3 Day Merzouga Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech with Camel Ride

Marrakech, Morocco
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Duration3 days
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish, French
Group sizeUp to 14 travelers
Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below

Overview

See the real Sahara in 3 days from Marrakech. This small-group desert tour crosses the High Atlas by the Tizi n'Tichka pass, visits the UNESCO-listed Ksar of Ait Benhaddou, follows the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs through Ouarzazate and the Dades Valley, and walks into the Todra Gorges before reaching the golden Erg Chebbi dunes of Merzouga.

The highlight is your night in the desert: a camel ride across the dunes at sunset, dinner and Berber drums around the fire at camp, a private tent for the night, and a sunrise over the sand the next morning.

Why book with us: we are a local Marrakech team, your English- and French-speaking driver-guide stays with you for the whole trip, pickup and drop-off at your hotel or riad are included, and 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts and 2 nights of accommodation (Dades Valley hotel and Merzouga desert camp) are in the price. Travel in a shared air-conditioned minibus, or choose the private option to have your own vehicle and driver-guide.

Options

Shared Group Tour

Shared air-conditioned minibus
Pickup included

Private Tour

Private car or minivan
Pickup included

What's included

  • 1 night in a private tent at a desert camp in the Erg Chebbi dunes
  • Dinner
  • Camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset and back at sunrise
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Breakfast
  • 1 night in a Dades Valley hotel (private room, ensuite bathroom)
  • Lunches and drinks (we stop at local restaurants, paid on the spot)
  • Gratuities
  • Optional guide at Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou: EUR 3/person, paid on-site, entry included
  • Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou entry: EUR 2.50/person on-site, or included in the EUR 3 optional guide

What to expect

Day 1: Marrakech - High Atlas - Ait Benhaddou - Dades Valley
  1. Tizi n Tichka
    30m
    Cross the High Atlas on the Tizi n'Tichka pass, at 2,260 m the highest paved road pass in Morocco. We stop at a viewpoint for photos of the switchback road and the Berber villages below, with time to stretch your legs and grab a mint tea.
  2. Ksar Of Ait-Ben-Haddou
    1h 30m · Admission ticket not included
    Explore the Ksar of Ait Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage fortified village of earthen kasbahs and the backdrop of Gladiator, Game of Thrones and many other films. Walk across the river and up the narrow lanes to the granary at the top for a wide view over the valley. Lunch stop nearby (at your own cost).
  3. Ouarzazate
    20m
    Short stop in Ouarzazate, the gateway to the Sahara known as the Hollywood of Africa. See the Taourirt Kasbah from outside and the film studios on the edge of town as we continue east along the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs.
  4. Dades Gorges
    30m
    Drive through the Valley of Roses and into the Dades Valley, lined with palm groves, kasbahs and red rock formations. Arrive in the late afternoon at your hotel in the valley for dinner and an overnight stay in a private room with ensuite bathroom.
Day 2: Dades Valley - Todra Gorges - Merzouga Sahara Camp
  1. Todra Gorge
    1h
    Walk into the Todra Gorges, where limestone cliffs up to 300 m high close in around a narrow river canyon. Time to stroll along the riverbed, watch the climbers on the rock walls and take photos before heading east through Tinghir and Erfoud.
  2. Erg Chebbi Dunes
    1h 30m · Admission ticket included
    Reach the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga in the late afternoon. Leave the vehicle and ride a camel, led by a local cameleer, across the sand to your desert camp in time for sunset from the top of a dune. Dinner, Berber drums around the campfire and a night under the Sahara stars.
Day 3: Merzouga Sunrise - Ouarzazate - Marrakech
  1. Merzouga
    1h 30m
    Wake up early to watch the sunrise over the Erg Chebbi dunes, one of the highlights of the trip. Ride your camel back to the edge of the dunes near Merzouga village, have breakfast, then board the vehicle for the long drive back west to Marrakech.

Meeting and pickup

Pickup details

Pickup starts around 7:00 from your hotel, riad or apartment in Marrakech. Cars cannot enter most medina lanes, so if your riad is inside the medina we meet you at the nearest accessible gate or square, and your riad staff can walk you there. Please send us your accommodation name and address after booking. We confirm the exact pickup time by WhatsApp the evening before departure.

Additional information

  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
From
€119.00 per person
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  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
Operated by Desert tours in Marrakech · Booked through Viator
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