3-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour
From 95 /per person- 3 Days
- Superb1679 Reviews4.8
Embark on a thrilling 3-day adventure through the Sahara Desert from Marrakech to Merzouga! First, discover the magnificence of Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah, the stunning beauty of Tinghir Oasis, then absorb the grandeur of Merzouga Sahara desert. Finally, experience a camel ride across Erg Chebbi dunes as you bask in Saharan starlight during your stay at the nomads’ desert camp. This desert safari includes two nights of private accommodation featuring delectable dinners and breakfasts, shared transportation, thrilling Merzouga camel rides, and sandboarding, making it an experience of a lifetime!
Price per person: | Days of operation: | Number of participants: |
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95 € | Daily | 17 Max |
Your 3 days tour from Marrakech to Merzouga will start early in the morning with a drive east of Marrakech past small suburban towns to the High Atlas Mountains. You will make a few stops to take photos, enjoy the scenery, stretch your legs and drink a cup of coffee.
Drive uphill on curvy roads to the famous Tizi Ntichka pass before reaching Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, the first major stop today for sightseeing. The Berber fortified village of Ait Ben Haddou is a UNESCO-listed landmark known as a set for major Hollywood epics. To name a few movies that used the village for shooting: the Kingdom of Heaven, Lawrence of Arabia, and Gladiator. Cross the river separating the Kasbah from the main road and leisurely explore the village. Should you wish to hire a local guide, they are available onsite.
After lunch at leisure at one of the local cafes, continue to Dades valley, driving past Ouarzazate, Skoura Oasis, and Klaa Mgouna, the capital of the valley of the roses and famous for its rosewater artisanal distillation factories.
Upon arrival at Boumalne Dades, Follow Dades River on a tiny road passing by different fortified Kasbahs on the side of the road to Dades Canyons. You will arrive at your hotel late in the afternoon.
Dinner and overnight at your Dades hotel.
After breakfast at your hotel in Dades Valley, your day will start with a drive along the road of 1001 Kasbahs to the oasis of Tinghir, where we will deviate to a minor road driving along the river to Todgha, where you will stop for a walk in the oasis under the shade of palm trees and continue to Todgha Gorges.
After some time at leisure to enjoy the immensity of the huge cliffs and lunch at a local café (At leisure), we continue early in the afternoon to Rissani, famous for its dates market and being a starting point of the ancient trading caravans crossing the Sahara desert to Tombouctou. After a quick stop, we will continue to Merzouga, driving through some rocky desert landscape.
Upon arrival at Palais Des dunes lodge, feel free to take a swim at their freshening pool before getting ready for your sunset desert trek to the camp.
Meet our camel caravan, and ride your camels through the amazing color-changing dunes with the sunset on the horizon as a backdrop. We reach our Sahara desert camp before darkness.
After some time to admire the sand dunes and the surrounding landscapes, get ready for a Moroccan dinner served under the stars next to the campfire. Late at night, your local nomad hosts will be entertaining you with their drums.
After an early sunrise camel trek through Erg Chebbi dunes, arrive at the desert camp operator's lodge for breakfast, shower, and maybe a quick swim at the lodge pool if time permits.
Meet your driver and vehicle and drive back to Ouarzazate. After some time at leisure for lunch, we carry on in the afternoon to Marrakech through the High Atlas Mountains.
Your 3-day Merzouga desert tour will end in Marrakech at about 19h00.
Embarking on a journey from Marrakech to Merzouga means covering a considerable distance of more than 560 kilometers. This scenic route offers awe-inspiring vistas of the High Atlas mountains and steep gorges, leading up to an unforgettable adventure in the Sahara Desert.
Our Marrakech to Merzouga tour price is always fixed, so you don't have to worry about the price increasing if fewer people join the tour.
The first night hotel in Dades Valley is private. If you wish to upgrade to an air-conditioned room, there is an upgrade fee of 10 Euros per person.
Yes, the desert camp tent in Erg Chebbi is private for your shared 3 days tour. You will have a private tent with proper bedding, so you can enjoy your stay in the desert.
The camel ride in Erg Chebbi is an amazing experience that will last approximately 1 hour for sunset and another hour for sunrise the following day. So the total time depends on the season, Daylight saving time, and sunset/sunrise time. This is an experience you won't want to miss!
If you're not interested in camel riding in Erg Chebbi, that's fine. You can arrange to be transferred from the lodge in Merzouga to the desert camp in a 4×4 for an additional fee of 30 Euros.
No, but you can shower at the camp operator’s lodge in Merzouga the following day.
Absolutely! Merzouga is a magical place that should be on everyone's travel list. The desert landscape is otherworldly and the experience of staying in a Moroccan Sahara desert camp in Erg Chebbi is unforgettable.
Our shared Marrakech desert tours run daily, so you don't have to worry about whether there will be enough people signed up.
Yes, you can experience an hour of quad biking experience in Erg Chebbi dunes. However, it will be in the morning after your night's stay in the camp. You will ride your quad bikes from your desert camp to the camp operator's lodge for 50 Euros an hour through Erg Chebbi dunes instead of riding camels.
Our shared Marrakech desert tours definitely include sandboarding! A few sandboards will be available at your desert camp in Erg Chebbi to try upon arrival after sunset or early in the morning. They are free of charge, so don't hesitate to give it a go!
The activities they provide during this group 3-day desert tour are enjoyable, and I wouldn't consider my vacation to Marrakesh complete without taking this trip. The only thing to remember is that it is a lengthy journey (it took us 10 hours to return from Merzouga to Marrakesh), so I would not suggest it to anybody. However, when weighing the cost vs. the reward, it is well worth it.
I can't believe such a terrific trip is available at such a low price. We visited many towns, were shown about by fantastic local guides in Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou and Tinghir oasis, rode camels, and spent the night dancing around a fire in a desert camp. Throughout the trip, we felt safe and well cared for. This is a must-do tour!
Wow, just WOW. This journey is a must-do if you want to learn more about Morocco, particularly the Sahara. For what you receive, the pricing is unbeatable. It wasn't simply the performance that wowed me. Also, the individuals you've met. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Mohamed, our driver. A wonderful individual who was there for you from beginning to end. The group felt comfortable and secure with him. Thanks also to our on-site guides, Ali and Hassan. The gentlemen from the camp who accommodated our group should not go unmentioned—they were extraordinary individuals who were always willing to be excellent hosts.