5-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga & Sahara (Private Experience)

Your journey begins with an early morning pick-up from your Marrakech hotel. As you leave the city behind, you’ll cross the breathtaking Tizi n’Tichka Pass (2,260m), the highest mountain road in Morocco, offering panoramic views of the High Atlas.

Your first major stop is the UNESCO-listed Ait Ben Haddou, a stunning fortified village that has served as a backdrop for films like Gladiator and Game of Thrones. After exploring its ancient alleys, you’ll continue to Ouarzazate, known as “the Hollywood of Morocco,” where you’ll visit the Atlas Film Studios and the grand Taourirt Kasbah.

The day ends in the scenic Dades Valley, where you’ll spend the night in a charming guesthouse, enjoying a traditional Moroccan dinner. 

Driving: ~6–7 hours
Overnight in Dades Valley

After breakfast, you’ll drive through the dramatic Todgha Gorge, where towering canyon walls rise up to 300 meters, creating a spectacular natural wonder. A short walk through the gorge allows you to fully appreciate its grandeur.

Next, you’ll pass through Erfoud, famous for its fossil workshops, before reaching the gateway to the Sahara—Merzouga. Here, you’ll switch from your vehicle to camels for a magical sunset trek across the golden dunes of Erg Chebbi.

Upon arrival at your luxury desert camp, you’ll be welcomed with mint tea and traditional Berber music. Enjoy a delicious dinner under the stars before spending the night in a comfortable, well-equipped tent.

Driving time: ~5–6 hours
(short walks in Todgha Gorge + photo stops)

Prefer a shorter option? Check our 3-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech to Merzouga.

After breakfast, your day is dedicated to exploring the diverse landscapes surrounding the Merzouga dunes. We will visit the surrounding villages, including Khamlia, where you will be welcomed with mint tea and experience the powerful, spiritual music of the Gnawa people. The journey continues into the desert, where we’ll search for fossils, visit a nomadic family to learn about their traditional lifestyle, and take in panoramic views of the golden dunes near the Algerian border.

In the late afternoon, you will trade your vehicle for a camel and embark on a memorable trek across the Sahara Desert sands as the sun sets. You’ll arrive at a traditional Berber desert camp, where a delicious dinner and an evening of drum music around a campfire await before you sleep under a spectacular canopy of stars.

Driving time: ~2–3 hours total
(desert routes, nomadic visits, Khamlia village — no long road drives)

An early start is rewarded with the breathtaking spectacle of a Sahara sunrise over the dunes. After witnessing this natural wonder, you will camel-trek back to the village for a refreshing shower and breakfast. Our journey then begins towards Ouarzazate. We will pass through Rissani, the ancient foundation of Morocco’s current dynasty, and travel through a landscape of acacia trees and desert plateaus.

Along the way, we’ll stop to admire the immense, sheer rock walls of the Todra Gorge. After a stop for lunch en route, we will continue to Ouarzazate, Morocco’s cinematic capital, where you will check into your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Driving time: ~5–6 hours
(desert plateaus, oases & canyon landscapes)