3-Day Sahara Desert Tour from Marrakech: Kasbahs, Camels & Merzouga

Summary

Marrakech to Sahara Desert Adventure: Camel Trek & Berber Camp

You’ll cross mountain passes, wander ancient kasbahs, ride camels into golden dunes, and share dinner under Saharan stars. If you want Morocco beyond postcards—this is it.

What’s the experience like?

We left the city behind just as the morning light hit the Koutoubia Mosque, the call to prayer still echoing faintly. The road out of Marrakech twists up into the Atlas Mountains—don’t be surprised if your ears pop as you climb the Tizi n'Tichka pass. At a roadside stall, our guide Youssef handed us sweet mint tea and pointed out wild thyme growing by the rocks. By midday, we reached Aït Benhaddou. The mudbrick walls almost glowed in the sun, and I could see why film crews love this place. We wandered narrow alleys where kids played soccer with a half-flat ball. After a quick stop at Ouarzazate’s Taourirt Kasbah (the old doors creak when you push them), we followed the “Road of a Thousand Kasbahs” through Skoura and the Valley of Roses—if you’re here in spring, the air smells faintly floral. We finally rolled into Dadès Gorges just as dusk settled and the cliffs turned deep orange.

Breakfast was simple—fresh bread, apricot jam, and strong coffee that woke me right up. The Dadès Valley is quiet in the morning, with just a few goats clattering over stones. Todgha Gorge is something else: sheer rock faces and cool shade even when it’s hot everywhere else. We lingered until lunch, watching climbers inch their way up the cliffs. On the way to Merzouga, we passed through Jorf’s palm groves (the dates here are sticky-sweet) and stopped in Erfoud for a peek at marble fossils—locals will show you ammonites if you ask. By late afternoon, we swapped our van for camels. Riding into the dunes of Erg Chebbi feels unreal; sand gets everywhere but you stop caring once you see those colors at sunset. Dinner in the Berber camp was tagine cooked over coals, and after, we lay back listening to nothing but wind and distant drums.

The desert sunrise is worth waking up early for—even if you’re not a morning person. The cold bites before dawn, so bring a scarf or two. After camel-trekking back to Merzouga for showers and breakfast, we drove through Tafilalet’s endless palms and stopped in Rissani—a small town with busy markets and donkeys tied up outside bakeries. Crossing the Anti Atlas mountains, the landscape shifts again—rocky, wide open, almost lunar near Alnif and Tazarine. We passed N’kob’s clusters of mud houses before reaching the Draa Valley, where palm trees line the river like green ribbons. Lunch in Ouarzazate was slow; nobody rushes here. By evening, Marrakech’s chaos felt almost foreign after so much silence.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Marrakech to Dadès Gorges

• Depart Marrakech at 8am
• Cross Atlas Mountains via Tizi n'Tichka pass
• Visit Aït Benhaddou Kasbah
• Explore Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate
• Drive Road of a Thousand Kasbahs to Dadès Gorges
• Overnight at Dadès Gorges

Day 2 — Dadès to Merzouga Desert

• Breakfast at Dadès Gorges
• Visit Todgha Gorges until lunch
• Pass Jorf palm grove and Erfoud marble workshop
• Arrive Merzouga and switch to camels
• Travel to Bedouin camp
• Dinner at desert camp

Day 3 — Merzouga to Marrakech Return

• Watch sunrise in desert
• Return by camel to hotel for shower and breakfast
• Pass Tafilalet palm grove and Rissani village
• Drive through Alnif and Anti Atlas mountains
• Visit Tazarine and N’kob
• Explore Draa Valley palm grove
• Stop for lunch in Ouarzazate
• Return to Marrakech, drop at hotel

Top questions

Is this Sahara tour suitable for kids or older travelers?

The trip involves some long drives and camel rides; moderate fitness is helpful. It may not suit those with heart issues or limited mobility.

What should I pack for the desert overnight?

Bring layers—it gets cold at night and hot during the day. A scarf or light jacket is handy for mornings and evenings.

Are meals included? What about dietary needs?

Dinners and breakfasts are included; vegetarian options are available if you let us know when booking.

How big are the groups?

Group sizes vary but are usually small enough to feel personal—often 8-12 people per vehicle or less.

Can I charge my phone at the Berber camp?

Some camps have limited charging points powered by solar panels; best to bring a power bank just in case.

What’s included

Your transport (Toyota Landcruiser 4X4 or minibus), two nights’ accommodation (one hotel, one Berber tent), camel trek in Erg Chebbi, entry fees for Merzouga Dunes and all listed sites, plus hotel pickup/drop-off at select Marrakech hotels are all covered. Multilingual guides lead the way—and yes, breakfast and dinner are included each day.