3-Day Marrakech to Merzouga Tour: Camel Rides & Desert Camp

Cross the Atlas, ride camels at sunset and sunrise, sleep in the desert

A 3-day guided tour from Marrakech to Merzouga in the Sahara, with stops at Tizi-n'Tichka Pass, Ait Ben Haddou kasbah, Tinghir oasis and Todgha Gorges, plus camel rides at sunset and sunrise in the desert. The tour includes hotel accommodation in Boumalne Dades on night one, a shared desert camp in Merzouga on night two, minibus transport, a local guide through the oasis and gorges, and pickup from your Marrakech hotel. Drinks and lunch are not included. A guide at Ait Ben Haddou costs extra.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakesh to Boumalne Dades

• Watch view and take pictures
• Visit kasbah of Ait Ben Haddou
• Optional visit kasbah of Taourirt and supermarket stop
• Spend night in hotel

Day 2: Tinghir to Merzouga

• Visit Tinghir oasis with guide
• Visit Todgha gorges with guide
• Camel ride at sunset
• Dinner and overnight in Merzouga camp

Day 3: Merzouga to Marrakech

• Camel ride at sunrise and breakfast
• Stop at Kasbat M'gouna

The experience

The route climbs through the Atlas via Tizi-n'Tichka Pass, where you stop to watch the view and photograph the landscape before descending to Ait Ben Haddou, the kasbah that sits on the edge of the desert. You'll spend the first night in a hotel in Boumalne Dades. On day two, a local guide meets you in Tinghir oasis, then leads you through Todgha Gorges (a narrow canyon cut through red rock) before the minibus carries you into the Merzouga desert. At sunset, you ride a camel across the sand, have dinner, and sleep in a shared camp under the open sky. Day three starts with another camel ride at sunrise, breakfast at the camp's auberge, a stop in Kasbat M'Gouna on the return, and drop-off at your Marrakech hotel.

The tour runs with a minibus holding either 8 or 17 seats depending on the group size. Accommodation switches between a hotel (Boumalne Dades) and a shared desert camp (Merzouga), so you experience both settled and nomadic sleeping. The local guide in Tinghir and Todgha Gorges speaks English, Spanish or French. You choose the language when you book. Pickup happens at your hotel. The minibus handles all transport between stops. Water and soft drinks are not included, and lunch during the trip is not covered. You can buy meals at restaurants along the route.

What’s included

• Hotel accommodation in Boumalne Dades on night one.
• shared desert camp accommodation in Merzouga on night two.
• camel rides at sunset and sunrise in the Merzouga desert.
• minibus transport throughout the 3 days.
• pickup and drop-off at your Marrakech hotel.
• a local guide in Tinghir oasis and Todgha Gorges.
• breakfast at the desert camp on day three.

Information

Lasts 3d, runs every day at 07:00, from US$ 91 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and French and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 17

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and FrenchOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.11 with pickup ›

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (20 to 66 years) · Senior (67 and older) · Youth (12 to 19 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4)

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 effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Sahara Desert Trip

Is this one for you?Choose the language your guide speaks (English, Spanish or French), so the commentary through the oasis and gorges lands clearly. The shared desert camp means you sleep alongside other travelers, which keeps the price down and builds the group dynamic. If you prefer privacy, check whether a private room upgrade is available at checkout.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 19 years); Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4).

What's the Tizi-n'Tichka Pass and why do we stop there?

Tizi-n'Tichka Pass is the high mountain crossing through the Atlas on the route from Marrakech toward the desert. The tour stops there to watch the view and take photographs before continuing down the other side toward Ait Ben Haddou.

Do I ride camels on both days in Merzouga?

Yes. You ride at sunset on day two, then again at sunrise on day three before breakfast at the camp and the return journey to Marrakech.

Is lunch included in the 3-day tour?

Lunch is not included. You can buy meals at restaurants along the route. Water and soft drinks are also not covered, so bring money for those or purchase them as you go.

Where do I sleep on each night?

Night one is in a hotel in Boumalne Dades. Night two is in a shared desert camp in Merzouga, where you sleep after the sunset camel ride and dinner.

Can I add a guide at Ait Ben Haddou kasbah?

Yes. A guide at Ait Ben Haddou is available as an optional add-on for 3 EUR per person at checkout.