Sahara Desert Tours from Marrakech
From Marrakech you can reach the Sahara in 2 days at Zagora or 3 to 5 days at Merzouga, where the tall dunes of Erg Chebbi are. Every Marrakech Sahara desert tour we run is private: your own driver, a camel ride at sunset and a night at a desert camp, with the long drive split by the best stops in southern Morocco.
The dunes are about 560 km from Marrakech, on the far side of the High Atlas. That is why there is no true Sahara desert day trip from Marrakech: the nearest desert for a single day is the stony Agafay plateau, 40 minutes away. For real dunes, plan at least two nights.
- Tour lengths
- 2 to 5 days
- Merzouga
- About 9 h from Marrakech
- Zagora
- About 7 h from Marrakech
- Ends in
- Marrakech or Fes
Desert Tours from Marrakech
All private, all starting at your riad or hotel in Marrakech. Sorted from shortest to longest.
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2 days2-Day Zagora Desert Tour from Marrakech
The quickest way from Marrakech to the desert: over the Atlas and down the Draa Valley to a camp near Zagora.Private tour · Price on request -
3 days3-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour
Over the High Atlas to the dunes of Erg Chebbi and back: our most requested desert trip from Marrakech.Private tour · Price on request -
3 days3-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour
The desert on the way between two cities: over the Atlas to the Merzouga dunes, then north to Fes.Private tour · Price on request -
4 days4-Day Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech
Merzouga and Erg Chebbi from Marrakech with the drive split into four easy days and a night at Ait Ben Haddou.Private tour · Price on request -
5 daysLuxury Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech
A private 4×4, boutique kasbah hotels and two nights in a luxury tent in the Erg Chebbi dunes.Private tour · Price on request
Compare Sahara Tours from Marrakech
| Tour | Length | Route | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Day Zagora Desert Tour from Marrakech | 2 days · 1 night | Round trip from Marrakech | A desert night when you only have two days |
| 3-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour | 3 days · 2 nights | Round trip from Marrakech | The Sahara from Marrakech in the shortest time |
| 3-Day Marrakech to Fes Desert Tour | 3 days · 2 nights | Marrakech → Fes | Traveling on from Marrakech to Fes |
| 4-Day Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech | 4 days · 3 nights | Round trip from Marrakech | Merzouga from Marrakech at a comfortable pace |
| Luxury Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech | 5 days · 4 nights | Round trip from Marrakech | A slower, more comfortable desert trip |
Which Desert Tour from Marrakech?
Choose by days first, then by where you want to finish.
2 days: Zagora
The 2-day Zagora desert tour is the shortest real desert trip from Marrakech. Both days have about 7 hours of driving, through Ait Ben Haddou and the Draa Valley palm groves, and the camp sits among smaller dunes.
3 days: Merzouga and back
Our 3-day Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour reaches the tall dunes of Erg Chebbi. The outward drive is split over two days; the return is one long day of about 9 hours.
3 days, one way to Fes
Traveling on to Fes? The Marrakech to Fes desert tour puts the Sahara on the way and never doubles back. It is the best option if you fly home from Fes or continue north.
4 or 5 days: at an easy pace
The 4-day Sahara tour splits the return with a night at Ait Ben Haddou, so no day is over 7 hours. The luxury desert tour adds a second night in a luxury camp, a private 4×4 and boutique kasbah hotels.
The Road from Marrakech to the Sahara
The drive is long, but it is the most varied road in Morocco, and we stop wherever you want.
- Tizi n’Tichka (2,260 m): the High Atlas pass, with Berber villages and argan and walnut trees on the way up.
- Ait Ben Haddou: a fortified village of earth houses listed by UNESCO.
- Ouarzazate and Skoura: film studios, then a palm oasis dotted with old family kasbahs.
- The Dades Valley and Todra Gorge: red rock folds, then a canyon about 300 m deep.
- The Draa Valley: the southern road back, with date palms and kasbah villages such as N’Kob.
Most camps are a camel ride into the dunes; your main luggage stays in the car. See our guide to desert camps for what to expect and what to pack. Only have an afternoon? Try a camel ride near Marrakech.
Marrakech Sahara Tour Questions
Something else on your mind? Send us your question and a real person on our team answers.
Can you do a Sahara desert day trip from Marrakech?
Not to the Sahara dunes: Merzouga is about 9 hours away and Zagora about 7. For a single day, the Agafay desert, a stony plateau 40 minutes from Marrakech, gives you camel rides and desert views, and it is on our list of day trips.
How many days is best for Sahara tours from Marrakech?
Three days is the minimum for Merzouga and four days is the most comfortable. With only two days, go to Zagora.
Merzouga or Zagora?
Merzouga for the tall dunes of Erg Chebbi, up to around 150 m high. Zagora if you only have two days: it is closer, but the dunes are smaller.
Can our Marrakech desert tour end in Fes?
Yes. Our Marrakech to Fes desert tour does exactly that in 3 days, and any of our desert tours can be adapted to finish in Fes.
What time do Marrakech desert tours start?
Around 7 or 8 in the morning, from your riad or hotel. If your riad is deep in the medina, your driver meets you at the nearest gate.
Pick Your Desert Days.
Tell us how many days you have and where you finish. Our team in Merzouga replies within 24 hours with a private desert trip and a price.