Marrakech to Merzouga Desert Tour: Atlas Mountains & Berber Camps

You sleep in a Berber tent under the stars, wake to the sunrise over sand dunes, and ride a camel back out the way you came.

A 3-day guided tour from Marrakech to Merzouga crosses the Atlas Mountains, stops at the UNESCO site of Ait Ben Haddou, and ends with camel rides into the Erg Chebbi dunes and a night in an authentic Berber camp. The guide is Moroccan and from the desert region, so the stops carry real context about Berber villages and local history. Hotel pickup in Marrakech is included. You pick your accommodation standard when you book.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Marrakech to Boumalne Dades via Atlas

• Pick up in Marrakech
• Drive through High Atlas Mountains
• Stop at Tizi N'Tichka pass
• Visit Ait Ben Haddou and lunch
• Continue to Boumalne Dades
• Overnight at local hotel

Day 2: Boumalne Dades to Merzouga Desert

• Breakfast in Boumalne Dades
• Drive to Todra Gorges via Berber villages
• Optional stop in Erfoud
• Arrive in Merzouga and meet camels
• Sunset on sand dunes
• Dinner and music at Berber camp
• Overnight in Berber tents

Day 3: Merzouga to Marrakech via Rissani

• Optional sunrise over dunes
• Breakfast and camel ride back to Merzouga
• Visit Rissani for spices and shopping
• Stop in Agdz for coffee or lunch
• Drive through High Atlas Mountains
• Return to Marrakech

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your Marrakech hotel or a meeting point you agree on beforehand. The first day climbs into the High Atlas Mountains, crosses the Tizi-n'Tichka Pass with views across the range, and passes through traditional Berber villages on the way to Ait Ben Haddou. That UNESCO site gets a lunch stop and an optional kasbah tour before you continue into the Dades Valley and settle in for the night near Boumalne Dades.

Day two moves east toward the Sahara. You travel through more Berber settlements, stop at the Todra Gorges, and have the option to detour to Erfoud if fossils interest you. By afternoon you reach Merzouga, where camels wait to carry you into the Erg Chebbi dunes. The camp sits in the sand itself. You can climb the dunes to watch the sunset, then eat dinner and drink Moroccan tea around a fire with traditional drums and music. You sleep in a Berber tent that night.

The final morning offers an optional early rise to watch the sun come up over the dunes before breakfast. A camel carries you back to Merzouga, then the route turns west toward Rissani (known for spices and markets), Agdz, and the High Atlas again. Stops for coffee, tea or lunch happen along the way depending on timing and what your group wants. You arrive back in Marrakech by evening.

What’s included

• A live guide fluent in your choice of English, Spanish or French.
• hotel pickup in Marrakech.
• all transportation and fuel.
• two nights of accommodation (one near Boumalne Dades, one in a traditional Berber tent at the desert camp).
• camel rides into and out of the Erg Chebbi dunes.
• dinner and Moroccan tea at the Berber camp with traditional music.

Options for this experience

3 options

Standard AccommodationsGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:30Standard accommodation at a 2-3 star hotel or riad, and a desert camp similar to BELLE VUE DADES Camp: standard camp private tent with shared bathroom. Includes pickup.

Luxury AccommodationsGuide in English, Spanish or French · 08:00Nightly accommodation at a 3-4 star hotel or riad, similar to Dar Rihana or Dar Ahlam, and a desert camp: Ideal Desert Camp private tent with private bathroom. Pickup is included.

Royal AccommodationsGuide in English, Spanish or French · 07:30Royal accommodation at a hotel or riad in or around Dades, such as Xaluca or a similar option; a desert camp such as Ideal Desert Camp or Kam Kam Dunes, or similar; and quad biking in the desert, with one hour of quad bike riding in the dunes of Merzouga included in the excursion price. Pickup is included.

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

Information

Lasts 3d, runs every day at 07:30 and 08:00, from US$ 648 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and French, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30 and 08:00Another time? ›

GroupPrivate12 group tours ›

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and FrenchOther languages ›

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

Book up to10h before

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Discover sahara tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the full arc from mountains to desert without arranging transport or finding a guide yourself: the three days hold together as one route, and the guide's background in the region means the stops have real context instead of just photo moments. If you prefer a shorter taste of the Sahara or want to spend more time in one place, a 2-day or 5-day version might suit you better.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

What's the difference between the Royal, Standard and Luxury accommodation options?

All three options include the same tour route, camel rides and Berber camp experience on night two. The difference is the hotel standard in Boumalne Dades on night one and the accommodation quality you choose for night three back in Marrakech. You pick which level suits your budget when you book.

Is the camel ride included in the tour price?

Yes, the camel ride into the Erg Chebbi dunes and back out is included, along with the guide, all transportation, driver and fuel, and your two nights of accommodation.

What happens if I want to skip the sunrise or the optional stops?

The sunrise camel ride on day three is optional, so you can sleep in if you prefer. Stops at Erfoud and the Todra Gorges can also be skipped or shortened depending on your group's interests. The guide can adjust the route.

Does the tour include meals?

Lunch is included on day one at Ait Ben Haddou, and dinner with Moroccan tea is included on night two at the Berber camp. Breakfast is provided each morning. Other meals and all beverages are not included.

How much time do we spend actually traveling by vehicle?

Travel time is built into the three-day total, so you're not adding extra days on top. The route itself is the experience. Expect several hours of driving each day, broken up by stops at villages, passes, gorges and the desert camp.