Overview of This 3 Day Desert Tour from Marrakech
Our 3-day Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour crosses the High Atlas to Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley, rides a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes for a night at a desert camp, and brings you back to Marrakech, all with your own driver.
Merzouga is where our office is, and Erg Chebbi’s dunes, up to about 150 m high, are the tallest you can reach by road from Marrakech. Three days is the shortest comfortable way to get there and back: the drive is about 9 hours each way, so we split the outward journey over two days with the best stops of the south. The return is one long day; if you would rather end in Fes, we can do that instead.
- The Tizi n’Tichka pass over the High Atlas
- Ait Ben Haddou, the UNESCO-listed ksar
- A night in the Dades Valley
- A walk in Todra Gorge
- Camel ride into Erg Chebbi at sunset
- Sunrise over the Sahara dunes
Your 3-Day Desert Trip, Day by Day
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Day 1: Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou and the Dades Valley
About 6 h 30 min driving · 320 kmWe pick you up from your Marrakech riad or hotel at around 7 in the morning. The road climbs through Berber villages to the Tizi n’Tichka, the High Atlas pass at 2,260 m, and down to Ait Ben Haddou, where you walk up through the earthen ksar. After lunch near Ouarzazate, continue through the Skoura oasis to the Dades Valley for the night.
- Stops
- Tizi n’Tichka, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Skoura
- Overnight
- Kasbah-style hotel in the Dades Valley
- Meals
- Dinner
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Day 2: Todra Gorge to Merzouga and the Desert Camp
About 5 h driving · 290 kmStart with a walk through Todra Gorge between walls about 300 m high. From Tinghir the road heads east across stony desert to Erfoud and Merzouga. In the late afternoon you leave your big bags in the car, take an overnight bag, and ride a camel into the Erg Chebbi dunes for sunset. Dinner is at camp, followed by drums around the fire.
- Stops
- Todra Gorge, Tinghir, Erfoud
- Overnight
- Desert camp in Erg Chebbi
- Meals
- Breakfast · Dinner
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Day 3: Sunrise in the Sahara and Back to Marrakech
About 9 h driving · 560 kmClimb a dune in the half-light to watch the sun come up, then ride back to Merzouga for breakfast and a shower. The return to Marrakech takes a different road west through Alnif, N’Kob and the Draa Valley before crossing the Atlas again, with plenty of stops. You reach Marrakech in the evening.
- Stops
- Rissani, Alnif, N’Kob, Draa Valley, Ouarzazate
- Overnight
- Arrival in Marrakech
- Meals
- Breakfast
Route Map: Marrakech to Merzouga and Back
About 1,150 km in three days. The outward drive is split in two; the return is one long day, which is why the 4-day version, or ending in Fes, suits travelers who prefer shorter days.
What’s Included in This Desert Tour
Included
- Private air-conditioned vehicle and driver for 3 days
- Fuel, tolls and parking
- 2 nights: kasbah hotel and desert camp
- Breakfast and dinner on both nights
- Camel trek in Erg Chebbi
- Pickup and drop-off at your Marrakech riad or hotel
Not included
- International flights
- Lunches and drinks
- Monument entrance fees
- Tips for driver and guides
- Travel insurance
Where You’ll Stay
You spend one night in a kasbah-style hotel and one at a desert camp in the dunes. Camps range from simple tents with shared bathrooms to luxury tents with private bathrooms; we send you the options for your dates with the quote.
- Dades Valley · 1 night Kasbah-style hotel Options sent with your quote
- Merzouga · 1 night Desert camp Options sent with your quote
3 Day Desert Tour Prices
Every private tour is priced for your group, so we quote it rather than list one fixed price. Three things set it:
- Group sizeThe vehicle and driver cost the same whatever the size of your party, so the more of you travel, the less each person pays.
- Hotel levelComfortable riads and hotels, or a step up to superior riads and a luxury desert camp.
- SeasonSpring and fall are the busiest months for riads and desert camps.
Customize This Tour
End in Fes instead of driving back to Marrakech, add a second night in the desert, or upgrade to a luxury camp. Tell us what you would like and we send a revised plan and price.
Customize This 3-Day Tour
Your driver/guide
One professional, English-speaking driver/guide for all three days, in an air-conditioned 4×4 or minivan depending on your group size. Other languages are available on request.
Meet our drivers and guides3-Day Desert Tour FAQ
Is a 3 day desert tour from Marrakech worth it?
Yes, if you want the tall dunes of Erg Chebbi and the kasbah valleys on the way. The last day is long, about 9 hours of driving. If you would rather not do that, choose 4 days or end in Fes.
How far is Marrakech to Merzouga?
About 560 km, or 9 hours of driving without stops. That is why we split the outward journey over two days.
Can this 3 day tour go from Marrakech to Merzouga and end in Fes?
Yes. Day 3 then goes north from Merzouga through the Ziz Valley and the Middle Atlas to Fes, about 8 hours. We send the price for that version with your quote.
What should I bring for the night in the desert camp?
A small overnight bag with warm layers, as nights are cold from November to March, a scarf against sun and sand, sunscreen and a flashlight. Your main luggage stays safely in the car.
Is the camel ride suitable for everyone?
The camels walk slowly, led by a camel handler, and the ride suits most people, including children. If anyone in your group would rather not ride, most camps can also be reached by 4×4; tell us and we plan it.
Is the desert tour shared with other travelers?
No. The vehicle and driver are yours alone. At camp you may share the dining tent and the fire with other guests, unless you choose a private camp.
