3-Day Desert Tour from Marrakech: Merzouga Dunes & Kasbah

Cross the Atlas and sleep in the Merzouga dunes

A 3-day guided tour from Marrakech that crosses the High Atlas via Tichka Pass, visits the fortified Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate, passes through the Valley of Roses and Todra Gorges, and ends with a camel ride and overnight bivouac in the Merzouga dunes. Hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional driver-guide in English or French, camel ride, and desert camp accommodation are included. A minimum of two people per booking is required.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Dades Valley via Kasbahs

• Visit Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah
• Visit Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate
• Visit Roses Valley and rose cooperative
• Overnight in Dades Valley gorges

Day 2: Todra Gorges and Merzouga Desert

• Visit Todra Gorges canyon
• Camel ride in Erg Chebbi dunes
• Overnight in desert camp

Day 3: Merzouga to Marrakech via Rissani and Draa Valley

• Visit Rissani markets
• Drive through Anti-Atlas to Draa Valley
• Visit Kasbah Tamnougalte

The experience

Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou sits at the start of the route, a fortified Berber village where you explore the clay architecture before the drive continues south. The Tichka Pass climbs to 2260 meters through the High Atlas, then descends into Ouarzazate and the Valley of Roses, where you stop at a local women's cooperative to see how rose products are made. The first night lands in the Dades Valley gorges, a dramatic landscape of rock walls and a guesthouse or hotel in the heart of it.

Day two takes you through Todra Gorges, a canyon in the Atlas that climbs high enough to draw rock climbers from across the region. Then comes the camel ride (an hour and a half across the dunes of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga), and the night in a desert camp under the stars. A traditional dinner around the fire precedes the bivouac, and the sunrise and sunset at the dunes are part of the rhythm of the stay.

The return route on day three moves through Rissani, one of Morocco's oldest cities and home to the biggest markets in the region, then crosses the Anti-Atlas Mountains to Draa Valley, the largest palm grove in southern Morocco. The Kasbah Tamnougalte stands in that valley before the drive back to Marrakech. A professional guide travels with the group throughout, and the operator arranges meals around dietary needs if you advise them at booking.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Marrakech.
• a professional driver-guide throughout the 3 days.
• one camel ride per person in Merzouga.
• overnight accommodation in the Dades Valley gorges and in the desert camp.
• a traditional dinner around the fire on the night in Merzouga.

Information

Lasts 3d, runs every day at 08:00, from US$ 464 per person, with a live guide in English and French, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate12 group tours ›

Live guideEnglish and FrenchOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (19 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (11 to 18 years) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Easy take travel

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to travel with a small group and prefer a fixed itinerary that handles all the routing, transport and camp logistics: the guide and the schedule keep the three days moving together without you building the day yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 18 years); Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5).

What is the Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou and why do we stop there?

Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou is a fortified Berber village built in clay, and it is the first major stop on the route. You explore its architecture and layout before continuing south toward Ouarzazate.

How long is the camel ride in Merzouga, and what happens after?

The camel ride lasts an hour and a half across the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga. After the ride, you spend the night in a desert camp, eat a traditional dinner around the fire, and sleep under the stars.

Where do we sleep on the first two nights?

The first night is in a hotel or guesthouse in the Dades Valley gorges. The second night is in a desert camp in Merzouga.

What meals and drinks are included?

The tour includes a traditional dinner around the fire on the night in the desert camp. Lunches and drinks are not included in the price, so plan to purchase them along the route.