Marrakech to Merzouga: 3-Day Desert Safari & Camel Trek

Three Days Crossing the Atlas to Sleep Under Sahara Stars

You start in Marrakech before dawn and spend three days crossing the High Atlas, walking through a UNESCO kasbah and canyon gorges, then riding camels at sunset into a Bedouin camp where you sleep under stars. The return journey follows the same route back over the mountains, arriving in Marrakech by evening. Hotel pickup, all transport, meals, camel rides and one night in a desert tent are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Dades Valley via Atlas Mountains

• Drive east from Marrakech
• Stop for photos and coffee
• Drive to Tizi Ntichka pass
• Visit Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou
• Explore Ouarzazate sights
• Lunch at local café
• Drive to Dades Valley and Skoura Oasis
• Arrive at Dades hotel
• Dinner and overnight stay

Day 2: Dades Valley to Merzouga Sahara Desert

• Drive along 1001 Kasbahs route
• Walk in Todgha oasis
• Visit Todgha Gorges
• Lunch and free time
• Drive to Rissani dates market
• Travel to Merzouga desert
• Swim in pool at Merzouga
• Camel ride at sunset
• Arrive at Sahara desert camp
• Dinner and overnight in desert tent

Day 3: Merzouga to Marrakech via Ouarzazate

• Early morning camel ride on dunes
• Breakfast and shower at camp lodge
• Optional swim in lodge pool
• Drive towards Agdz and Ouarzazate
• Visit Erfoud fossils (optional)
• Lunch and free time
• Drive back to Marrakech via Atlas Mountains
• Tour ends in Marrakech at 19:00

The experience

So yeah, the drive starts before sunrise. You're picked up from your Marrakech hotel and heading east through the High Atlas Mountains via the Tizi Ntichka pass, and honestly, the road alone is worth the early wake-up. The landscape shifts every hour or so: you go from olive groves to rocky peaks to sudden valleys, and the driver stops a few times to let you stretch and grab coffee. By mid-morning you're at Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, this UNESCO World Heritage Site that's basically a mud-brick fortress town built into a hillside. It's where they filmed Kingdom of Heaven and Lawrence of Arabia, and you can walk through the narrow streets and climb up to see the whole thing from above. After that it's lunch somewhere local, then you're driving toward Dades Valley through the Valley of the Roses: Klaa Mgouna, where they make rose water in small distilleries. You arrive at your hotel in Boumalne Dades late afternoon, eat dinner, and sleep.

Day two is the one that sticks with you. You leave early and drive along what locals call the Route of 1001 Kasbahs, fortified houses scattered along the river, and stop at Todgha Gorges, where you walk under massive cliff walls and palm trees. The gorge is narrow and cool and strange. After lunch you head toward Merzouga, the gateway to the Sahara, and when you arrive there's time to cool off in the lodge pool before the main event: sunset camel trekking across Erg Chebbi. You ride out as the light turns orange and red, the sand dunes change color, and then you reach the Berber camp where you'll sleep in a tent. There's music and drums that night, and you eat dinner under the open sky. It's not luxurious. It's basic, but that's the point.

The last morning you're up early again for sunrise camel trekking back across the dunes, then breakfast and a shower at the lodge. After that it's the long drive back west: you pass through Ouarzazate and climb back over the High Atlas, arriving in Marrakech around 7pm. The whole thing is three days of driving, so if you're someone who gets restless in a car, know that going in, but the landscape changes enough that you're not watching the same view twice. Groups stay small, usually under fifteen people, and your guide drives the whole way, so you're not switching between different people.

What’s included

Your three days include hotel pickup and return to Marrakech, air-conditioned minibus transport with a driver-guide, entry to Kasbah Ait Ben Haddou, walks through Todgha Gorges and the Tinghir oasis, sunset and sunrise camel trekking across Erg Chebbi dunes, one night in a Berber desert tent with Berber music and drums, all meals, and luggage service throughout.

Options for this experience

3 options

Standard Camp.Guide in 4 languages · 07:00 and 07:30Hotel and camp: Pick this option to spend the second night in a standard desert camp in Merzouga with a shared bathroom and toilet. Camel ride and sandboarding: Sunset camel trekking in Erg Chebbi and sunrise camel trekking in Erg Chebbi. Berber service: Enjoy personalized service and attention to detail, for a memorable desert retreat. Duration: 3 days. Enjoy a captivating night in a Merzouga desert tent, with Berber-inspired comfort amid the beauty of the Sahara. Moroccan cuisine: 2 dinners and 2 breakfasts. Marrakech to Merzouga: Set out on a mesmerizing 3-day journey from Marrakech to the enchanting Merzouga desert, crossing the Atlas Mountains. Van: Pickup and drop-off, with air-conditioned transportation in a minibus or minivan and a driver-guide. Sahara tours Morocco: Arrive at a traditional camp, spend a night under the stars, then return to Marrakech enriched by a memorable desert odyssey.

Luxury camp with shower and bathroomGuide in 4 languages · 07:00 and 07:30Luxury option with shower and toilet: Pick this option to spend the second night in a luxury tent at a desert camp in Merzouga. Enjoy a private tent with a shower. Sandboarding: Experience thrilling adventures in the Merzouga desert with sandboarding. Berber service: Enjoy personalized service and attention to detail, for a memorable and luxurious desert retreat. Duration: 3 days. Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Sahara as you relax in a lavishly furnished tent. Dinner and breakfast: Savor the culinary delights of the Sahara with a one-night luxury tent stay in Merzouga, including a gourmet dinner. Merzouga camel ride: Enjoy the flexibility of shuttle services, which let you travel easily between the camp and nearby locations. Camel ride: This optional transportation makes the journey hassle-free, leaving you more time to soak up the beauty of the Sahara. Sahara tours: Dine on gourmet food under the stars, accompanied by Berber music, and wake up to a breathtaking sunrise over the dunes. Pickup is included.

Private 3-Day Tour departing from MarrakechGuide in 4 languages · 07:00, 07:30, 08:00 and 08:30Dades Canyon and luxury camp: One night in a comfortable hotel in Dades and one night in a luxury desert camp in Merzouga, in a private tent with shower and toilet. Enjoy: a visit to Ait Ben Haddou, a walk in Todra Gorge, a sunset camel trek, and sandboarding. Enjoy our services: personalized service. Enjoy starry skies, traditional meals, and an unforgettable desert experience. Duration: 3 days, offering a perfect blend of culture and adventure. Explore the stunning Atlas Mountains and visit the iconic Ait Ben Haddou kasbah. Dinner and breakfast: Daily breakfasts and dinners are included. Lunches and drinks are not included but can be purchased along the way. Marrakech to Merzouga: Marrakech, Ait Ben Haddou, Ouarzazate, Dades Valley, Todra Gorge, Erfoud, Merzouga, Draa Valley, Marrakech. Private car with air conditioning: Travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle or a luxury minivan for a smooth and enjoyable journey. Unforgettable trip: Enjoy a camel trek, a night in a luxury desert camp, and stunning landscapes before returning to Marrakech.

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, 4 start times, from US$ 114 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00, 07:30, 08:00 and 08:30

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (9 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Sahara Tours Marruecos

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Sahara and the High Atlas without arranging transport, guides, meals and camp logistics yourself: the fixed itinerary and shared group format is what makes a three-day crossing possible at this price.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 17 years); Child (4 to 8 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

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.

How long is the drive each day?

Day one is roughly 7–8 hours with stops. Day two is about 6–7 hours. Day three is 8–9 hours back to Marrakech.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and return, air-conditioned minibus transport, driver-guide, all meals, camel trekking at sunset and sunrise, one night in a Berber desert tent, and Berber music and drums in the evening.

Is this a private tour or shared group?

It's a shared group tour. Groups typically stay under fifteen people.

What's the desert camp like?

It's a basic Berber tent camp in Erg Chebbi with simple overnight accommodation. There's a lodge nearby with a pool and shower facilities.

Do I need to be fit for the camel rides?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. Camel riding is slow-paced, though it can be uncomfortable if you're not used to it.

What should I bring?

Sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, warm layers for the desert night, and comfortable walking shoes for the gorges and kasbah.

Are meals included?

Yes, all meals are included throughout the three days.