5 Days Desert Tour From Marrakech
Tour overview
Embark on an unforgettable 5-day journey from Marrakech to the heart of the Moroccan Sahara. This tour offers a perfect balance between adventure, culture, and natural beauty. Travel through the stunning High Atlas Mountains, visit ancient kasbahs, explore palm-filled valleys, and experience the magic of the desert with a camel ride at sunset.
You’ll sleep under the stars in a desert camp, meet local nomads, and discover the rich history and landscapes of southern Morocco. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a returning traveler, this tour gives you a deep and authentic taste of Morocco’s desert life.
Duration: 5 days
Day 1
Marrakech – Telouet – Ait Benhaddou Kasbah – Ouarzazate
You will be picked up from your lodging in Marrakech, hotel, or Riad in the Medina, transported via the famous High Atlas Mountains chain, and cross the Tizi N Tichka pass 2260m, the highest of Morocco.
You will be amazed by the wonderful views of the surrounding landscapes and Berber villages, arriving at the UNESCO World Heritage of the Ait Benhaddou Kasbah where you will be taken on a walking tour to get a hold of its background as well as its history of being one of the most targeted places of shooting many glorious movies such as the “Lawrence of Arabia (1962)”, “The Jewel of the Nile (1985)”, “Queen Of The Desert”, “Gladiator (2000)”, and “Game of Thrones (2013)”.
The next stop will be Ouarzazate; A city called Hollywood of Africa; where you will be spending the first night of your 5 days Desert tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert.
Day 2
Ouarzazate – Valle del Draa – Rissani – Dunas de Erg Chebbi (Merzouga)
After breakfast, you will continue your 5 days desert tour from Marrakech to the Sahara desert of Merzouga, via Draa valley crossing the volcanic rock formations of the Anti-Atlas Mountains to Agdez and Tamnougalt. You will then drive through Nkob, a small Berber town known for its numerous Kasbahs and as the access point to trek through the Jabel Saghro (Saghro Mountain) to Dades.
On the way to Rissani, a Saharan town considered the cradle of the Alaouite dynasty, famous for its large traditional market, which has been the most important and largest in the southeast of the country for decades. Many nomads come here to buy or sell goods. The Rissani market is the closest large market (35 km) to the Merzouga desert and to all the surrounding villages of Erg Chebbi.
Later, we heading to one of the main desert destinations, the Erg Chebbi Sahara Desert, you will take a camel trek to the camp, enjoying the sunset over the sand dunes along the way. Once at the camp, you will enjoy dinner, followed by a music party featuring Berber drums around the campfire, and spend the night in a well-equipped tented camp.
Day 3
Explore the Merzouga area & Visit nomad families
Today, you live a special morning in the middle of the Sahara, it is worth waking up to enjoy the spectacular views of the sunrise over the sand dunes, before you take your breakfast and freshen up, ride the camels back to the departure point to meet your driver at the dune line.
Then you will go on an off-road discovery excursion to the surrounding villages, such as Hassi Labied and Khamlia, a village famous for its Gnawa musicians whose musical traditions originated in Sub-Saharan Africa.
You will also visit Mefes, a small abandoned town known for its lead mines, and finally meet a nomad family living on the edge of the Erg Chebbi dunes.
In the afternoon, you can relax in your accommodation, alternatively, you can visit the dunes and watch the sunset one more time, and why not an hour of ATV Quad biking in the dunes to end up your day (Not included in the tour price). The night is spent at the hotel.
Day 4
Merzouga – Erfoud – Todra Gorges – Dades Valley
Day 4: Merzouga – Erfoud – Gargantas del Todra – Valle del Dades
After a hearty breakfast at your Riad, you meet up with your driver and then make your journey back from the desert to Dades Valley with stops in Erfoud; a small city known for the fossilized rocks and their manufacturers.
Continuing our tour to Todra Gorges and its magnificent canyons hidden gem for rock climbers besides Todra. You can do a leisure walk here before you head to your hotel in Dades Valley for the night.
Day 5
Dades Valley – Ouarzazate – Marrakech
After breakfast at your Riad/hotel in Dades, you will continue your 5-day, 4-night desert tour by departing for Marrakech. Along the way, you will pass through Kelaa Mgouna, the city of roses, and the Skoura palm grove before returning to Marrakech via Ouarzazate and the Kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou.
You will enjoy the spectacular views of the High Atlas Mountains as you cross the Tichka Pass, arriving in Marrakech where you will be dropped off at your accommodation or airport.
- Included
- Pick-up & drop off at/from your accommodation/airport
- Transport by private modern vehicle with A/C
- Experienced English-speaking Driver/Guide
- Car Fuel
- 3 nights in a private room in the hotel (Dinner & Breakfast)
- Camel Trekking (Camel per person)
- Sunset camel ride
- Hearty dinner and party around the campfire (Berber Drums)
- Overnight at a private tent in Camp (Breakfast & dinner)
- 4×4 transfer from and to the camp (Alternative to Camels)
- Not Included
- Flight tickets
- Drinks
- Lunches
- Entrance to monuments (Optional)
- Tips
