4 days Morocco desert tour from Marrakech
PRIVATE MARRAKECH TO ZAGORA & MERZOUGA DESERT TOUR
OVERVIEW
The 4 days Marrakech desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga dunes & Zagora will make you explore the majestic Morocco Sahara desert in 4 days to follow the paths of the old caravan roads while driving past Draa Valley with its oases dotted with dates palm trees and fortified Kasbahs, cross the volcanic massif of the Anti Atlas Mountains, ride your camel in Erg Chebbi, Sleep under the stars at your Morocco Sahara desert camp in Merzouga, cross the Valley of the roses and the road of 1001 Kasbahs. Finally, admire the splendid Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou !
Here are the 4 days Marrakech desert tour highlights
- Cross the High Atlas Mountains and its Tizi Ntichka pass
- Visit the UNESCO world heritage site of Ait Ben Hadou
- Drive to Zagora desert along Draa Valley
- Enjoy a scenic drive past the volcanic massifs of Saghro
- Ride a camel in Merzouga while assisting to a dramatic sunset
- Sleep under the stars in Erg Chebbi Sahara camp
- Visit Todgha Gorges and drive across the Valley of the Roses
Below is 4 days Morocco desert tour from Marrakech itinerary
Day 1 :
Marrakech – Ouarzazate – Zagora
( 6 HOURS DRIVE ) Your 4 days Morocco desert tour from marrakech Departs from your hotel or riad at 07h30 by winding up through the Atlas Mountains over the Tizi N’ Tichka Pass, the pass rises to 2260 meters above sea level, so the views are quite splendid. Plenty of stops are made for taking in the scenery and photography.
We arrive in ouarzazate and visit Taourirte Kasbahs. Lunch ( At leisure ) before we continue to Zagora through Draa Valley.
This amazing river has given life to a huge oasis about 200 Km at the foothill of the anti Atlas mountains. Draa Valley has been for many years coveted by the Sahara desert nomads.
All along, several palm groves will bring their shades between Kasbahs and Ksours dotted with fields of corn, barley, Vegetables and henna plantations.
Dinner and Overnight in Zagora.
Accomodation details:
Day 2 :
Zagora – Tazarine – Merzouga
( 6 HOURS DRIVE ) Today, you will cross the volcanic peaks of the Anti Atlas Mountains driving southeast across lunatic landscapes past oases located in the middle of nowhere.
You will stop for lunch at the oasis of Alnif, where you’ll have lunch before you carry on to Merzouga , then to Erg Chebbi where your Sahara desert camp is located.
Upon arrival, switch your mean of transportation into camels and enjoy an Erg Chebbi dunes camel trek to witness one of the most sought for views in the planet: Erg Chebbi’s dramatic sunset over the color changing sand dunes!
Drive back to your camp and get ready for a delicious Moroccan dinner under the stars while entertained by the local nomads playing their drums. Don’t miss the clear sky stars constellation before you go to bed.
Accomodation details:
Day 3 :
Merzouga – Tinghir – Boumalne Dades
( 6 HOURS DRIVE ) After breakfast at your desert camp, drive along the 1001 Kasbahs past rivers, oases and fortified Kasbahs to Tinghir, where you can enjoy a walk in the oasis along Todgha river bank to Todrha canyons where you will have lunch.
Early afternoon, drive along the Dades Valley where you’ll drive past some magnificient fortified Kasbahs and Berber Villages, with the sunset as a backdrop to Dades Gorges to marvel at the scenery and take some photos.
Dinner and overnight at your Dads Valley hotel.
Accomodation details:
Day 4 :
Boumalne Dades – Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou – Marrakech
( 6 HOURS DRIVE ) After breakfast, you’ll drive along side the Valley of the Roses to Kalaa Megouna where you can visit rose water ladies cooperative and learn how locals manufacture rose water perfume essences.
We continue to Skoura oasis, considered one of the largest oases in the South and visit one of the Kasbahs there ( time permitting ) before we carry on to Ouarzazate and to the UNESCO world heritage site of Kasbah Ait Ben Hadou.
The fortified village is one of the most visited landmarks in Morocco, and it has been long known as shooting location of various Hollywood blockbusters.
After lunch at leisure in the Kasbah, we drive to Marrakech via Tizi Ntichka pass and high Atlas Mountains.
Your 4 days desert trip from Marrakech will come to an end with a drop off at your hotel or read.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Marrakech Desert Tour 4 days
- - Tour price per person depends on how many participants there are in your party.
- - Driving times above do not include stops for sightseeing, photos, lunch and cafe.
- - A 4x4 can seat up to 4 adult passengers comfortably if there are 5 participants and up, a van will be used for your tour .
- - Local guides and entrance fees ( if any ) are not included. You pay for those directly to the suppliers.
- - Pick up time for your desert tour can be flexible. Between 07h30 and 08h00 AM is highly recommended.
- - Please kindly note that as of April 01st 2019, all Merzouga camps inside the dunes are removed. Camping is only allowed at the edge of the sand dunes of Erg Chebbi.
Included
- A/C modern 4×4 or van driven by an English speaking river /guide
- Pick up from your Marrakech hotel / Riad
- First night at hotel La Fibule de Draa including dinner and breakfast ( Private A/C ensuite room )
- Sunset camel rides in Erg Chebbi
- Overnight at a Saharara desert camp in Erg Chebbi ( Private tent ) with shared bathrooms – Showers available in the morning at the camp operator’s lodge – Dinner and breakfast are included.
- Upgrade to a deluxe camp with an ensuite tent available upon booking your desert tour ( €70 per person )
- Third night at Hotel Panorama or similar in Dades Valley (Private A/C ensuite room) with dinner & breakfast
- Drop off at your Marrakech hotel or the closest accessible location to your riad if not car accessible.
Not Included
- Beverages
- Entrance fees if any
- local guides if any
- lunches on the way
Price per person
| Number of Participants | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8-9 | 10-17 |
| Price per person | 399€ | 299€ | 249€ | 219€ | 199€ | 195€ | 189€ | 175€ |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 399€ | 299€ | 249€ | 219€ |
| 6 | 7 | 8-9 | 10-17 | |
| 199€ | 195€ | 189€ | 175€ |
In the comfortable desert camp ( already included in the tour price ), bathrooms are shared. Luxury camp bathrooms are private inside your tent.
Roughly 1 hour sunset camel ride from Mezouga to your Sahara desert camp in Erg Chebbi and an hour morning sunrise camel ride.
Please bring your towels and shower condiments if you choose the comfortable desert camp. Towels and shower condiments in the luxury camp are available in your tent.
Yes you can. A separate 4x4 can take you to the desert camp if you choose to skip the camel ride.
Yes you can. Your guide will assist you with that, and you directly pay the supplier in Merzouga.
Yes, in public areas ( Restaurant )
Yes, sand boards are available at the camp operator's lodge in Merzouga at leisure. You can take a set with you to the desert camp. Sand boards are available at leisure at the luxury desert camp as well.
No, Showers are available the following day at the camp operator's lodge in Merzouga. If you choose to upgrade to the luxury camp, your tent will have an ensuite bathroom with hot showers.
Unfortunately, that is not possible. Our private desert tours are solely reserved for the party booking one. The price per person depends on how many participants in your private party.
H_RobertsVermont
Four day private tour to Merzouga, simply great! May 2019 We found Marrakech Desert Tours on Google and decided to book their four day tour to Merzouga. We booked a private tour and upgraded the package to deluxe and we were extremely pleased with everything on the tour! The MDT crew has got it down... from great accommodations, wonderful meal stops, a relaxed and flexible itinerary... just to name a few! Our tour guide was Rashid and we teased him about knowing everybody along the way, and he introduced us to many interesting and friendly Moroccans all along the journey. It's a long ride out to Merzouga from Marrakech, but Rashid kept it interesting by answering all our questions, discussing Morocco, and simply being a great companion. The vehicle was a Hyundai mini-van, comfortable and clean and Rashid was a really good driver...steady and very safe, no rush and always being a professional driver. If you wonder how to see this part of Morocco within a short time frame and on a modest budget, then go with Marrakech Desert Tours, you won't regret it! Show more
scalpelx1
PRO / CON - AMAZING PERSONALIZED EXCURSION INTO THE SAHARA DESERT WITH DELICIOUS FOOD AND EPIC LANDSCAPES Dec 2019 "My reviews are concise, unbiased, and honest. I like to contribute because the reviews of other fellow TripAdvisor contributors have aided me in my travels through the years. I hope my reviews can help you make educated travel plans so as to maximize your fun and enjoyment while avoiding negative experiences. Feel free to message me if you have any questions. Good luck and safe travels! :)"This review is for the Tour Company - Marrakech Desert Trips (General Manager : Abdessamad Abennaou / Guide : Reda Ennaciri)I participated in the 4 Day Tour starting at Marrakech to Zygora to Merzouga to Ksar of It-Ben-Haddout and back to Marrakech. Time was mid-DecemberBACKGROUND: I am a solo male traveler from America (with 35+ countries visited) and my guide was Reda EnnaciriTotal Amount paid was 695€CONS:Almost none at all.Cost - My initial concern was the cost of the tour as it was far higher than other tour companies. It was somewhat overpriced when compared to other companies, but this company has high reviews and solid customer satisfaction. As well, the disadvantage of being a solo traveler was that there was a higher cost for a Private Tour as I could not share the expenses with a companion. However, the experience, photos, and memories are definitely worth the smooth and problem-free trip that I experienced.Accommodations - the hotel room in Zygora was small and not the finest compared to the other hotels throughout the tour. However this hotel served the best beef tagine in the entire trip!PROS:Tour Locations: The tour itself was well scheduled and I had ample time to see many of the beautiful landscapes and vistas throughout my journey to the Sahara Desert. I had more than enough time to take pictures, enjoy the sights, and interact with the locals. I was able to stop and go at my own pace and my guide, Rayad, was very patient. Bathroom breaks and food/rest stops were perfectDesert Tour: Definitely the BEST part of the tour. I was very fortunate to have arrived at my hotel in Merzouga with no other guests. As a result, I had an amazing individualized experience! I took numerous breathtaking photos of the dunes, the base camp, and the sunset. Truly a memorable experience.Accommodations: All hotels were amazing except the one in Zygora. Breakfast at each spot was basic and similar. Dinners were tasty and varied in quality. For the Merzouga night, I Highly recommend skipping the tent and taking your mattress out to sleep under the stars! Only if you can stand the col! Dress warmly!Tour Guide: My tour guide was Reda Ennaciri. He was a spectacular guide who was very accommodating and patient. He is amazingly fluent in English, French, Berber, and Arabic so I had no problem communicating with him. Throughout the entire trip he answered all of my questions about the sights, the food, and the culture. He was very knowledgeable and made the entire tour even more fun and interactive! Furthermore, he was the ultimate driver and guide - he waited for me as I took pictures and even took some fantastic photos for me which is helpful as a solo traveler. I felt very safe with him as a guide, translator, and driver. There never was a time where I felt rushed at all. Reda Ennaciri always made sure I was well fed, had enough time to explore/photograph, and was willing to stop/go anytime I requested!Lastly, I was very eager to sand surf down the dunes of the Sahara but was worried that no sand board would be available. When none could be found, Reda went above and beyond to find me a board for my first sandboarding experience.Overall, I strongly recommend specifically requesting Reda Ennaciri as your guide - he is the absolute best guide in all of Marrakesh!OVERALL: 5/5!!!Marrakech Desert Trips was an excellent choice for my first time visit to Morocco. I am satisfied with the communication, the guide, and the tour activities. I would definitely recommend this tour company to friends and family!CONTACT : please message me anytime if you questions or want recommendations for this country or any other country that I have visited! Cheers and safe travels! Show more
AYA
Unforgettable Experience in Desert Dec 2018 It was truly an amazing experience. I took private 4 days desert tour from Marrakech and loved it. I was fortunate to have Momo (Mohamed) as a driver too. He is genuinely generous and caring; constantly checking in if you are comfortable enough and will make stops for the breathtaking views and breaks. He is not disturbing your quiet time but always there for you anytime you need help, which was truly appreciatable.The landscape was amazing, sunset and sunrise in Sahara were unforgettable, the camels were well trained and calm/friendly, people are nice... You may experience something that you never have, and I will highly recommend this tour with Marrakech Desert Trips.The only thing that I didn't like was after arriving back in Marrakech. My riad was not accessible by a car, so the driver found a guy for me to take to the riad. It only took 1 min walk, but the guy forced me to pay 30 dirhams and didn't let me in the riad until I paid... I was female and by myself so I reluctantly paid it to him in order to avoid troubles but it was for sure not a happy ending of the beautiful tour. I would recommend either booking a hotel/riad that accessible by vehicle or having the detailed map to find it by yourself... You may encounter some people who treat us tourists as walking ATMs or something in the city.Overall, it was such a great experience and I would definitely recommend not to miss this trip, and I am for sure coming back. Show more
Eszter N
Fantastic trip with fantastic guide, Reda Mar 2019 We had a wonderful trip to the desert through the Atlas Mountains. Our driver, Reda was very helpful and a very good driver, we really felt safe with him. He showed us beautyful spots to photograph the scenary and told us about the surrounding villages and moroccan life. The desert trip was also amazing, although a bit short, we would stay a bit longer among the beautiful dunes. We highly recommend the tour, it was amazing! Show more
Ou Z
Great trip! Jan 2020 We booked a private 4 day trip to Merzouga for our family of four and had a great time. The very morning of the pick up at 7am it turned out that I had booked for the wrong date one entire month later, but two phonecalls and 30 min afterward they were able to arrange for a driver and guide for us to take us on the tour anyway. By the time we arrived at our first overnight stop accomodation was sorted out as well. Our guide was Abdul and he was very experienced and knowledgeable about the area. He was very accomodating to our wishes regarding the schedule and stops on the road and spoke great English. It is a fact of tourism that in most places guides receive a commission from souvenir shops and probably other places. He took us to some shops as well, but we were not pressured into buying anything and instead told some interesting things about traditional crafts and local culture. The route to Merzouga is very tourist-oriented with according prices, but that is not specific to this tour agency. Also pack warm clothes for the desert. It get's SUPER cold at night. Show more
Sebastian
Awesome place to spend a night in a tent Feb 2020 We booked an organized trip with Marrakech Desert Trips for 4 days. Our most exciting stop was defnitely Merzouga. Our camel ride and our night in the tend was organized by the Naser Palace in Merzouga. As soon as you get into the Dunes it feels like you are in the middle of the Sahara. The sand is awesome and it was really fun to run up and down some dunes. We could enjoy the sunset very much. A downside of the dunes are that slowly, due to the high amount of tourists, you can see more and more waste in the dunes. Show more
Edwin N
Amazing Sahara Tour! Jul 2019 This was our first trip to Africa and we signed up with Marrakech Desert Trip to tour Morocco. We met Mohammad, our driver on our first day and immediately we were impressed by his friendliness and professionalism. Throughout our road trip, he assisted us on our luggage,explaining to us the different point of interests and arranging all our itinerary based on where we want to go. There was once he even bought us bottled water in a cafe when we had our toilet break. The Sahara was majestic, and we did quads, sandduning on a 4WD, and riding on camels. The tents we put up in also have very good beds and serve authentic morracan cuisine. The campfire aftermath was a bonus. Overall we really enjoyed our trip. Tks Mohammad and Marrakech desert trips. Show more
Gianni A
Exciting and adventurous trip !! Apr 2019 You should book this trip !!! On our road trip to Morocco, my date and I chose to do the 4-day private desert trip from Marrakech. Which was the best choice we could have made! Our driver and guide (and now friend) Ibrahim picked us up at our Riad and took us to the most beautiful parts of Morocco, you will probably never see without a guide. We chose the deluxe option which made Elsa feel like a princess every night. The hotels serve good food, have amazing cultural rooms (even the nomad camp in the desert felt so luxurious). I would like to thank Ibrahim for his kindness and assistance. He made our holiday AWESOME. All the best to you and your family, Salaam. Show more
kiwifamily007
Amazing 4 day family trip into the desert Sep 2019 We had a fantastic trip with these guys. Abdessamad was fantastic to deal with via email to arrange all the details. We ended up choosing a private trip for 215 Euros per person all inclusive apart from lunches and entry fees to attractions that we added into our itinerary. Our Driver was Jamal who was an excellent driver/guide and went out of his way to give us the best experience possible, he was also fantastic with the kids. The vehicle was a late model Toyota Prado that was perfect for 4 people plus the driver. We enjoyed the flexibility of the private tour and being able to customise the schedule to suit ourselves from day to day. We found the trip to be excellent value for money and have no reservations in recommending Marrakech Desert Trips to others looking to see more of Morocco. Show more
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