura - Dades

On the first day, we will pick you up from Marrakech at around 08:00 in the morning, and then we will drive south through the High Atlas Mountains and Tizi n'Tichka (the highest road pass). We will stop to admire the impressive landscapes of the Atlas, the Berber villages, and to enjoy a coffee or tea in a local restaurant with a view of the mountains. We will continue to the city of Ouarzazate or what we call Holywood of Africa. We will visit its famous film studio, Taourirt Kasbah which is a historic fortified residence, and then we will continue along the way through Skoura, Mgouna Valley (Roses Valley), and other Berber villages to reach Dades Valley where we will spend the night in a hotel.

ACCOMMODATION:
Standard Option: Hotel Kasbah Didis or similar
Superior Option: Hotel Ksar Sultan or similar

Day 2: Dades - Todra Gorges - Erfoud - Merzouga (Erg Chebbi dunes)

On the second day, we will leave Dades Valley in the morning and head to Todra Gorges, one of the most beautiful and impressive canyons in Morocco. You will have time to walk through the gorge and enjoy the sounds and sights of the river. Starting from Todra, we will continue to travel through breathtaking landscapes and many Berber villages and oasis to Merzouga desert. We will pass by Erfoud, a small town famous for its fossil factories and, we will travel through the Sahara Oasis of Rissani. Depending on our arrival, you will have some time to relax or immediately start a camel trek into the dunes, where you will spend the night in a camp. The camel trek starts around 17:00-18:00 in summer and around 15:00-16:00 in winter. After an hour, you will arrive at the desert camp and, you will be greeted with a cup of traditional mint tea, enjoying the view of the Sahara and the sunset. Later on, the dinner will be served at the camp's restaurant tent. After your dinner, you will enjoy the music of the Berber drums played by the locals by the campfire. Don't miss a walk to the dunes, and look up to the sky, where you will find the scenery of million stars. Remember that the bonfire is usually in the cold months (at night), and no sand storms.

ACCOMMODATION:
Standard Option: Standard Desert Camp
Superior Option: Luxury Desert Camp

Day 3: Merzouga - Alnif - Agdz - Draa Valley - Ouarzazate

On the third day, we will wake you up early in the morning to climb the dunes to watch the beautiful sunrise. After breakfast, shower, then the morning camel trek, you will meet your driver/guide and then start the journey to Ouarzazate. On the way, you'll stop in Rissani to visit its traditional market, which is considered the largest in southern Morocco. Continue through the vast rocky desert, several Berber Villages, and the impressive Draa valley with its thousands of palm trees. We will arrive in Ouarzazate around 17:00, depending on the duration of the stops, the departure time from Merzouga.

ACCOMMODATION:
Standard Option: Hotel Riad Amlal or similar
Superior Option: Riad Dar Chamaa or similar

Day 4: Ouarzazate - Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou - Atlas Mountains - Marrakech

On the last day, we will be leaving Ouarzazate in the morning, and we will be driving west to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ait Ben Haddou, which used to shoot a lot of famous Hollywood movies such as Gladiator, Mummy, Game of Thrones, and so on. It is also one of the important fortresses of the Old Salt Road and the most impressive Kasbah and well-preserved fortress in Morocco. After visiting the Kasbah, we will be heading back to Marrakech through the same road on the Atlas Mountains, expecting to reach Marrakech around 17:00.

Included/Excluded

  • Private transportation with A/C
  • Experienced driver (Multilingual)
  • Car fuel
  • Hotels (Half board)
  • Camel trekking in the dunes
  • Sandboarding (Optional)
  • One night in a desert camp (Half board)
  • Drinks
  • Lunches
  • Accommodation in Marrakech
  • Entrance fees
  • Travel insurance

Tour's Location

FAQs

Which accommodations are included?

There is a possibility to choose standard or upgrade to superior accommodation (Luxury hotels & desert camp).

What is the luggage allowance?

It is allowed to take two big and two small suitcases per person. If you have more than the luggage allowed, please contact us.

How is the weather in the desert?

The weather during summer (June to mid-September) gets hot both during the day and night (Day~45 °C - Night~30 °C), and in winter (November - March) gets cold at night and warm during the day (Day~26 °C - Night~0 °C). The rest of the year, the temperature is almost the same throughout the day and night (between 24-30 °C).

What to pack?

- Water
- Flashlight
- Backpack
- Sunscreen
- Hat or scarf
- sunglasses
- Jacket & Gloves (during winter)
- Closed shoes

How to book and pay?

Deposit: In order to confirm your booking, a deposit is requested to be paid in advance and the rest of the payment can be paid by PayPal, credit card, Bank transfer, or in cash. We accept PayPal, Bank Transfer, and Western Union for deposits.

Payments and terms of cancellations:
For more information about the payments and cancellations, please check our payments & terms of cancellations page.

Conditions:
Usually, we don’t book any accommodations before your confirmation, thus if the accommodations listed above are already fully booked, we will book another one with the same category and services.

How long does it take to get to Merzouga desert from Marrakech?

On this tour, we're not going to drive directly to the desert in one day. We'll spend the first night in Dades, halfway to Merzouga desert, which is located in the southeast, about 564 km from Marrakech. The journey takes about 10 hours, and it can be less or more depending on your stops.

What time and where does start from?

The 4-day tour starts around 08:00 am, and the pick-up will be from your accommodation in Marrakech. Please contact us if you want us to pick you up from a specific place (Airport, Bus/train station, etc.).

Is the tour private or shared?

This is a private 4-day tour and there will be only you (your group) and the driver/guide.

What is the price of the 4-day trip from Marrakech?

The price changes depending on the number of travelers and the category of the accommodations. You can upgrade the hotels and, the desert camps to mid-range or luxury. For more details, please check the prices on this page.

Reviews

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Based on 40 reviews
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4-day desert tour from Marrakech
Miquel
2024-03-23
4-Day private Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour
I traveled solo for over 20 years. At first backpacking, now by private car. The perks of being a middle-aged cis-gender man they might say. I’ve been to the desert before but I never saw sand dunes over a hundred meters high. So I decided to visit the Erg Chebbi sand dunes in Morocco to also get a feeling on the Sahara. Some research led me to Morocco Excursions who offer a 3 or 4-day desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga crossing the Atlas mountains including stop overs at the cinematographic ksar Aït-Ben-Haddou and the impressive Todra Gorge. I chose the 4-day tour because the driving hours are better spread over 4 days. I got in touch with Morocco Excursions and all communication with Hassan on organizing this tour went smoothly. After spending 2 days in the Marrakech medina I was ready to escape to the desert. Driver Omar was on time. His punctuality would express itself during the complete trip. He was a also a good defensive driver and never speeding. A good attitude because I never saw so manny speed limit enforcement underway. Besides his driving skills he was very helpful, not only suggesting on a safe tourist or local restaurant for lunch but also sharing his knowledge of the region. Thank you Morocco Excursions. I had a wonderful experience.
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4-day desert tour from Marrakech
Karin
2024-03-23
Private four-day tour to the Sahara
We were three girls on a private four-day tour to Merzouga desert, and we had an amazing time. We would like to express our thanks to our driver/guide Hassan! He has always been patient and helpful. The whole itinerary was well arranged. From the first day to the last, we all felt safe, and enjoyed what Morocco has to offer!
4-day desert tour from Marrakech
Emma
2024-03-23
Unforgettable
We had an unforgettable experience with Ismail. He was helpful, enlightening, and patient. He took us to the undiscovered spots on this tour which was great, and the time spent with him was pleasant. During our stay in Dades, Ouarzazate, and Merzouga desert, the accommodations provided delicious food with live music from the locals. The desert night, live music performances, and dancing around the campfire under the full moon were unique moments.
4-day desert tour from Marrakech
Olivier
2024-03-23
4-day luxury Sahara desert trip
My friends booked the 4-day luxury desert trip starting from Marrakech to the Atlas Mountains, Sahara Desert, and back to Marrakech. The luxury hotels and the luxury Sahara camp were unbelievable. Our driver Ali was such a great and friendly guy, we always feel that the car is so safe that he drives very carefully and smoothly (the van is super comfortable). I highly recommend this tour.
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