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

Camel ride at sunset across the Erg Chebbi dunes under stars

This 3-day luxury desert tour departs Marrakech and travels through the Atlas Mountains to the Erg Chebbi dunes near Merzouga, with stops at Dades Gorge and Todra Gorge. You spend two nights in accommodations (one hotel, one luxury desert camp), ride a camel across the dunes at sunset, dine with a Berber team around a fire, and return to Marrakech on day three. Hotel pickup and drop-off, all meals, bottled water, and a local guide are included. Children from age 12 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Dades Valley via Kasbahs

• Depart from Marrakech riad or hotel
• Drive through Tizi n’Tichka pass
• Visit Glaoui Kasbah and Ait Benhaddou Kasbah
• Stretch legs in Skoura palmeraie
• Drive through Morocco's longest street
• Take photos in Dades Gorge
• Overnight at hotel in Dades Gorge
• Dinner at hotel

Day 2: Dades Valley to Merzouga Desert

• Drive toward Sahara Desert
• Stop at Todra Gorge
• Visit villages en route
• Go off-road in Erg Chebbi dunes
• Ride camel at sunset
• Dinner near camp or tent restaurant
• Sing and dance around fire with Berber team
• Walk barefoot in desert at night
• Overnight in luxury desert tent

Day 3: Merzouga Desert to Marrakech

• Wake up early
• Enjoy breakfast
• Drive back to Marrakech via Agdz
• Stop for breaks and photos
• End tour at Marrakech riad

The experience

How do you get from Marrakech to the Sahara without renting a car or piecing together separate rides? This tour handles the drive (through the Tizi n'Tichka pass and past the Glaoui Kasbah and Ait Benhaddou Kasbah), and stops where the landscape actually changes. Day one ends in Dades Gorge, where you stay at a hotel like Chez Pierre and eat dinner there. The route gives you time to walk through the Skoura palmeraie and photograph the canyon walls without rushing.

Day two is when the desert arrives. You drive toward Todra Gorge, stop in villages along the way, then go off-road into the dunes of Erg Chebbi. The camel ride happens at sunset. You climb the dunes on foot or by camel and watch the light change across the sand. Dinner happens in or near the camp, and afterward you dance and sing around a fire with the Berber team, then walk barefoot in the dark under stars. You sleep in a luxury tent at Oasis Luxury Camp Merzouga or a similar property, with breakfast included the next morning.

Day three is the return. You wake early, eat one of the better breakfasts of the trip, and drive back to Marrakech via Agdz with stops whenever you want them. The whole journey (transport, two nights, two dinners, two breakfasts, the camel ride, the guide) is arranged before you leave your riad. Vegan and vegetarian options are available for meals.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Marrakech.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the entire journey.
• two nights' accommodation (one night in a hotel in Dades Gorge, one night in a luxury desert camp in Erg Chebbi).
• two dinners and two breakfasts with vegan and vegetarian options.
• camel ride across the Erg Chebbi dunes.
• local guide at Ait Ben Haddou and Kasbah Amridil.
• bottled water throughout.
• all fees and taxes.

Information

Lasts 3d, runs every day at 07:00 and 07:30, from US$ 450 per person, with live guides in 6 languages, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 07:30Another time? ›

GroupPrivate12 group tours ›

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and ArabicOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 90 years) · Youth (12 to 15 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

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

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Next Stop Morocco

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Marrakech without a rental car: the pickup from your riad and the fixed three-day schedule mean you don't arrange transport, accommodation, or meals separately, and you return to Marrakech ready to continue your trip.

Traveler reviews

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18 verified traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

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

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 15 years). Children under 12 can't be included in the booking.

What's the drive time from Marrakech to the Erg Chebbi dunes?

The tour spans three days, so the drive is broken across day one (Marrakech to Dades Gorge) and day two (Dades to the desert camp near Merzouga), with stops at gorges and villages along the way rather than one long stretch.

Do I ride a camel on this tour?

Yes. On day two you ride a camel across the Erg Chebbi dunes and watch the sunset from the top, then return to the camp for dinner.

Where do I sleep on the 3-day desert tour?

Night one is in a hotel in Dades Gorge (Chez Pierre or similar). Night two is in a luxury desert tent at Oasis Luxury Camp Merzouga or a comparable property in the Erg Chebbi dunes.

What meals are included?

The tour includes two dinners (day one and day two) and two breakfasts (day two and day three). Lunch is not included. Vegan and vegetarian options are available for both dinners and breakfasts.

Does the tour pick me up from my hotel in Marrakech?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Marrakech are included. The driver collects you from your riad or hotel on the morning of day one and returns you there at the end of day three.