3-Day Merzouga Desert Tour from Marrakech: Erg Chebbi Dunes

Camel trek at sunset across Erg Chebbi's red-orange dunes to a Sahara camp with dinner and fire.

A 3-day tour from Marrakech to Merzouga desert that crosses the High Atlas Mountains, stops at the UNESCO kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou, passes through Dades and Todra gorges, and ends with a camel ride across Erg Chebbi dunes at sunset to an overnight desert camp. The route covers roughly 1,100 km over three days with an air-conditioned vehicle and two nights' accommodation included. You'll trek by camel for about an hour to reach the camp, where dinner and an evening with the staff around a fire follow. The operator recommends a slower 4 or 5-day pace, though the 3-day version is possible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Dades via Ait Ben Haddou

• Pick up from your Riad at 08am
• Cross TiziN Tichka pass in High Atlas Mountains
• Visit Ait Ben Haddou village with local guide
• Walk and climb to hilltop for valley views
• Continue to Dades Gorge via Ouarzazate and Skoura
• Dinner and overnight at Hotel La Valle

Day 2: Dades Valley to Merzouga Desert

• Breakfast at accommodation
• Drive through Dades valley and Berber villages
• Trek along Todra Gorge canyons
• Lunch in Tinjdad or Touroug
• Offroad to Erg Chebbi dunes edge
• Camel ride to desert camp at sunset
• Dinner and overnight in desert camp

Day 3: Merzouga to Marrakech via Ouarzazate

• Early wake up for sunrise over dunes
• Breakfast at desert camp
• Return by camel or 4x4 from dunes
• Drive through Alnif, Tazarine, Draa valley, Agdez
• Lunch and photo stop at Taourirt Kasbah
• Continue crossing Atlas Mountains to Marrakech
• Drop off at your accommodation

The experience

Pickup starts at 8am from your riad or a point of your choice in Marrakech. The first day climbs through the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi N Tichka pass at 2,260 meters, dropping into Berber villages and arriving at Ait Ben Haddou, a fortified kasbah that has served as a film location for major productions. A local guide takes you across the river and through the alleys of the ksar to the hilltop, where the view opens onto the Ounila river valley with snow-capped Atlas peaks in the distance. After lunch you continue to Dades Gorge via Ouarzazate and the long valley of roses, staying overnight in a hotel.

Day two follows the road of a thousand kasbahs through Berber villages of the Dades valley to Tineghir, a 15-kilometer stretch of date palms ending in spectacular gorges used for rock climbing. You trek along the Todra Gorge canyons, which rise about 300 meters high, then drive toward Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga. Once you reach the edge of the golden dunes, luggage goes into a 4x4 while you mount a camel for roughly an hour across the sand dunes at sunset. The camp greets you with tea, and the evening includes a traditional dinner and a musical performance with the staff around a blazing fire. You sleep in the camp overnight.

The final morning starts before dawn to catch the sunrise over Erg Chebbi's highest dunes: described as one of the desert's best moments. After breakfast at the camp, you return by camel or 4x4, then drive back to Marrakech through Alnif, Tazarine, and the Draa valley. A photo stop at the Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate breaks the journey, and you cross the Atlas Mountains again before dropping off at your accommodation in Marrakech.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle for all three days.
• two nights' accommodation (one hotel night in the Dades area, one night in the desert camp).
• camel trek at sunset.
• dinner and evening entertainment at the camp.
• breakfast at the camp on day three.
• a local guide at Ait Ben Haddou to lead the walk through the kasbah.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Child (6 to 17 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years)

GroupUp to 17

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 5.68

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats available

Operated by Desertbrise Travel

Is this one for you?Three days is the minimum to reach Merzouga and back, but it means long driving days: the operator recommends a slower 4 or 5-day pace if your schedule allows. Book this version if you want the Sahara experience and the main stops compressed into a single trip, or choose a longer itinerary if you prefer more time in each place and less time on the road.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 17 years); Infant (1 to 5 years).

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

Ait Ben Haddou is a UNESCO World Heritage fortified kasbah that has been used as a film location for major productions. You walk with a local guide across the river and through the ksar's alleys to the hilltop, where the view encompasses the Ounila river valley, surrounding desert landscape, and the snow-capped Atlas Mountains.

How long is the camel trek in the Merzouga desert?

The camel ride across Erg Chebbi's dunes takes approximately one hour at sunset, carrying you from the edge of the golden dunes to the overnight desert camp.

Where do we sleep on this tour?

Night one is in a hotel in the Dades area. Night two is in an overnight camp in the Merzouga desert near Erg Chebbi dunes.

What happens at the desert camp in the evening?

After arrival, you're greeted with tea and smiles. Dinner is served, and the staff performs a musical play around a blazing fire.

How far is it from Marrakech to Merzouga, and how much driving is involved?

The full route covers roughly 1,100 kilometers over three days. The operator notes it is at least a ten-hour drive from the Erg Chebbi dunes back to Marrakech, so expect significant time in the air-conditioned vehicle each day.