3-day Marrakech to Merzouga desert tour with camel trek and camp

You wake in the Sahara to the silence of the desert, then ride camels back across the dunes at sunrise.

A 3-day guided tour from Marrakech through Morocco's High Atlas Mountains to the Merzouga desert in the Sahara, with camel trekking, an overnight camp stay, and visits to the UNESCO-listed Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou and Todra Gorge. The tour includes hotel pickup, a private vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide, two nights' accommodation (one in a hotel, one in a desert camp), and breakfast and dinner on days two and three. You choose between a standard or upgraded camp experience, and a local guide at the kasbah is available for an extra fee.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Tinghir via Ait Ben Haddou

• Pick up from Marrakech hotel
• Cross Atlas Mountains via Tizi-n-Tichka Pass
• Visit Ait Ben Haddou kasbah
• Lunch at Ait Ben Haddou
• Coffee stop
• Drive through Thousand Kasbah and Roses Valley
• Overnight stay with dinner and breakfast

Day 2: Tinghir to Merzouga Desert

• Visit Todra Gorge and walk in Todra Valley
• Camel ride at sunset in Erg Chabbi desert
• Overnight in desert camp with dinner

Day 3: Merzouga to Fes via Midelt and Azrou

• Sunrise on dunes and breakfast at camp
• Camel or 4WD ride back to Merzouga
• Drive through Ziz Valley, Midelt, Ifrane, and Azrou cedar forest
• Short walk and photos in Azrou
• Arrive and drop off at Fes riad/hotel

The experience

You're picked up from your Marrakech hotel and travel south across the High Atlas Mountains, crossing the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass, the highest in North Africa, before descending to the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou. This UNESCO World Heritage site sits on the edge of the pre-Sahara, its earthen buildings rising from the valley floor in the way they have for centuries. Lunch happens here after you've walked through the kasbah, then the drive continues east through the Roses Valley toward Tinghir, where you spend your first night in a hotel.

Day two takes you through the Todra Gorge, where the valley narrows between towering canyon walls, and then into the open desert. You arrive in Merzouga in the late afternoon and mount a camel for the trek across the Erg Chabbi dunes at sunset. The camp sits deep in the sand: a cluster of Bedouin tents where you'll spend the night under the stars, eat a tagine cooked over a fire, and listen to Berber songs. Breakfast and dinner are included. The silence of the Sahara is what you came for.

On the final morning, you ride camels again at sunrise across the same dunes, watching the light change across the sand. After breakfast at the camp, you transfer by 4WD back toward Fes, passing through the Ziz Valley and stopping in Ifrane (known locally as the little Switzerland of Morocco for its alpine setting), and the cedar forest at Azrou, where you can walk among Barbary apes. You arrive in Fes in the late afternoon and are dropped at your riad or hotel.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off at your Marrakech accommodation.
• private vehicle with air conditioning and an experienced English-speaking driver-guide.
• two nights' accommodation (one in a hotel in Tinghir, one in a desert camp in Merzouga).
• breakfast and dinner on days two and three.
• sunset and sunrise camel trekking with a camel per person.
• 4WD transfer from and to the camp as an alternative to camels.

Options for this experience

3 options

Standard Desert CampGuide in 4 languages · 07:30Private room with a standard camp: on the first night, Hotel Bougafer Tinghir, Luxury Riad Dades or a similar property. On the second night, a standard camp tent with a shared bathroom. Camel trekking and sandboarding, plus ATV quad and buggy rentals in the desert dunes with local operators. Duration: 3 days, with 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners, in the Merzouga desert dunes. A comfortable minivan with ample luggage space is used, and pickup is included.

Upgrade to a deluxe desert camp.Guide in 4 languages · 07:30Private room with a deluxe camp: on the first night, Hotel Bougafer Tinghir, Luxury Riad Dades or a similar property. On the second night, a deluxe camp tent with a private bathroom. Camel trekking and sandboarding, plus ATV quad and buggy rentals in the desert dunes with local operators. Duration: 3 days, with 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners, in the Merzouga desert dunes. A comfortable minivan with ample luggage space is used, and pickup is included.

Premium Desert TourGuide in 4 languages · 07:30Luxury camp and luxury riad: on the first night, stay at Chez Pierre, Dades Paradise or Xaluca Dades. On the second night, stay at Merzouga Luxury Camp. Included activities: a 1-hour ATV quad ride, a 1-hour camel ride and sandboarding. Premium tour lasting 3 days, with 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts. Travel from Marrakech to Fes via Merzouga in a private air-conditioned vehicle (a 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado or a minivan). Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 3d, runs every day at 07:30, from US$ 182 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish, French and Arabic and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (4 to 17 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 18

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Operated by Morocco Tour Experience

Is this one for you?Choose the standard camp if you want the full desert experience at a lower price, or upgrade to the deluxe option for better tent comfort after a long day of travel and camel riding. The fixed itinerary and included transport mean you're not arranging vehicles, guides, or timing across three different regions. Everything connects, so the day unfolds without gaps.

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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 (4 to 17 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between the standard and deluxe desert camps?

The Standard Desert Camp and Deluxe Desert Camp options both sit in the Merzouga Sahara and include the same camel treks and meals. The Deluxe option offers upgraded tent accommodations and amenities for a higher price, which you select at checkout.

Is the camel trekking suitable if I've never ridden before?

Yes, the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the camel guide leads both the sunset and sunrise rides. You also have the option to return from the desert by 4WD instead of camel if you prefer.

What's included in the price and what do I need to pay extra for?

The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, the private vehicle and driver-guide, two nights' accommodation, breakfast and dinner on days two and three, and all camel trekking. Lunches and drinks are not included. A local guide at the Kasbah of Aït Ben Haddou is available for €2 per person if you want deeper context on the site.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to Marrakech, or is pickup included?

Pickup from your Marrakech hotel or departure point is included in the tour price, and you're dropped back at your accommodation at the end on day three.

What happens if I'm not comfortable riding a camel for the return journey on day three?

A 4WD transfer is available as an alternative to the morning camel ride back from the camp, so you can choose whichever suits you best.