3-Day Sahara Camel Trek: Marrakech to Merzouga Golden Dunes

Cross the Atlas and the Sahara in one journey, ending with a camel trek at sunset.

This 3-day tour departs Marrakech and crosses the High Atlas Mountains, Ait Ben Haddou, Dades Valley, and Todra Gorge before reaching the Merzouga dunes for a camel trek and overnight in a desert camp. The route includes transport, two nights accommodation, two dinners, and a professional driver speaking English, Spanish, French or Arabic. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Marrakech are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Dades Valley via Ait Ben Haddou

• Travel through High Atlas Mountains
• Visit Ait Ben Haddou ksar
• Stop in Ouarzazate for photos
• Continue to Dades Valley
• Dinner and overnight in Dades Valley

Day 2: Dades Valley to Merzouga Desert

• Breakfast in Dades Valley
• Visit Todra Gorge canyon
• Pass through Erfoud town
• Arrive near Erg Chebbi dunes
• Meet camel team and start trek
• Enjoy camel trek to desert camp
• Dinner and overnight at desert camp

Day 3: Merzouga Desert to Marrakech

• Sunrise over Sahara dunes
• Breakfast at desert camp
• Return from camp by camel or vehicle
• Final views and photos of Erg Chebbi
• Stop in Rissani town
• Drive through palm groves to Marrakech
• Break near Ouarzazate for lunch or photos
• Cross High Atlas Mountains
• Arrive and drop off in Marrakech

The experience

The route runs three full days: Day 1 takes you from Marrakech through the High Atlas on the Tizi n'Tichka road, past Berber villages and photo stops, to the earthen ksar of Ait Ben Haddou. You'll walk the traditional architecture, then continue through Ouarzazate toward Dades Valley, where you overnight in a comfortable hotel or guesthouse. Day 2 starts with breakfast in the valley, then heads to Todra Gorge (a canyon with rock walls high enough to walk between) before passing through Erfoud and arriving at Erg Chebbi near Merzouga. You meet the camel team, trek the golden dunes at sunset or sunrise, and sleep in a desert camp. Day 3 reverses the route: sunrise over the Sahara, a final look at Erg Chebbi, then the long drive back through Rissani, palm groves, Ouarzazate, and the High Atlas to Marrakech.

Transport is air-conditioned and includes fuel. Your driver is professional and speaks your language. Two dinners and two nights of accommodation (one in Dades Valley, one in the desert camp) are built in, so the only meals you arrange are breakfasts and lunch on the road. The camel trek itself is the centerpiece: you ride into the dunes and camp in the Sahara atmosphere rather than just passing through. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Marrakech bookend the journey, so you don't need to arrange transport to the start.

What’s included

• Transport in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Marrakech.
• one night in a comfortable hotel or guesthouse in Dades Valley.
• one night in a desert camp near the Erg Chebbi dunes.
• two dinners.
• the camel trek through the Merzouga dunes.
• all fuel and road costs.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 14:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (17 to 98 years) · Child (6 to 16 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by ABDU MOROCCO TRAVEL

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the complete mountain-to-desert arc in one continuous journey with a group following fixed daily stops, rather than piecing together separate desert and mountain experiences on your own schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 16 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What's the camel trek like on this tour?

The camel trek happens on Day 2 afternoon and evening, after you arrive at Erg Chebbi near Merzouga. You ride through the golden dunes of the Sahara, with time to take photos and watch the light change before reaching the desert camp where you spend the night. A sunrise trek is also possible on Day 3 before the return drive begins.

How much time do I spend driving each day?

Day 1 is the longest drive: Marrakech to Dades Valley through the mountains and valleys takes most of the daylight hours, with stops at Ait Ben Haddou and Ouarzazate. Day 2 is shorter, ending with the camel trek in the afternoon. Day 3 is the full return drive from Merzouga to Marrakech, crossing the High Atlas again with comfort stops along the way.

What accommodation should I expect?

Night 1 is in a comfortable hotel or guesthouse in Dades Valley with standard rooms. Night 2 is in a desert camp near the Erg Chebbi dunes, where you sleep in the Sahara atmosphere after the camel trek. Both include the dinners served that evening.

Is this tour suitable if I've never ridden a camel before?

Yes. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the camel trek is part of the standard experience. The trek is paced for the dunes and the light rather than for speed, and you have time to adjust to the camel before the full ride into the desert.

What's included in the price, and what do I pay for separately?

Included are all transport and fuel, the air-conditioned vehicle, hotel pickup and drop-off in Marrakech, two nights accommodation, two dinners, the camel trek, and the professional driver. Meals not listed (breakfasts and lunch on the road) and tips are not included in the price.